DEPARTMENT: Police
DEPARTMENT HEAD: William P. McManus, Chief of Police
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Enhanced Collaborative Model to Combat Human Trafficking Grant
SUMMARY:
The San Antonio Police Department is seeking approval for an ordinance authorizing the acceptance of funds not to exceed $650,000.00 from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), and Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) for the three year Enhanced Collaborative Model to Combat Human Trafficking Program and entering into a Local Administrative Agreement with partnering task force agencies for the grant period of October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2019.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On April 15, 2016, the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) submitted a Special Category Grant Opportunity Submission Authorization Request to apply for the Enhanced Collaborative Model to Combat Human Trafficking grant.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), and Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) have awarded the SAPD the Enhanced Collaborative Model to Combat Human Trafficking in the amount of $650,000.00. The purpose of this program is to enhance anti-human trafficking law enforcement, victim services to victims of human trafficking, conduct both proactive and reactive investigations of sex trafficking crimes, and to enhance the established task force in coordination and collaboration with other law enforcement agencies and non-governmental agencies.
This grant will strengthen the working relationship between the Police Department and the Rape Crisis Center for Children and Adults by providing a victim-centered approach to addressing this rapidly growing crime. SAPD and Rape Crisis Center will work to enhance a multi-disciplinary approach to accomplish the following:
• Identify and investigate occurrences of human trafficking in order to prosecute both the traffickers and those who benefit from the services provided by the victims
• Meet the individual needs of the victims
• Create a regional public awareness campaign to prevent incidents of human trafficking
ISSUE:
The proposed ordinance continues City Council's policy of seeking intergovernmental financial assistance for human trafficking enforcement programs. The program will enhance the City's efforts in combatting human trafficking crimes.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total program budget will not exceed $650,000.00. The grant does not require a cash match, but does require an in-kind match of $216,667.00 of already existing detective overtime salaries.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the Criminal Justice, Public Safety, and Services Committee approve the acceptance of funds for this grant for addressing human trafficking crimes and approve the item to go forward to the full City Council for approval.