If it is close to the March 31, 2026 deadline, survivors can still file a valid petition. This guide explains what is required, what is helpful, and options for what can be left out when time is limited.
Survivors do not need to submit a perfect petition to meet the deadline. Survivors only need enough information for DOJ to review eligibility and claimed losses.
Important Notice Regarding DOJ Requirements:
This document is provided as general suggested guidance only to help survivors complete a petition; it is not legal advice and does not guarantee eligibility or compensation.
This guide does not change, override, or take the place of the official instructions issued by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
If survivors are submitting a petition online they will not be able to save their petition form while it is in progress, so gather all necessary documentation before beginning the petition form.
All survivors should review and follow DOJ’s official Petition instructions and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) which can be found here:
https://www.backpageremission.com/en/Home/SubmitClaim.
The FAQs provide valuable information – please review them before filing the petition.
Due to the volume of inquiries and the limited scope of our role, NCMEC is unable to respond to any specific questions about the petition or this guidance document.
What Survivor’s Must Submit by March 31:
At a minimum, a survivor’s submission must include:
- The completed Backpage Remission Petition Form
- Required signatures
- Some information that demonstrates the survivor was trafficked and advertised on Backpage.com at any time during January 1, 2004 to April 6, 2018 or advertised on CityXGuide at any time during April 8, 2018 to June 19, 2020. DOJ understands that many survivors will not have copies of ads or records of ads. A survivor can establish eligibility without locating an ad by providing information about the ads. See Part III below titled Verification.
That’s all a survivor must do for DOJ to review their eligibility. Everything else included in a petition goes to prove claimed damages for compensation.
Section-by-Section: What Is “Enough” to File
PART I – Contact Information
Required Information about the Survivor
- Legal name (or current name)
- Any other names the survivor may have used (maiden name or other name) (if applicable)
- Safe mailing address, email, and phone number
- Date of birth
- Social security number
PART II – Attestation
Check the box confirming that:
- The survivor was a victim of sex trafficking
- Backpage or CityXGuide was used to facilitate the trafficking during the applicable time period
Survivors do not need documentation here.
PART III – Verification
DOJ understands that many survivors will not have ads or records. A survivor can establish eligibility without including an ad.
What to include (add any of the information below that the survivor has):
Option 1: Complete the boxes in Part III Verification Section (Most Common and Sufficient)
- Approximate dates of trafficking on Backpage and/or CityXGuide (month/year is okay) • That Backpage and/or CityXGuide was used – specify one or both
- Any details remembered about ads (cities, phone numbers, email addresses, text used in ads, alias/nicknames used in ads, details about photos)
- The name of a trafficker is optional and not required to provide (may also provide nicknames or alias of the trafficker)
Option 2: Survivor Statement Sample Language (This May Be Copied): A short-written statement from the survivor using language such as the following:
I am a survivor of sex trafficking. From approximately [month/year] to [month/year], I was trafficked and advertised online through Backpage and/or CityXGuide. I do not have access to all records related to my trafficking, but this statement is based on my personal knowledge and experience. I recall that advertisements were posted in or around [city/state], and I was required to use [phone number/email/alias, if known]. I declare under penalty of perjury that this statement is true and correct.
Option 3: Copies of Any Supporting Records in the Survivor’s Possession (Optional) Include only what is readily available:
- Screenshots of ads from Backpage or CityXGuide
- Old emails or texts referring to the ads on Backpage or CityXGuide
- Police reports
- Court records (these can include court records related to the survivor’s criminal charges or the traffickers, so long as they are related to the trafficking)
- Letters from law enforcement or victim advocates
TIP: Do not delay filing before the deadline to obtain these. Additionally, if the survivor has related criminal charges the survivor may explain those charges or give context in the survivor statement listed above.
PART IV – Eligible Monetary Losses
This section includes both past behavioral health/therapeutic support and medical losses as well as future behavioral health and medical needs.
Survivors do not need complete records, but any damages claimed in this section must be related to or caused by the trafficking AND the survivor must have paid these costs themselves.
Note: To the extent possible provide receipts, credit card statements, copies of bills, etc.., to accompany the claim.
Medical / Behavioral Health Losses (Optional)
Examples of items a survivor may list are included below, please note this list is not exhaustive: • Therapy or counseling
- Hospital or emergency care
- Medical out-of-pocket co-payments or bills
- Medications
- Substance use treatment, including both in-patient and out-patient support • Tattoo removal/cover-up
- Dental expenses related to trafficking
- Alternative behavioral health treatments
For past behavioral health and medical expenses, if a survivor does not have receipts/billing statements:
- Describe the treatment
- Provide approximate dates
Future behavioral health and medical expenses may include and are not limited to the losses listed above. Expenses for future treatment must be documented by a licensed provider and included in the form of an individualized treatment plan. If the survivor has behavioral health or medical needs connected to their trafficking, they can reach out to a licensed provider and request they conduct an assessment and develop a treatment plan (including costs for recommended future treatment). A licensed provider may include but is not limited to a therapist, primary care provider, specialist, dentist, eye doctor, etc. A survivor does not need to claim past or future medical or behavioral health costs to file for other damages.
Lost Wages
This section tries to compensate for the duration a survivor was trafficked on Backpage and CityXGuide. When calculating the information requested in the petition it’s important to keep in mind:
– Any days, weeks, months where the survivor’s trafficking was disrupted. This may have been because a survivor was in the hospital, incarcerated, in recovery, etc. Make sure to note these.
The survivor may estimate the time a survivor was actively trafficked by providing an estimate of:
- Hours per day
- Days per week
- Number of weeks or months
Documents, pay stubs, tax records, etc. are not required.
Additional Losses (Optional)
Examples:
- Transportation to treatment related to trafficking
- Security measures (security system at home, etc.)
- Legal name change
- Relocation expenses
Include only what the survivor can reasonably describe. Survivors will need to explain how any additional losses are related to trafficking and show that the survivor paid for these additional losses.
PART V – Prior Compensation
Survivors are required to disclose any court ordered compensation they received or were awarded related to the trafficking:
- Criminal restitution
- Civil settlements
- Victim compensation funds
If a survivor was awarded restitution but never paid that money (or was paid only a portion), explain that briefly.
Having a court order for compensation does not disqualify a survivor from the remission process.
PART VI & VII – Signatures
Required:
- Survivor signature and date
- Attorney signature (if represented)
- Representative signature (if filing for a minor, incapacitated, or deceased survivor) Unsigned petitions may be delayed or rejected.
If The Survivor Is Running Out of Time
If it is close to March 31 and the survivor is still gathering information:
- Complete all the required sections of the Petition Form
- Include a survivor statement
- Attach whatever documents the survivor currently has
- File by the deadline
It is possible that DOJ may request additional information later.
What The Survivor Does NOT Need for a Last-Minute Filing
- Law enforcement affidavits
- Medical provider affidavits
- Formal exhibits
- Cover letters (optional)
Those are helpful but not required to meet the deadline.
When a survivor submits their completed petition form online, they will receive an email with a confirmation code. Keep this email and the confirmation code for future reference.
*Guide credit – NCMEC – backpageremissionnetwork.org