b'Sixty percent reported that it was their decision to exit exploitation. Prompts to that decision included: Prompts to Exit Decision 65.2%I couldnt take it anymore. Im tired of being addicted to drugs and tired of being chased.54.5%I saw an opportunity. This response took many forms, from seeing a billboard advertisement to being offered shelter placement.37.7%I was physically hurt. Medicalcated that getting arrested, even incarcerated, was condition, pregnancy, and overdosepart of their exit. Of those, 62.1 percent reported were some of the experiences thatincarceration turned out for their good. It gave motivated exit. 37.7% them time away from the stressors, relationships, I had a spiritual encounter alsoand substances that led to a clearer decision to exit. prompted exit. I had an encounter withI knew that life wasnt for me, but my addiction to Jesus. He showed up in my cousinsheroin and fentanyl kept me there. Getting locked dining room, and He told me to makeup three times helped me straighten up. peace with Him. Then He was gone. ItThat time away from the circumstances, pres-was crazy! sures, and relationships of exploitation also allowed these women to achieve sobriety and think about Thirty-nine percent indicated that their meanstheir futures. Getting arrested didnt save me of exit was through rescue. Two-thirds reportedfrom trafficking, but it did help me realize that taking some action that led to getting help, such asmy life was unmanageable and that I desired help making a phone call or reaching out for services.so deeply! To that end, federal, state, and local One survivor wrote, At first, when the detectivesgovernments should ensure that incarceration were trying to get me out of the life, I wasservices are equipped with victim identification extremely resistant. I was loyal to my trafficker.tools, information about related services, and I originally thought that I was supporting myselfreferral resources for trafficking survivors. through prostitution. It was not until further downApproximately one-fifth of respondents reported the road when a female detective sat down withthat some life event provoked their action to me and we had an honest conversation about whatexit. Interestingly, two responses ranked number was going on, that I realized I was being trafficked.1: I saw an opportunity to get out, and I took it I believe God sent this detective to rescue me.and I feared for my life. This suggests that being About one-third of our survey respondents indi- prompted to exit happens most often in that \x02 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2025 WWW.CITYGATENETWORK.ORG 23'