Human Trafficking Task Force Initiative

Under this award the City of Indianapolis will further enhance and operate a victim centered human trafficking task force in conjunction with the U. S. Attorney's Office, Federal law enforcement, and their 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 Indianapolis will use the 2010 Human Trafficking funds to support overtime, training, equipment, travel, and contracts for a prosecutor and a crime analyst to assist the task force as they investigate and prosecute human traffickers. Specifically, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department's Strategic Investigations Bureau will oversee the activities of the grant, assigning staff as needed. Each of the police districts will identify vice and/or neighborhood resource officers to serve as field liaisons to the project. Officers will work overtime as needed to complete undercover work, sweeps, searches, and other problem solving investigative projects. In addition to intensively training specialized officers, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department will provide annual in-service training for all 1635 department officers as well as new recruits to increase their awareness of the problem and teach them to recognize possible signs of human trafficking when dealing with less serious crimes. Existing staff will be trained to implement trafficking work, contributing to the long-term impact of the project.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department will contract with a crime analyst to assist the Task Force in screening case files for indicators of human trafficking. The analyst will help identify patterns and will generate data needed by Task Force members, working closely with the FBI's Field Intelligence Group (FIG). The Prosecutor's Office will continue to employ a full time attorney specialized in human trafficking. The attorney will screen cases, collaborate with the U.S. Attorney's Office to identify any changes or enhancements needed in the Indiana human trafficking statute, prosecute offenders, and help law enforcement officers with evidence collection procedures. The attorney will help train local law enforcement and related agencies (hospital emergency rooms, landlords, fire marshals, code enforcement, health inspectors, etc.) to recognize human trafficking. They will collaborate with the Julian Center to provide community outreach, education, and awareness building.

CA/NCF