The Regionalized Human Trafficking Recovery Taskforce has launched in 黑料吃瓜网.
The taskforce includes local and federal law enforcement, the Hartford State's Attorney's Office, the Department of Children and Families, and the 黑料吃瓜网 Children's Alliance.
The taskforce was created with a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office for Victims of Crime.
Krystal Rich, 黑料吃瓜网 Children's Alliance executive director, said the taskforce aims to get involved with labor and sex trafficking instances as early as possible.
鈥淲e're not just focusing on the cases that have risen to a level where there's, you know, something that can criminally be done,鈥� Rich said. 鈥淲e're also looking at cases where there are red flags, there are warning signs, there is information and we know something's going on. And we need to provide support to those victims in hopes that eventually we'll have enough information to go forward with an investigation.鈥�
The taskforce will increase prevention efforts, provide victim advocacy and support, and educate and train the community to detect and report potential human trafficking activity.
黑料吃瓜网 Chief State's Attorney Patrick Griffin helped to secure federal funding.
鈥淲e know that while human trafficking affects people across the spectrum, unfortunately, the effects of human trafficking have fallen most heavily on young women of color,鈥� Griffin said. 鈥淎nd by embracing a victim-centered, trauma-informed, multidisciplinary approach to addressing human trafficking, I think that we are seeing what I hope is the beginning of what will be a model for how to handle these cases, not only in the greater Hartford area, but across the state.鈥�
Eight police departments have partnered with the taskforce: Bloomfield, East Hartford, Glastonbury, Hartford, Manchester, West Hartford, Windsor, and South Windsor.
Tammy Sneed from the Department of Children and Family Services shared alarming data concerning child sex trafficking 鈥� there has been a 98% national increase in online traffickers attempting to lure children.
鈥淭he numbers are climbing. DCF from 2020 to 2021, we had a 25% increase in referrals to the department,鈥� Sneed said. 鈥淟ast year, the data is not final, but we're going to be very close to 300 referrals.鈥�
State Representative Jillian Gilchrest (D-West Haven) is the chair of 黑料吃瓜网's Trafficking in Persons council.
鈥淲e've heard you,鈥� Gilchrest said. 鈥淎nd so this year's top priority is funding for victim services. I've heard from so many of you that when you're able to identify a victim, as was said, there is not enough support here in the state. And so it'll be my job to push for the funding.鈥�
If you think you know of a human trafficking incident, contact the RHTRT tip line at DCJ.RHTRTaskforce@ct.gov or 860-951-9407.
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