2009 Human Trafficking Task Force Initiative

Under this award, the Phoenix Police Department will further develop and operate a victim centered human trafficking task force in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney's Office, Federal law enforcement, and their Office for Victims of Crime Human Trafficking Services provider to identify and rescue victims of human trafficking and to proactively investigate human trafficking and prosecute traffickers. The primary goal of this program is to identify and rescue foreign victims of trafficking through a victim centered, proactive investigation strategy. The secondary goal is the interdiction of trafficking and the successful prosecution of traffickers.

With this supplemental funding, the Phoenix Police Department will support partnerships already established with the U.S. Attorney's Office (Arizona District), several local law enforcement agencies, Federal law enforcement agencies, and existing non-governmental organizations that are actively involved in the rescue and restoration of victims of human trafficking and form the foundaton of the Greater Phoenix Human Trafficking Task Force.

The goals of the Greater Phoenix Human Trafficking Task Force include the enhancement of existing partnerships with local and Federal law enforcement by providing training, equipment, technical assistance and intelligence to assist them in the investigation of human trafficking cases. The Phoenix Police Department will actively pursue proactive investigations targeting human traffickers and will support our non-governmental organization partners by responding to actionable information from them. Project coordination will continue to be accomplished by the Phoenix Police Department with the assistance of the U.S. Attorney's Office to determine all future Greater Phoenix Human Trafficking Task Force activities to be achieved during the grant period.

CA/NCF