She said she was trafficked by her family as a young girl and escaped by saving money for college. Stark attended the University her first year and transferred to University of Wisconsin-Madison to get away from her family.

State Rep. Phyllis Kahn, DFL-Minneapolis, said her main concern within sex-trafficking laws is making sure people who are trafficked are treated as victims, not criminals.

Kahn said many women are arrested for prostitution and sent back to their country before they can receive help, because they lack immigration papers.

Breaking Free, a nonprofit organization in St. Paul, assists women getting out of prostitution by providing support, housing and community awareness, said Executive Director Vednita Carter.

The Aurora Center does not offer specialized services for prostituted women but would refer them to organizations such as Breaking Free, said Liz Borer, legal advocacy and direct services coordinator for the center.

This is cache, read story here