Statute
VSA 13 § 2658
Vermont allows survivors of trafficking to file motions to vacate convictions for any offense except for certain enumerated violent crimes that occurred as a result of having been a victim of trafficking.
The court must hold a hearing on the motion unless it denies it based on the papers. At the hearing, the survivor must show by a preponderance of the evidence that they were convicted of the qualifying crime as a result of trafficking. If the motion is granted, the court will vacate the conviction and expunge the record of the criminal proceedings. The court will also expunge the survivor’s name from all records and files related to the arrest.
Additionally, official documentation of the survivor’s status as a victim of human trafficking creates a presumption that the conviction was a result of being a victim of human trafficking. This documentation is not required for relief to be granted.
Updated July 2026