Overview: BJA Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force Initiative
In 2004 in an address to the first National Human Trafficking Conference, held on July 16th, President Bush issued the challenge "...People come to America hoping for a better life. And it is a terrible tragedy when anyone comes here, only to be forced into a sweatshop, domestic servitude, pornography or prostitution...U.S. law enforcement has documented cases of Latvian girls trafficked into sexual slavery in Chicago, or Ukrainian girls trafficked in Los Angeles, and Maryland, or Thai, Korean, Malaysian and Vietnamese girls trafficked in Georgia, or and Mexican girls trafficked in California, New Jersey and here in Florida. Many of the victims are teenagers, some as young as 12 years old. Many victims are beaten. Some are killed. Others die spiritual and emotional deaths, convinced after years of abuse that their lives have no worth. This trade in human beings brings suffering to the innocent and shame to our country, and we will lead the fight against it..."

Later that day, the Attorney General announced the BJA initiative to create victim centered, highly collaborative, anti-human trafficking task forces to address the issue of human trafficking within our borders. BJA, in partnership with the Office for Victims (OVC) of Crime, has since funded the creation of 42 anti-human trafficking task forces which empower local law enforcement to identify and rescue victims of trafficking and investigate trafficking in its various forms, whether it is forced prostitution, the commercial sexual exploitation of children, indentured servitude, peonage, or other forms of forced labor.

BJA program funds provide support for state and local law enforcement to work collaboratively with OVC funded trafficking victim service providers, Offices of the U. S. Attorney, and many other federal agencies in identifying and rescuing victims of trafficking and in the pro-active investigation of human trafficking and the prosecution of traffickers within our borders.

If you have any questions about this program, please contact BJA Policy AdvisorLon McDougal at 202-307-3678 or David Adams, Senior Policy Advisor, at 202-514-5309. at 202-514-1473. If you need assistance with the Grants Management System (GMS), please contact the GMS Help Desk at 1-888-549-9901.

Bureau of Justice Assistance Human Trafficking Award Information:

A map of current locations of BJA/OVC Human Trafficking Task Forces

FY 2005 Human Trafficking Task Forces

FY 2006 Grant Awards

FY 2006 Human Trafficking Task Forces

Law Enforcement Task Forces and Services for Human Trafficking Victims (FY 2006 Competitive Grant Announcement)

FY 2005 Call for Concept Papers: Human Trafficking Task Force and Victim Services

FY 2004 Law Enforcement and Service Provider Multidisciplinary Anti-Trafficking Task Forces solicitation