The Acting Chief of Police for the Houston Police Department recommends City Council approve the application for and acceptance of the FY2016 Enhanced Collaborative Model to Combat Human Trafficking grant from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). The amount of the grant is $751,565 with an in-kind contribution of $255,000; there is no cash match required from the City. The grant period is October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2019.
This DOJ grant will provide funding to establish an HPD led multi-disciplinary Human Trafficking Task Force (HTTF) consisting of federal, state, and local law enforcement and a victim service provider, YMCA International of Greater Houston. The implementation of the HTTF will act as a force multiplier to increase the identification of all forms of sex and labor trafficking victims by providing a collaborative proactive investigative response to apprehend and prosecute perpetrators at both the state and federal levels. Once identified and recovered, YMCA International of Greater Houston will provide victims with a comprehensive array of social services.
Specifically, the funds will support the HTTF by: 1) adding law enforcement agencies and state prosecutors from outlying counties within the Houston metro area; 2) improve strategies to investigate and prosecute sex and labor trafficking cases, 3) adding a specialized officer to address gang-related incidents of human trafficking; 4) utilizing data-driven decision making; 5) conducting coordinated training and public awareness activities; and 6) provide a comprehensive service delivery response to all newly identified trafficking victims.