Gaining Support for a Task Force

To gain task force support, you can present the results of the assessment to different law enforcement and victim service leaders. Most commonly, the support for the task force will come from the following offices:

• Chiefs of police or sheriffs
• Executive directors of various victim and social service agencies offering both comprehensive and specialized services
• Child welfare and child protection agencies
• Immigrant advocacy and service organizations
• Juvenile justice and diversion programs
• Legal service providers with human trafficking victim specializations or services
• State attorneys general and district prosecutors' offices
• Supervisory agents of federal law enforcement agencies
• Local U.S. Attorney's Offices (USAO)

The role of the USAO can be a significant factor in the success of task force operations. The USAO is in the unique role of responding to requests from federal, state, and local law enforcement to prosecute federal crimes. The USAO can mobilize a coordinated victim-centered law enforcement response and advocate for an array of victim services in the jurisdiction. Each USAO was directed in 2012 to establish or participate in human trafficking task forces. Since 2005, including the USAO is a requirement of DOJ's Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force program. Community groups appreciate it when task force leadership offers direction or, at least, engage with them to ensure everyone's efforts are aligned. While this may appear to go beyond the scope of some task force responsibilities, community groups—when left out of this discussion—may launch efforts that are well meaning but are of little value to the community's response to trafficking, or even disruptive in the response to trafficking. Some task forces will create a sector for community organizations that advocate for victims but are not involved in providing direct services to victims. These organizations may have tremendous social capital that can help in the creation, sustainment, or growth of a task force's capacities. While some may provide victim services (or fund agencies that provide services), others may focus on mobilizing action against human trafficking and advocating for victims, survivors, and policy changes in support of anti-trafficking activities.

For additional information and tools, visit the Resource page for Section 2.1: Forming A Task Force