With gratitude to Lewis & Clark Crime Victim Litigation Clinic Students Amanda N. Bishop (J.D. expected ’27) and Emily Bell (JD expected ’27) for distilling the information found here.

Backpage and CityXGuide were each leading sources of online ads for sex trafficking victims at various times between 2004-2020.  During this time period when each operated, the websites functioned virtually identically in facilitating human trafficking through ads.  Fortunately, the criminal conduct of each was disrupted and now victims who were trafficked through the sites may be eligible for compensation through the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Remission Program.  The DOJ’s website is here. 

The deadline to apply is March 31, 2026.

What is “remission”?  Understanding remission requires understanding forfeiture.  “Forfeiture” is the legal process by which the government seizes property connected to criminal activity.  Forfeiture is an effort to deter illegal activity and prevent individuals from profiting from unlawful acts.  Remission, which is detailed in the Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter 28, Part 9, is the process by which the assets seized through forfeiture are given to the victims of the crime that triggered the forfeiture of the assets.

What does this mean for trafficking victims?  Victims of Backpage and CityXGuide can file a petition to receive some of the funds through DOJs official remission website — https://www.backpageremission.com/en.   Victims can also choose not to participate by doing nothing.  The ways to submit a petition are:

1. Submitting an online petition through the website; or
2. Calling, emailing, or writing to the Remission Administrator to request that a Petition Form be sent to them in English or Spanish:

1. Toll Free: 1-888-859-9206
2. International (Charges Apply): 1-971-316-5053
3. Email: info@BackpageRemission.com
4. Mail: Backpage Remission
             Remission Administrator
             P.O. Box 2890
             Portland, OR 97208-2890

What is the deadline? The deadline to submit a petition is March 31, 2026.

Overview of how to submit a petition? On the official remission website – https://www.backpageremission.com/en – in the center of the screen there is a large blue button reading ‘File a Petition Form’.  Clicking here takes a person to an instructions page which details what information will be asked for in the petition, including:

• the dates the person was trafficked;
• aliases used;
• emails, phone numbers and/or names of the traffickers;
• amounts of monetary losses;
• wages; and
• Supporting documentation (such as emails, text messages, screenshots, photos, advertisements, medical or psychological reports, and receipts).

NOTE:  You will not be able to save and return to the petition form while it is in progress or incomplete.

Want legal counsel to help with the petition?  To streamline processes NCVLI is sending all victims to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) which is coordinating efforts to connect trafficking victims with lawyers.  You can seek an attorney through them here: https://www.backpageremissionnetwork.org/#form.  The page includes an “Attorney Connection Request Form” about halfway down.  This does not substitute for submitting a petition it is just a resource that may help with submission.

Need more information?  Both NCMEC’s and DOJ websites have a great deal of information.