Baltimore, Maryland – In a continued effort to combat human trafficking, the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office has received a grant of $1,178,492.00 from the Office of Justice Programs to support the establishment of a comprehensive approach to improving outcomes for child and youth victims of human trafficking.
The grant will fund the creation of a statewide labor trafficking multidisciplinary team that will formalize and institutionalize the management of cases in a victim-centered manner. The team will also develop a unified statewide training strategy for professionals, incorporating victim-centered and trauma-informed best practices for handling human trafficking cases involving children and youth.
Additionally, the grant will establish a survivor-informed, coordinated service response for children and youth. This response will provide critical support services to victims, including crisis response, comprehensive services, and investigative resources.
“The Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to dedicate significant resources to fighting human trafficking,” said United States Attorney Robert K. Hur. “We urge the public to think of human trafficking victims and survivors during this month, Human Trafficking Awareness Month. The Office of Justice Programs is proud to support our partners and victims through financial grants and robust prosecutions that hold human traffickers accountable.”
In 2018, the Office of Justice Programs awarded $562,500 over a three-year period to the Prince George’s County Police Department and the University of Maryland Baltimore (on behalf of the University of Maryland Support, Advocacy, Freedom, and Empowerment (SAFE) Center) to support the Prince George’s County Human Trafficking Task Force. This grant has funded critical services, including 24/7 crisis response and comprehensive services, as well as additional investigative resources within the Prince George’s County Police Department.
The Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office has a long history of fighting human trafficking in the state. Since 2007, the Office has designated an Assistant U.S. Attorney to serve as Human Trafficking Coordinator for the district. This AUSA is the point of contact for law enforcement agencies and state prosecutors for human trafficking cases, and serves as the chair of the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force.
The Task Force, led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, serves to coordinate activities, develop policy, and implement strategic plans to combat human trafficking in Maryland. The MHTTF maintains five active sub-committees: Law Enforcement, Victim Services, Training, Public Outreach and Legislative.
The Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office urges the public to remain vigilant in the fight against human trafficking. If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text “HELP” to 233733.
Related Federal Cases
- New Hampshire Human Trafficking Task Force Receives $2M DOJ Grant · Washington
- Wifredo Ferrer, Human Trafficking, DC 2017 · Pennsylvania
- Mark Matis, Sex Trafficking of a Minor, PA 2014 · Pennsylvania
- Harris Hickman, Minor Sex Trafficking, NY 2023 · Pennsylvania
- Collin Cowell, Sex Trafficking of Minors, PA 2024 · Pennsylvania
Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Category: Human Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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