	Background

Congress passed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to combat  trafficking in persons. Federal Agencies Have Undertaken Key Activities to Combat Trafficking in Persons Crimes

Subsequent to the enactment of the TVPA, federal agencies reported 139  prosecutions and hundreds of investigations of trafficking for  commercial sex or labor as of June 2007. To support federal efforts to  identify victims and investigate and prosecute these crimes, agencies (1)  provided training to agency personnel to raise awareness and increase the  skills needed to identify victims and pursue trafficking investigations and  prosecutions, (2) carried out outreach and training to raise public  awareness of and skills in identifying trafficking victims, and (3) engaged  state and local knowledge and resources by funding state and local  trafficking in persons task forces and developing and disseminating a  model state law. In addition, to address their responsibilities related to  trafficking in persons crimes, some agencies have established special  units, agency-level goals, or plans or strategies. Our prior work has shown that a  strategic framework that would include, at a minimum, a common  outcome and mutually reinforcing strategies; agreed-on roles and  responsibilities; and compatible polices, procedures, and other means to  operate across agency boundaries can help agencies enhance and expand  collaboration on issues that are national in scope and cross agency  jurisdictions. Federal agencies have also developed tools to facilitate interagency  coordination and even coordination with state and local law enforcement  and nongovernmental organizations in trafficking cases, usually on a case- by-case basis. Currently, coordination among agencies on training and  outreach is largely episodic. BJA Has Helped Support Federally Funded State and Local Human Trafficking Law Enforcement Task Forces, but Lacks a Plan to Identify and Focus Technical Assistance Needs

To help coordinate U.S. efforts to identify trafficking victims, get needed  services to victims of trafficking, and investigate and prosecute trafficking  in persons crimes in communities across the country, BJA established a  program to fund state and local law enforcement human trafficking task  forces. Since 2004, BJA has awarded grants of up to  $450,000 for a 3-year period to each of 42 task forces. BJA reported using  its general funds to support some technical assistance to the task forces  (e.g., sponsoring the development of a train-the-trainer curriculum on  human trafficking and funding a national conference) and taking further  steps to help respond to task force technical assistance needs. However,  task force members we contacted and DOJ officials pointed to continued  and additional technical assistance needs. BJA does not have a technical  assistance plan for its human trafficking grant program. BJA officials told  us that they recognized the need for a technical assistance plan for its  human trafficking initiative and had begun to prepare a plan to provide  additional and proactive technical assistance to the task forces. Our previous work on federal agencies’ administration of  grants or funding to state and local entities has shown the need for  agencies that administer grants or funding to state and local entities to  implement a plan that focuses technical assistance efforts on areas of  greatest need. Appendix I: Objectives, Scope, and Methodology

To ascertain the status of U.S. efforts to investigate and prosecute  trafficking crimes, this report discusses (1) key activities federal agencies  have undertaken to combat trafficking in persons crimes, (2) federal  efforts to coordinate on investigations and prosecutions of trafficking in  persons crimes and whether these efforts might be enhanced, and (3) how  the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) supported federally funded state  and local human trafficking task forces and whether these efforts might be  improved. Information is also not consistent  across agencies.
Why GAO Did This Study

Human trafficking is a transnational crime whose victims include men, women, and children and may involve violations of labor, immigration, antislavery, and other criminal laws. To ensure punishment of traffickers and protection of victims, Congress passed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA), which is subject to reauthorization in 2007. The Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Homeland Security (DHS) lead federal investigations and prosecutions of trafficking crimes. As requested, this report discusses (1) key activities federal agencies have undertaken to combat human trafficking crimes, (2) federal efforts to coordinate investigations and prosecutions of these crimes, and (3) how the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) supported federally funded state and local human trafficking task forces. GAO reviewed strategies, reports, and other agency documents; analyzed trafficking data; and interviewed agency officials and task force members.

What GAO Found

Since the enactment of the TVPA in 2000, federal agencies have (1) investigated allegations of trafficking crimes, leading to 139 prosecutions;(2) provided training and implemented state and local initiatives to support investigations and prosecutions; and (3) established organizational structures, agency-level goals, plans, or strategies. For example, agencies have trained new and current personnel on investigating and prosecuting trafficking in persons crimes through their agency training academies and centers, provided Web-based training, and developed and disseminated guidance on case pursuance. Agencies have also sponsored outreach and training to state and local law enforcement, nongovernmental organizations, and the general public through a toll-free complaint line, newsletters, national conferences, and model legislation. Finally, some agencies have established special units or plans for carrying out their antitrafficking duties. Federal agencies have coordinated across agencies on investigations and prosecutions of trafficking crimes on a case-by-case basis, determined by individual case needs, and established relationships among law enforcement officials across agencies. For example, several federal agencies worked together to resolve a landmark trafficking case involving over 250 victims. However, DOJ and DHS officials have identified the need to advance and expand U.S. efforts to combat trafficking through more collaborative and proactive strategies to identify trafficking victims. Prior GAO work on interagency collaboration has shown that a strategic framework that includes, among other things, a common outcome, mutually reinforcing strategies, and compatible polices and procedures to operate across agency boundaries can help enhance and sustain collaboration among federal agencies dealing with issues that are national in scope and cross agency jurisdictions. To support U.S. efforts to investigate trafficking in persons, BJA has awarded grants of up to $450,000 to establish 42 state and local human trafficking law enforcement task forces. BJA has funded the development of a train-the-trainer curriculum and a national conference on human trafficking and taken further steps to respond to task force technical assistance needs. Nevertheless, task force members from the seven task forces we contacted and DOJ officials identified continued and additional assistance needs. BJA does not have a technical assistance plan for its human trafficking task force grant program. Prior GAO work has shown the need for agencies that administer grants or funding to state and local entities to implement a plan to focus technical assistance on areas of greatest need. BJA officials said they were preparing a plan to provide additional and proactive technical assistance to the task forces, but as of June 2007 had not received the necessary approvals.