Human Trafficking Task Force Continuation 2009

Under this award, the city of Clearwater 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.

The city of Clearwater, through the police department, will use the grant award to support the Clearwater Area Task Force on Human Trafficking (CATFHT) to pursue its proactive victim-centered strategy working with our listed law enforcement and social service partners to increase the identification and rescue of trafficking victims. The four goals of the CATFHT are to: 1) increase the identification and rescue of human trafficking victims through proactive law enforcement, which is victim centered and collaborative across levels of government; 2) continue to assist trafficking victims with T-Visa's, U-Visa's, and S-Visa's and applications for continued presence in the U.S. and certification or eligibility for Department of Health and Human Services refugee benefits; 3) continue a successful strategy that supports a strong law enforcement role in public awareness and outreach; and 4) continue to identify and collaborate with community stakeholders in an effort to eliminate the trafficking in human subjects.

CA/NCF