S. 1236: A BILL TO DESIGNATE HUMAN TRAFFICKING COORDINATORS IN U.S. ATTORNEY OFFICES
PURPOSE
To increase justice for victims and expand accountability for perpetrators of human trafficking through increased investigations and successful prosecution of those responsible for exploiting others in modern day slavery.
LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY
Designating at least one Assistant U.S. Attorney in each Federal judicial district to serve as a Human Trafficking Justice Coordinator who will:
- Prosecute cases of forced labor, international sex trafficking and sex trafficking of adults by force, fraud, or coercion and ensure restitution for victims as required by law;
- Collaborate with Departments of Labor (DOL) and Homeland Security (DHS), State and local law enforcement, and victim services providers to build partnerships to identify and successfully prosecute human trafficking cases with a victimcentered approach;
- Conduct public outreach and awareness activities relating to human trafficking. The Attorney General will designate a Deputy Assistant Attorney General who is a career appointee as Human Trafficking Coordinator at the Department of Justice (DOJ) who will:
- Coordinate, promote, and support the work of the DOJ related to human trafficking, including investigation, prosecution, training, outreach, victim support, grant-making, and policy activities;
- Lead and support law enforcement efforts and policy activities related to human trafficking in coordination with designated Assistant U.S. Attorney in each Federal judicial district;
- Disseminate training guides and programs, in consultation with human trafficking survivors to ensure a victim-centered approach and best practices, that address evidentiary and other legal issues, and how to appropriately assess, respond to, and interact with victims and witnesses in human trafficking cases including in administrative, civil, and criminal judicial proceedings to law enforcement officers at all levels, prosecutors, judges, emergency responders, individuals working on victim services, adult and child protective services, social services, and public safety, medical personnel, mental health personnel, financial services personnel, and other individuals whose work may bring them into contact with human trafficking; and
- Recommend targeting allocation of DOJ resources to combat trafficking
