The Just Like Me Report Cards grade states based on a Top Ten list of laws focused on ending the criminalization of trafficking survivors and addressing its lasting impacts. Building on nearly 15 years of tracking legal reforms, this project targets those areas of law that have historically been hardest to shift—particularly those requiring long-term, collaborative efforts and broader cultural and systemic change—and empowers grassroots advocacy through user-friendly toolkits. These toolkits feature statutory breakdowns for each policy goal, survivor-informed recommendations and policy considerations, and guidance on related policy issues.

How did your state score?

Grades are based solely on an analysis of state statutes. While policies, practices, and other non-legislative efforts play a vital role in addressing child and youth sex trafficking, the protections examined under the Just Like Me Report Cards must be written into law to ensure they are enforceable, equitable, consistent, and enduring.

Progress is also tracked using a tiered system that allows states to see how they compare to one another. The tiers provide a clearer view of each state’s relative standing, offering an additional lens for measuring improvement beyond changes to their letter grade.

The tiers are structured as follows:

Tier 1 = Top 10 Scores

Tier 2 = Middle 31 Scores

Tier 3 = Bottom 10 Scores

Issue Briefs and National State Law Survey Charts

Issue Briefs explore the purpose behind each policy goal analyzed in the Just Like Me Report Cards and provide practical drafting considerations to support lawmakers in strengthening state law.

The National State Law Surveys offer a state-by-state overview of legislative progress on the policies outlined in the Just Like Me Legislative Agenda. Presented in easy-to-read charts, each survey provides a snapshot of national progress on specific policy goals—making it simple to see how states compare and where the nation stands as a whole.

Issue Briefs & National State Law Survey Charts