Human trafficking

Twenty years ago, Congress passed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. This landmark legislation provided a framework for protecting victims, holding traffickers criminally accountable, and preventing victimization from occurring in the first place.

As part of our commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, the Office for Victims of Crime is launching the Human Trafficking Capacity Building Center website.

The Center offers...

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. Prior to the passage of the Act, the United States relied on traditional laws prohibiting involuntary servitude; however, these laws often fell short of addressing modern day forms of human trafficking.

This landmark legislation recognized the importance of protecting victims, holding traffickers criminally accountable, and preventing victimization from occurring in the first...

Meet the 2020 National Crime Victims’ Service Awards Recipients

The Office for Victims of Crime annually recognizes individuals and organizations that demonstrate outstanding service in supporting victims.

The National Crime Victims’ Service Awards recipients are selected from nominations in a variety of categories for their vision, action, and leadership to improve the lives of victims in the aftermath of crime.

In a video message...

Office for Victims of Crime Director Jessica E. Hart visited Austin, Texas on Wednesday, October 14, 2020, to hear from the field and announce grant awards to national and state programs.

Director Hart began her day with a tour of the National Domestic Violence Hotline. The Hotline, funded in part by the Office for Victims of Crime, operates 24 hours a day, 365 days...

On Tuesday, October 6, 2020, Attorney General Barr announced the Office for Victims of Crime release of awards totaling more than $1.8 billion to state victim assistance and compensation programs to fund thousands of local victim assistance programs across the country and provide millions in compensation to victims of crime.

Supported by the Crime Victims Fund, this formula grant program supports a broad array of programs...

Good afternoon, everyone! Thank you all for being here today, and more importantly thank you for your continued efforts combating human trafficking.

Thank you especially to Governor Kemp for hosting this discussion. I greatly appreciate everything you have been doing to make combatting trafficking a top priority in Georgia.

Also, a special thank you to First Lady Marty Kemp who has been with us throughout...

On Wednesday, September 30, 2020, Director Hart and First Lady Marty Kemp met with Wellspring Living staff to learn more about their comprehensive care model for serving victims of human trafficking. Wellspring Living, a recipient of the recently awarded Office for Victims of Crime Fiscal Year 2020 housing assistance grants, provides domestic sex trafficking victims and those at risk with specialized recovery services through residential...

On Wednesday, September 30, 2020, Office for Victims of Crime Director Jessica Hart participated in a roundtable with anti-trafficking professionals, including Governor Brian Kemp; First Lady Marty Kemp; Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan; Georgia Attorney General Carr; GRACE Commission members; U.S. Attorneys BJay Pak, Charlie Peeler, and Bobby Christine; and Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Vic Reynolds.

The panel was convened to discuss combating human trafficking through public/private partnerships, as well as...

On Monday, September 21, 2020, Attorney General Barr and Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump announced the release of nearly $100 million in Office for Victims of Crime funding during a meeting at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. 

This funding, which includes the $35 million in funding for housing assistance announced during a recent White House event, will go towards...

On Wednesday, September 9, 2020, Office for Victims of Crime Senior Advisor for Victims Services and Human Trafficking Program Director Bill Woolf spoke at the Human Trafficking Prevention and Awareness Summit, hosted by the Louisiana First Foundation.

Mr. Woolf discussed the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking nationwide, led by the Office for Victims of Crime, including the Improving Outcomes for Child and...

On Monday, August 31, 2020, Office for Victims of Crime Senior Advisor for Victims Services and Human Trafficking Program Director Bill Woolf spoke at a webinar hosted by the National Elder Multidisciplinary Team (E-MDT) Training and Technical Assistance Center for E-MDT grantees.

He discussed the commitment of the Office for Victims of Crime to serve older victims of financial fraud, including the March 2020 launch of...

On Thursday, August 27, 2020, Office for Victims of Crime Principal Deputy Director Bill Woolf spoke at the 2020 Virtual Law Enforcement & Human Trafficking Conference.

Principal Deputy Director Woolf, a former detective and human trafficking task force lead investigator, provided information to law enforcement personnel about the involvement of gangs in sex trafficking. He discussed the economics of sex trafficking and how gangs recruit...

On Wednesday, August 26, 2020, Office for Victims of Crime Director Jessica E. Hart spoke at the FY 2019 Enhanced Collaborative Model Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking Grantee Orientation.

In her remarks, Director Hart addresses the challenges faced by human trafficking task forces to identify and serve victims during the pandemic and highlights the commitment by the Trump Administration and the Department of Justice...