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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) – The U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts is helping implement a new strategy to help the country’s Justice Department battle human trafficking.
Rachael Rollins, along with U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, announced this new strategy on Friday. The strategy aims to enhance the department’s ability to prevent human trafficking, prosecute cases and support and protect victims and survivors.
“The fight against sex and labor trafficking, and supporting these victims, is one of my highest priorities for this office,” Rollins said. “Coordination among local, state and federal partners to provide a victim-centered approach to prevent human trafficking in the District will be further enhanced by the Justice Department’s newly released strategy.”
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Among the many goals the strategy has, one includes the establishment of federally-funded tasks forces that will help with state law enforcement and “comprehensive victim assistance." The strategy also aims to reduce the vulnerability of human trafficking victims from American Indian and Alaskan Native populations.
“Traffickers exploit and endanger some of the most vulnerable members of our society and cause their victims unimaginable harm,” said U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department’s new National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking will bring the full force of the Department to this fight.”
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Massachusetts has established itself as a leader in the fight against human trafficking, with the D.O.J. funneling nearly $235 million in federal grants to the Commonwealth to aid in this effort since 2017. In 2019, Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office was awarded $799,744 to develop a Massachusetts Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking.
The new strategy will be implemented under the direction of the National Human Trafficking Coordinator. More information about the strategy can be found online.
WBZ's Mike Macklin has more:
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