The Acting Chief of Police for the Houston Police Department recommends City Council approve the application for and acceptance of the FY2016 Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Program grant from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in the amount of $999,981. No cash match or in-kind contribution is required by the City. The grant period is from October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2019.
This DOJ grant will give HPD the necessary resources to combat prostitution and human trafficking in the Bissonnet Corridor (9300 to 10700 Bissonnet). The initiative will seek to design, file, and implement a first of its kind, civil injunction targeting prostitutes, “johns”, pimps, and businesses that harbor or facilitate prostitution.
The initiative will make a strong commitment to rescue underage victims of sex trafficking and reduce prostitution in the area by aggressively enforcing the prostitution laws in the Bissonnet Corridor. The initiative will incorporate outreach programs and pursue diversion strategies to assist prostitutes and victims of human sex trafficking in escaping a life on the street. All of these strategies will take place through a multi-division, multi-department, and multi-agency collaboration that will help revitalize the area and improve the quality of life for everyone living and working in the Bissonnet Corridor.