Report Violence: How Sex Workers Can Document, Seek Help, and Stay Safe

When you report violence, the act of formally documenting and seeking legal or institutional response to physical, emotional, or sexual harm. Also known as filing a complaint, it’s not just about getting help—it’s about claiming your right to safety in a world that often ignores you. Too many sex workers are told to stay quiet, to avoid the police, or to accept abuse as part of the job. But violence isn’t normal. It’s not a risk you signed up for. It’s a crime—and you have ways to fight back, even if the system isn’t built for you.

There are tools made for this. civil remedies, legal actions outside the criminal system that let you seek protection or compensation when police won’t act. Also known as protective orders, these are court-issued rules that can force someone to stay away from you, your home, or your workplace. You don’t need a conviction to get one. You don’t need to prove guilt beyond doubt. You just need to show you’re afraid—and that’s enough. Then there’s incident documentation, the practice of safely recording details of abuse: dates, times, descriptions, photos, messages, and client info. Also known as safety logs, this isn’t just for lawyers—it’s your shield. Tools like SafetyPin or encrypted notes on a locked device can turn scattered memories into hard evidence. And when you document, you’re not just protecting yourself—you’re building a record that helps others.

Violence doesn’t always come from clients. It can come from landlords evicting you because they suspect you’re a sex worker. From police using loitering laws to harass you in public spaces. From hospitals turning you away when you need care. These aren’t accidents. They’re patterns. And when you report violence, you’re not just speaking up—you’re challenging those patterns. You’re saying: I won’t be erased. I won’t be silenced. I have rights, even if they’re not always honored.

What follows are real stories, real tools, and real legal strategies used by sex workers right now—not theory, not advice from outsiders, but what works on the ground. You’ll find guides on how to get a protective order without a lawyer. How to store evidence so it can’t be deleted or seized. How to talk to neighbors so they become allies, not threats. How to use digital tools to track patterns and warn others. These aren’t perfect solutions. But they’re the ones people are using to survive—and to fight back.