NCJ Number
219387
Date Published
July 2007
Length
74 pages
Annotation
This report discusses key activities Federal agencies have undertaken to combat human trafficking crimes, Federal efforts to coordinate investigations and prosecutions of these crimes, and how the U.S. Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) supported federally funded State and local human trafficking task forces.
Abstract
This study recommends that the U.S. Attorney General and the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security develop and implement a strategic framework for enhancing collaboration. Further, the Attorney General should direct BJA to develop and implement a plan that will guide technical assistance to the task force. Since the enactment of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA), Federal agencies have investigated allegations of human trafficking crimes that produced 139 prosecutions; provided training and implemented State and local initiatives that support investigations and prosecutions; and established organizational structures, agency goals, plans, or strategies. Federal agencies have cooperated with one another in investigations and prosecutions of trafficking crimes on a case-by-case basis and established relationships among law enforcement officials across agencies. In order to support U.S. efforts to investigate trafficking in persons, BJA has awarded grants of up to $450,000 for the establishment of 42 State and local human trafficking law enforcement task forces. It has funded the development of a train-the-trainer curriculum and a national conference on human trafficking, and it has taken further steps in responding to task force technical assistance needs. BJA does not have a technical assistance plan for its human trafficking task force grant program. The study reviewed strategies, reports, and other agency documents; analyzed trafficking data; and interviewed agency officials and task force members. 7 tables