MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING - CLEARWATER AREA TASK FORCE ON HUMAN TRAFFICKINGMEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
CLEARWATER AREA TASK FORCE ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING
1. PURPOSE
This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) entered into by the United States
Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida, the Clearwater Police Department,
the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, the Regional Community Policing Institute, the
State Attorney's Office for the Sixth Judicial Circuit, and World Relief, is to:
1. Demonstrate a clear understanding by the aforementioned parties of the
roles, responsibilities, processes and protocols involved in coordinating
investigation and prosecution of human trafficking crimes with service to
victims of such crimes in the Clearwater and Tampa Bay areas.
2. Establish a commitment on the part of the aforementioned parties to build
and/or enhance collaborative efforts between law enforcement and service
providers that strengthen but do not duplicate existing service efforts.
II. BACKGROUND
In recent years, the Clearwater Police Department (CPD) has identified an increasing
number of suspected human trafficking cases that has affected the quality of life in both
the immigrant and non-immigrant communities of Clearwater, Florida. With a growing
immigrant (mostly Hispanic) population, primarily employed in the service and tourist
industries, the influence of organized criminal groups within that population is evident in
Clearwater and includes organized gang activity, sexual slavery and domestic servitude.
Reports of "coyotes" conducting human smuggling activities in Clearwater are currently
under investigation by CPD and federal authorities and are indicative of an underground
network that includes human trafficking. Increasingly, the CPD has received information
regarding houses of prostitution springing up in largely immigrant neighborhoods with
young Hispanic women being forced to service working class Hispanic males. Currently,
CPD, in conjunction with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, is
investigating several suspected human trafficking cases with personnel from the Patrol
Division and CPD Intelligence Unit. CPD is working closely with the Bureau of
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to investigate these cases.
The mission of the Clearwater Area Task Force on Human Trafficking is to
eliminate human trafficking and modern day slavery in the Clearwater area
through a multi-agency partnership to identify victims, create a coordinated
law enforcement system to investigate and prosecute these crimes, and deliver
social, legal and immigration services to human trafficking victims.
• The law enforcement agencies working to eradicate Human Trafficking will meet
regularly to share resources and training materials, identify obstacles that impede
collaboration and discuss possible solutions. Partner agencies will discuss and collaborate
on investigative leads requiring a multi-agency response. The task force will include
local, state and federal law enforcement representatives from the Clearwater and Tampa
Bay area and will focus on human trafficking cases that occur within any culture,
utilizing the resources of our partner agencies to overcome barriers to identifying the
victims and prosecuting the offenders.
III. GOALS
The goals of the Clearwater Area Task Force on Human Trafficking are to:
1. Serve as a mechanism for communication and strategic collaboration
between law enforcement agencies and service providers;
2. Coordinate community resources;
3. Promote community awareness of the crime;
4. Support law enforcement without duplicating services;
•
5. Train intermediary communities on human trafficking indicators and
appropriate responses.
IV. AUTHORITY
This MOU is entered into pursuant to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of
2000 and the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2003. The TVPA
seeks to combat human trafficking by punishing traffickers, protecting victims and
mobilizing U.S. government agencies to wage a global anti-trafficking campaign. The
TVPA, as amended, contains significant mandates for the U.S. Departments of State,
Justice, Labor, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services and the U.S. Agency for
International Development. A program goal associated with this act is the development of
Human Trafficking Task Forces designed to empower local law enforcement to better
identify and interdict trafficking in its various forms. Further, local law enforcement, also
must develop and maintain close working relationships with the victim service providers
and other faith-based and community organizations, as well as with federal law
enforcement agencies. Although several of the current cases involve the Hispanic
population, the task force will focus on all cases of human trafficking regardless of
culture or nationality.
V. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
A. U. S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida:
• 1. Prosecute persons charged with violations of federal law related to human
trafficking.
•
2. Ensure the availability of victims and witnesses necessary for successful
prosecution.
3. Assist with coordinating the promotion of community public awareness
concerning the nature and scope of human trafficking.
4. Assist with coordinating training initiatives, which include training for
both law enforcement and social service agencies on the complex legal
and immigration issues involved when working with victims of human
trafficking. Provide training and understanding on the complex service
needs of human trafficking victims to ensure their safety, reduce their
trauma and support the victim's ability to cooperate with law enforcement.
5. Assist in the creation and maintenance of strategic protocols that
coordinate victim referral, intake and pre-certification service delivery
with witness protection and criminal investigation/prosecution.
B. Clearwater Police Department:
1. Work collaboratively with state and federal law enforcement in the
investigation of human trafficking offenses.
2. Develop and maintain close working relationships with victim service
providers and other faith-based community organizations that can support
and assist human trafficking investigations.
3. 3. Assist in the creation and maintenance of strategic protocols that
coordinate victim referral, intake and pre-certification service-delivery
with witness protection and criminal investigation/prosecution.
4. Assist with coordinating the promotion of community public awareness
concerning the nature and scope of human trafficking.
5. Assist with coordinating training initiatives, which include training for
both law enforcement and social service agencies on the complex legal
and immigration issues involved when working with victims of human
trafficking. Provide training and understanding on the complex service
needs of human trafficking victims to ensure their safety, reduce their
trauma and support the victim's ability to cooperate with law enforcement.
6. Administer all grant requirements, which would include the collection and
maintenance of statistical records and submission of required financial and
progress reports.
•
CASA, Volunteer Way, St. Vincent de Paul, Connections, Thrift Depot,
public health clinics, local healthcare professionals, local churches and
other community groups. `Comprehensive services' includes, at a
minimum, case-management, interpretation, transportation,
housing/shelter, food/clothing, health/medical (including dental), legal
advocacy, trauma counseling, employment assistance, and ESOL.
2. Assist in the creation and maintenance of strategic protocols that
coordinate victim referral, intake and pre-certification service-delivery
with witness protection and criminal investigation/prosecution.
3. Assist with the promotion of community public awareness concerning the
nature and scope of human trafficking.
•
4. Assist with coordinating training initiatives, which include training for
both law enforcement and social service agencies on the complex legal
and immigration issues involved when working with victims of human
trafficking. Provide training and understanding on the complex service
needs of human trafficking victims to ensure their safety, reduce their
trauma and support the victim's ability to cooperate with law enforcement.
5. Provide technical assistance, as necessary, to other agencies delivering
services to trafficking victims in Florida.
G. IMPLEMENTATION
The conditions of this agreement become effective upon signing. This MOU will
remain in effect until action is initiated to dissolve the agreement as evidenced by
written notice affected by an authorized representative. Any amendments to the
MOU shall be in writing and executed in the same manner as the original MOU.
Clearwater Police Department
AGENCY
Sid Klein, Chief of Police
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SIG TURE
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