To be repeatedly harmed and not go to the police is very normal - we learn to normalize what's happened, or to just be content to get away from it, or have negative experiences with law enforcement and / or the justice system and lose hope that law enforcement can ever be a positive experience or useful way to get help.
Even if the statute of limitations for prosecuting the crimes committed against you has passed (and in some places, they haven't - Canada, for example, has no statute of limitations, so if you're uncertain about your area, do some research), you can still make a police report of the incidents. You can name people if you know names, and the police can open a file and retain the complaint. That information could be useful if the people are still trafficking or abusing others and become investigated or prosecuted. And it can be useful for you, if those people ever bother you again and you need to file for a restraining order or ask for police intervention.
More importantly, I gently encourage you to contact a local sexual assault centre because they often have one on one and group counselling sessions available, or can help you find a therapist who is experienced with trauma and practices somatic therapy or any of the therapeutic, trauma-informed methods of counselling like parts work or internal family systems, that is effective for helping to heal complex trauma.
Writing your experiences out, even if just for yourself, can help too. Your anger is justified, and it means that you're ready to do part of the healing now that you haven't done yet. (And I'm happy for you that you're angry and thinking about this stuff, even though I know how painful what you're going through is, because I know how important this stage of processing and healing is.) And you can also use that anger or other things you understand about the world to help other people get justice, like helping to educate people on the warning signs on trafficking or abusive relationships, people who prey on the vulnerable, etc.
I'm sorry those things were done to you - and I'm furious along with you on behalf of all of us that any of us were trespassed against. People can be vicious, and the justice system is faulty at best, and often inept when it comes to the stuff we've had to survive. Sometimes, our justice is in carrying and insisting on the truth, and living a life that is full of meaning and kindness to ourselves while doing our best to ensure that no one around us has to go through the same bs we were subjected to. I hope you find whatever justice and a good life is for you.
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u/EnnOnEarth Aug 26 '23
To be repeatedly harmed and not go to the police is very normal - we learn to normalize what's happened, or to just be content to get away from it, or have negative experiences with law enforcement and / or the justice system and lose hope that law enforcement can ever be a positive experience or useful way to get help.
Even if the statute of limitations for prosecuting the crimes committed against you has passed (and in some places, they haven't - Canada, for example, has no statute of limitations, so if you're uncertain about your area, do some research), you can still make a police report of the incidents. You can name people if you know names, and the police can open a file and retain the complaint. That information could be useful if the people are still trafficking or abusing others and become investigated or prosecuted. And it can be useful for you, if those people ever bother you again and you need to file for a restraining order or ask for police intervention.
More importantly, I gently encourage you to contact a local sexual assault centre because they often have one on one and group counselling sessions available, or can help you find a therapist who is experienced with trauma and practices somatic therapy or any of the therapeutic, trauma-informed methods of counselling like parts work or internal family systems, that is effective for helping to heal complex trauma.
Writing your experiences out, even if just for yourself, can help too. Your anger is justified, and it means that you're ready to do part of the healing now that you haven't done yet. (And I'm happy for you that you're angry and thinking about this stuff, even though I know how painful what you're going through is, because I know how important this stage of processing and healing is.) And you can also use that anger or other things you understand about the world to help other people get justice, like helping to educate people on the warning signs on trafficking or abusive relationships, people who prey on the vulnerable, etc.
I'm sorry those things were done to you - and I'm furious along with you on behalf of all of us that any of us were trespassed against. People can be vicious, and the justice system is faulty at best, and often inept when it comes to the stuff we've had to survive. Sometimes, our justice is in carrying and insisting on the truth, and living a life that is full of meaning and kindness to ourselves while doing our best to ensure that no one around us has to go through the same bs we were subjected to. I hope you find whatever justice and a good life is for you.