Florida Attorney General Convenes Human Trafficking Council

pam biondi at meeting about transnational crime

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Pam Bondi today convened the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking at Stetson University in Tampa. The 15-member council is composed of law enforcement officers, prosecutors, legislators, and experts in fields of health, education, and social services. During the meeting, the council members discussed new human trafficking legislation, victim protection methods and the enhancement of law enforcement tools and training to shutdown human trafficking rings.

“Florida is a zero-tolerance state for human trafficking, and today’s council meeting is an important step to move us closer to the council’s goal of making Florida the model state in fighting this horrific crime,” said Attorney General Bondi. “I am proud to chair this council in its efforts to find effective methods to protect victims and capture the monsters that prey on them.”

The council is composed of three committees: Resources and Services, Criminal Justice, and Legislative and Special Initiatives. In addition to chairing the council, Attorney General Bondi also leads the Legislative and Special Initiatives Committee. At the meeting, Attorney General Bondi presented the committee’s report on newly passed state legislation relating to human trafficking.
The Resources and Services Committee is co-chaired by Florida Department of Children and Families Secretary Mike Carroll and Florida Department of Juvenile Justice Secretary Christy Daly. The committee discussed ways to better protect human trafficking victims and continuum of care.

“A strong continuum of care for human trafficking victims is essential in ensuring the success of breaking the cycle for many of these survivors,” said DJJ Secretary Christina Daly. “The Resources and Services Committee had a productive meeting hearing from service providers across the state as well as participating in facilitated discussions identifying gaps in services across the continuum for both child and adult human trafficking victims. I look forward to the committee’s future work looking comprehensively at what services are needed to fill those gaps, the avenues for funding multi-agency services and what policy actions may be needed to address service provisions.”

The Criminal Justice Committee is chaired by Martin County Sheriff William Snyder, who presented the council with suggestions on how to enhance law enforcement tools and training to stop human trafficking rings and arrest those involved.

Sheriff Snyder said, “Of all the crimes in our modern society, none are more disturbing or destructive than the crime of human trafficking.”

The Statewide Council will meet again in the fall, before the October Human Trafficking Summit. For more information on the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking, please click here .

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