Statewide Efforts to Com­bat Trafficking

The activities described below reflect the OAG’s multi-faceted approach to combat trafficking:

Criminal Prosecution

• Since its inception, HTTOC has resolved numerous cases that involve human trafficking and human trafficking-related offenses, such as sexual assault of a child, sexual assault, possession of child pornography, aggravated promotion of prostitution, and compelling prostitution.  Many of these cases resulted in lengthy prison sentences for the perpetrator.

Civil Litigation

• With original jurisdiction, the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 140A.052 authorizes the OAG to investigate and pursue civil litigation against sex and labor traffickers and those profiting from these ventures.
• Landlord Engagement Program: HTTOC partners with cities, counties, and local law enforcement to educate and empower landlords leasing to illicit massage business to combat the proliferation of illicit massage businesses in Texas.

Training

• Collaborates with regional and local anti-trafficking taskforces, coalitions, and statewide partners (Office of the Texas Governor, Texas Association Against Sexual Assault, Texas Education Agency, Texas Department of Transportation, etc.) to develop anti-trafficking programs.
• Trains law enforcement, prosecutors, community partners, educators, and business organizations in human trafficking prevention and awareness.
• Conducted more than 300 in-person and 6 virtual trainings for over 28,000 people and produced the Be the One in the Fight Against Human Trafficking (Be the One) video as a documentary training tool to equip all state employees and the general public. This video has been viewed over 144,000 times online in 49 states and 131 countries.
• Conducted hundreds of in-person and virtual trainings around the state and produced the Be the One in the Fight Against Human Trafficking (Be the One) video as a documentary training tool to equip all state employees and the general public.  This video has been viewed over 144,000 times online in 49 states and 131 countries.

Policy

• Texas Human Trafficking Prevention Coordinating Council:  Texas Government Code § 402.034 (2019).  HTTOC chairs the Coordinating Council, which consists of nine state agencies tasked with evaluating and coordinating state efforts to fight human trafficking in Texas.  The Coordinating Council will welcome two new members (TEA and TxDOT) on September 1, 2023, pursuant to S.B. 1527, 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023.
• Texas Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force: Texas Government Code § 402.035 (2009).  HTTOC chairs the Task Force, which is made up of numerous state and local entities, as well as other organizations working to prevent human trafficking.  The Task Force collects data, provides training, and develops and reports to the legislature legislative recommendations that will enhance the state’s efforts to combat human trafficking.  A list of Task Force Recommendations can be found in the reports located here:  https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/human-trafficking-section/texas-human-trafficking-prevention-task-force/task-force-publications
• Texas Human Trafficking Data Collection: Texas Code of Criminal Procedure § 2.305 (2019).  In August 2020, pursuant to H.B. 3800, 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019 and, more recently, S.B. 1527, 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, HTTOC is tasked with collecting human trafficking case and investigation data from DPS and every state and local law enforcement office in counties with a population of more than 50,000.  This serves as Texas’s first centralized human trafficking data collection system.

Strategic Partnerships in the Trafficking Fight

• Partner with universities for data collection.
• Engage with federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutors to build effective human trafficking responses across Texas.
• Build relationships with existing human trafficking taskforces.
• Continue to partner with TxDOT to develop signs to be placed in transportation hubs in accordance with S.B. 1219, 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019.
• Collaborate with various state agencies to identify and target businesses engaged in or profiting from trafficking.

Plan to Combat Trafficking

• Prosecute Traffickers:  Continue to develop relationships and partner with DAs, U.S. Attorney’s Offices, and regional trafficking taskforces to provide trafficking subject matter expertise in investigations and prosecutions.
• Support Prosecutors and Law Enforcement:  HTTOC provides, through [email protected], a help line to request investigative and prosecution support for local and state law enforcement and prosecutors throughout Texas.  HTTOC also provides a free regional combined law enforcement and prosecutor training program to these local offices.
• Train and Collaborate to Raise Awareness: Increase public awareness and continue to educate law enforcement, prosecutors, businesses, and the community on trafficking virtually and in-person.
• Collect and Analyze Human trafficking Data:  Collect statewide human trafficking data that, with the proper database and software, will lead to meaningful trafficking data for Texas.

In addition to HTTOC, the OAG’s Crime Victim Services Division and Law Enforcement Division aid in the fight against human trafficking.

• The Crime Victim Services Division (CVSD) assists victims of human trafficking in several ways. The Crime Victims’ Compensation Program provides reimbursements for crime-related expenses, such as medical costs, rent and relocation expenses, loss of wages, and counseling. The Address Confidentiality Program provides a substitute post office box for victims of certain violent crimes, including human trafficking, and mail forwarding services to increase victim security. CVSD is also instrumental in providing grants to counties to fund positions, such as crime victim coordinators and crime victim liaisons. Grants are also awarded to rape crisis centers.
• The Law Enforcement Division’s Human Trafficking Unit investigates adult and child sex and labor trafficking and presents cases for prosecution in state and federal courts. The Child Exploitation Unit serves as the Southern Texas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, investigating child pornography and online solicitation cases across South Texas. In addition, the Digital Forensics Unit supports both these units and preserves evidence collected from digital storage devices such as phones, tablets, and computer systems.