the Backpage Survivor Remission Network

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) is a private, nonprofit organization created in 1984. Over the past 41 years, NCMEC has grown into the nation’s largest and most influential child protection organization. Today NCMEC fulfills its Congressionally designated mission to help find missing children, combat child sexual exploitation, and prevent child victimization.

On July 31, 2025, the Department of Justice announced a remission process to compensate eligible individuals advertised for trafficking on Backpage.com or CityXGuide for specific damages they suffered as a result of the trafficking. Individuals seeking compensation were required to file a petition by March 31, 2026.  

While an attorney was not required to file a petition, NCMEC quickly recognized that the filing process could be complex and overwhelming for survivors. The Backpage Survivor Remission Network, created by NCMEC, connected survivors with over 60 law firms and legal services which provided no-cost support in compiling the necessary information and drafting petitions to make the process easier. 

Still want to submit a DOJ Backpage Remission Petition?

If you did not get a chance to request an attorney through the Backpage Survivor Remission Network we want to remind you that you can still submit a Backpage Remission Petition without an attorney.  DOJ provides extensive instructions and information about the petition process, documenting eligibility and losses, and payment in the FAQs on their website. 

We have also created suggested guidance to help you to complete your own petition.  All eligibility and compensation determinations are made by DOJ.  Following this suggested guidance does not ensure your petition will result in receiving compensation: 

Unfortunately, NCMEC does not have the capacity or resources to respond to questions about submitting a petition and does not have any information about the status of a petition that has been submitted to DOJ.  The Department of Justice has hired Epiq as the Third-Party Remission Administrator to assist in processing petitions, processing payments, and answering questions. 

For more information about Epiq, please visit www.EpiqGlobal.com. Individuals applying for remission are never charged either directly or indirectly for Epiq services as the Remission Administrator. 

Program Partners

Our deepest appreciations go to our program partners. Without your assistance and support this project would not have been possible: 

NCMEC logo

We want to extend our heartfelt appreciation to each law firm, legal service, and individual attorney who assisted survivors with their petitions for Backpage Remission. Your assistance, support, and dedication was crucial and we cannot thank you enough for your time, energy, knowledge, and compassion. 

LEGAL NETWORK

And many other generous law firms

Backpage Remission Process Explained

The remission process is a federal effort to compensate people who were trafficked for sex as children or adults through ads posted on Backpage between January 1, 2004 and April 6, 2018, and/or on CityXGuide between April 8, 2018 and June 19, 2020.

  • This remission process will give money seized from Backpage and CityXGuide to eligible survivors who suffered specific damages by being advertised on these sites. It’s a way for the government to help survivors by compensating them with funds seized from those who harmed them.

  • Only very specific damages are eligible for compensation through the remission process. These damages are different from what may be compensated in restitution proceedings or through crime victim funds.

    The following types of damages may be eligible under this process if sufficiently documented and resulting from the trafficking an individual experienced:

    • Medical or pharmacy losses

    • Future medical care

    • Behavioral and mental health treatment (including coverage for therapy, counseling, trauma-informed care, substance use treatment, and other recovery services)

    • Future behavioral health care

    • Lost wages (calculated based on the duration of trafficking an individual experienced)

    Not every type of loss or harm qualifies under the remission process. This program focuses only on specific, documented financial damages tied directly to trafficking on Backpage and/or CityXGuide. The following types of damages cannot be compensated through remission:

    • Damages unrelated to trafficking on Backpage or CityXGuide

    • Non-monetary damages

    • Undocumented damages

    • Projected future income loss

    • Pain and suffering (physical or emotional suffering is not compensable, though medical and mental health treatment may be)

    • Emotional distress, grief, or wrongful loss

  • After filing a petition for remission (either on your own or through an attorney), a company hired by the Department of Justice, Epiq Global Inc., will review your petition. You will receive a Notice of Eligibility, indicating that your petition is complete. You will not know the total amount of compensation you may receive until all claims have been reviewed and assessed by Epiq Global Inc.

To learn more about the remission process visit the official DOJ Backpage Remission site here