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Human trafficking

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 2020 National Crime Victims’ Service Awards recipients were selected from nominations in a variety of categories for their vision, action, and leadership in seeking justice, ensuring victims’ rights, and inspiring hope.

In a video message, OVC Director Jessica E. Hart states that “among the honored...

Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by OVC Director Jessica E. Hart During a Human Trafficking Roundtable in Georgia

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...

Director Hart Visits OVC-Funded Wellspring Living in Atlanta

OVC Site Visit to Wellspring Living
During a visit to Wellspring Living, an OVC grantee, Director Jessica Hart and Georgia First Lady Marty Kemp met survivors of human trafficking and learned about their residential and independent living programs.

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...

Director Hart Underscores Impact of Public/Private Partnerships on Human Trafficking Efforts During Georgia Visit

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...

Attorney General Barr Announces Nearly $100 Million in Office for Victims of Crime Funding to Fight Human Trafficking

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...

Preventing Trafficking of Girls

2020-MU-MU-K011
States Served
National
Indicates all applicable states in which services are provided.
Past Project Period End Date
Funding First Awarded
2020
$600,000

Holistic Legal Services for Minor Victims of Labor Trafficking in Ohio

2020-VM-BX-0003
Geographical Areas Served
  • Ohio, with a focus on Lucas and Franklin Counties
Indicates all geographic areas to which services are provided, excluding states. See States Served.
States Served
OH
Indicates all applicable states in which services are provided.
Past Project Period End Date
Funding First Awarded
2020
$664,932

Senior Advisor for Victims Services and Human Trafficking Program Director Woolf Speaks at Human Trafficking Summit

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...

Principal Deputy Director Woolf Speaks About Combating Sex Trafficking

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...

Director Hart Discusses Services to Victims of Human Trafficking at Grantee Orientation

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...

Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by OVC Director Jessica E. Hart During the FY 2019 Enhanced Collaborative Model Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking Grantee Orientation

Good afternoon, everyone! Domingo [Herraiz], thank you for that introduction and to the IACP for hosting today’s event and inviting me to be here with you today.

I’m so honored to be joining you all here on day 2 of this training. As you all know combating human trafficking is a top priority for the Office for Victims of Crime, the Department of Justice, and...

Office for Victims of Crime Director Jessica Hart Visits Grantees Supporting Human Trafficking Victims

COVID-19 has impacted nearly every aspect of life for Americans, and this is especially true for those working on the frontlines with victims of human trafficking. On Thursday, August 20, 2020, Director Hart visited two grantees, Survivor Ventures and Samaritan House, to hear how they are continuing to provide transitional housing services to human trafficking survivors during a pandemic that is stretching resources and presenting...

Submit Your Artwork to Commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act recognizes the importance of holding traffickers criminally accountable, protecting victims, and preventing victimization from occurring in the first place.

As the leader of the Department of Justice’s response efforts to combat human trafficking, the Office for Victims of Crime is pleased to announce the launch of an art initiative—Represent Resilience: Learning from Yesterday, Building a Stronger Tomorrow—to commemorate...

White House Announces More Than $35 Million in Office for Victims of Crime Funding to Provide Housing to Victims of Human Trafficking

Attorney General William P. Barr, Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katie Sullivan, and Office for Victims of Crime Director Jessica Hart announced $35,104,338 in funding to 73 organizations in 34 states to provide safe, stable housing and appropriate services to victims of human trafficking.  Attorney General Barr made the announcement during a roundtable at which grantees and survivors highlighted the...

Message from OVC Director Jessica E. Hart on Human Trafficking Initiatives

July 2020

This Office for Victims of Crime video message from Director Jessica E. Hart describes a consolidation of law enforcement, juvenile justice, and victim services human trafficking initiatives at the Office of Justice Programs into one division at the Office for Victims of Crime. This consolidation better aligns funding, training, assistance, and other resources in support of Attorney General Barr’s efforts to use every means at the Department of Justice’s disposal to bring traffickers to justice and serve trafficking victims.

Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by OVC Director Jessica E. Hart During the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Webinar for World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

Good afternoon, everyone!

I’m so glad that we could all get together today and commemorate World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.

I’d like to begin by thanking everyone at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for putting together such an important event and inviting me to speak.

Today is a day dedicated to comprehensive and coordinated approaches to preventing and combating human trafficking.

This goal...

New Division Created in the Office for Victims of Crime to Combat Human Trafficking

The Office for Victims of Crime is the largest federal funder of efforts to combat domestic human trafficking. Combating human trafficking is a top priority for the Administration, for the Department of Justice, and for the Office for Victims of Crime.

Watch this video message from Office for Victims of Crime Director Jessica E. Hart about a recent consolidation of law enforcement, juvenile justice, and...