As Santa Clara County prepares for a potential increase in human trafficking at major sporting events next year, security planning may be challenging with personnel stretched thin due to federal cuts.
The U.S. Department of Justice through the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) provides grant funding to combat human trafficking, but the monies expired last month. Applications to renew funding are not available presently. The grant covered funding for advocates, training for trauma-informed interviewing and overtime, hampers the county’s ability to fund operations during the sporting events, according to attorney Bryan Slater, who oversees human trafficking prosecutors in the District Attorney’s office.
“We do not currently have dedicated funding to cover overtime for investigations or extended operations that would be needed,” Slater said at the Santa Clara County Human Trafficking Commission meeting last month. “Our heavy reliance on this grant funding jeopardizes continuity of staffing … it creates a turnover at critical moments such as now.”…