Many survivors of sex trafficking have been convicted of prostitution-related offenses. Such convictions carry enormous stigma and inhibit survivors from obtaining employment, housing, and education. Under New York’s Criminal Procedure Law, section 440.10, survivors of sex trafficking have the ability to vacate prior convictions related to the trafficking experience. Pro bono attorneys can use this law to help permanently remove convictions from a survivor’s criminal record, thereby providing them with greater access to opportunities.

This resource page includes all the documents you need for your motion:  Notice of Motion, Memorandum of Law, Client Affidavit, and Attorney Affirmation.  You will often also have exhibits like orders of protection, news articles about the trafficker, photos, or other corroborating evidence. The “Blueback” is the document affixed to the back of the entire filing, typically printed on blue paper.