The Threat of Imprisonment
While Amara was free from jail, we nevertheless, still had several entanglements to manage. True, the judge saw her as a victim, but he did not completely set her free from the prosecution process. Consequently, the judge ordered she be placed on probation and any violation of that probation would put her at risk for the long sentence. Although (to his credit), he would allow her to leave the state for the very specialized therapy she needed.
It is important to realize that Amara never had a free day as an adult, as a result she was captive to this life and when you combine this with tens of thousands of rapes and beatings, you can get an idea of the type of life she was living. She literally was a prisoner subject to rapes and beatings for most of her life. This aspect of Amara’s life and those that have been trafficked is exceedingly difficult to comprehend without experiencing it yourself.
Note: I so wished that I was an attorney. I would have argued that she is either a victim or a criminal under the law she cannot be both. However, I am sure the attorney representing her was just relieved to see her free of a life sentence which would have put Amara at risk. Very few people understand the needs of a trafficking victim during the healing stages.
Getting back to the court case, one would think that with the information at hand that Amara had repeatedly been assaulted, that the judge would see her as a victim needing treatment not more punishment. Unfortunately, I have discovered that when sex, minors and money combine adults lose their minds! In this case, the court, i.e., the judge determined that Amara was responsible for the crimes she committed despite the mitigating circumstances. In doing so, Amara was placed in probation. While the court felt it was being very lenient with this” sentence” I strongly disagree.
During the entire trial, we had security posted in the courtroom in hopes she would be released. While the court procedure was happening our personal protection investigator saw one of the traffickers’ handlers in the court room. She was texting back info about the proceedings. We alerted the attorney for Amara, and he told the judge.
While the judge did turn off the courtroom microphone and speak to both attorneys privately, he put on the public record exactly where Amara was to be treated and the dates she would be there, even though he was asked to keep that information confidential. The court also left it to her own devices to get from jail to the treatment center. We had an angel donor provide the care and transportation costs for Amara, so that was covered. However, because all the information was public and the only one in jail was the victim (not the traffickers), we had to procure armed security to pick her up from the jail and transport her to another state.
Furthermore, Amara did not have a photo ID and never had one. I am immensely proud to say that the team I assembled was able to get her on the commercial airline without it. This is a secret that I have kept till this day – it was not my first time!
Amara had been remanded back to her jail cell until we picked her up at 11:00 pm.
We had to buy the tickets the very same day and three of us accompanied her to the treatment center. Because it had been made public, we had another personal protection person surveil the treatment center and the surrounding areas prior ot our arrival.
We had good reason to maintain heightened security throughout the transition. It was not so much that we were worried the traffickers would try to get her back and kidnap her as we were concerned, she was still under the spell. All they would have to do is make eye contact with Amara and she might willingly go with them. Since she is an adult, there would be nothing we could do to stop her.
Thankfully, we got safely got her to her destination. We had been awake and on full alert for over thirty-six hours. And yes, we slept on the flight home.
Treatment
The treatment center was in an incredibly beautiful and secluded part of the country. A small town with one road in and out. The police knew everyone, and well just about everyone knew everyone! The center was a strong source of the town’s revenue, and their staff were highly active in the community. It truly was more like a spa than a clinical setting. Their specialty was treating neurological damage due to long term trauma. They offered several modalities of treatment and various staff members, each a part of a perfect puzzle that had been assembled to help victims that showed symptoms that few professionals know how to treat. Amara was in the best possible setting for her very personal needs.
The location was full of flowers, vegetation, a pool, a stunning view of the ocean and they had two mini horses. It was an idyllic location and we felt blessed that Amara could be there. The center housed a maximum of eight “clients” at any one time, plus six staff personnel. The food was healthy and vibrant in color and taste. I must admit- I wanted to stay even before I learned that they would be swimming with dolphins every week. Amara and I laughed at an inside joke we had- I looked at her and said with my hands outstretched. Left hand up, prison or right hand up dolphins? Before the court hearing she had chosen prison- now she chose dolphins!
This is a point that is important- when someone is as traumatized as she was choosing the unknown it is scarier than enduring more trauma. The unknown could be worse. Amara TRULY had to trust me when she got on the plane. I had NO room to let her down in anyway or she would have fled.
Every promise I made I kept. One was that she would like where we were going better than prison. Before I left, I asked her if she thought she made the right choice, she said yes. I got into the car with the personal protection guys and slept all the way to the airport. I knew the struggle for freedom was not over, but for a day or two I could rest.
It had taken me over two years to get to this moment. I savored it for both of us. Amara was content for the moment, but she was not completely free yet.
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