Letter to Mary Lou Lear, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the U.S. Department of Justice - Aid Philadelphia in Combating Human Trafficking

Letter

Today U. S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to strongly consider Philadelphia's request for assistance in combating human trafficking. In a letter, Casey highlighted Philadelphia's plans for the DOJ's Enhanced Collaborative Model to Combat Human Trafficking Grant, which will be used to create the Philadelphia Anti-Trafficking Team (PAT).

"Despite being the country's fifth largest city and a major regional transportation hub, Philadelphia does not have a law enforcement group focused on combating human trafficking," said Senator Casey. "This funding is critical to ensuring that the trafficking problem in Philadelphia is addressed and that the victims are protected."

"All too often in Philadelphia, women and men are abused, manipulated, and sold in the underground world of human trafficking," said Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams. "This grant will allow my office to partner with local, state, and federal authorities to find and free these victims and apprehend and prosecute their perpetrators."

If awarded, this grant would help Philadelphia proactively and aggressively curb human trafficking with the establishment of PAT. PAT would investigate and combat various forms of trafficking in the city through a dedicated team of two prosecutors, two detectives and a social worker. PAT will also operate a live 24-hour hotline, train 8,000 Philadelphia police officers on identifying human trafficking, and collaborate with ethnic cultural groups and the labor and business community to report human trafficking.

The full text of Senator Casey's letter can be found below:

Ms. Mary Lou Leary

Acting Assistant Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice

Dear Ms. Leary,

It is my understanding that the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office and the Nationalities Service Center have submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Justice for an Enhanced Collaborative Model to Combat Human Trafficking Grant. I understand that this funding will be used to create the Philadelphia Anti-Trafficking Team (PAT). The purpose of this letter is to express my strong support for this proposal.

If awarded, this grant would help Philadelphia proactively and aggressively curb human trafficking. The District Attorney's office has informed my office that despite being the country's fifth largest city and a major regional transportation hub, Philadelphia does not have a law enforcement group focused on combating human trafficking. If awarded, the PAT that will be established using this funding will investigate and combat various forms of trafficking in the City through a dedicated team of two prosecutors, two detectives and a social worker. Further, I am advised that the PAT will operate a live, 24 hour hotline, train 8,000 Philadelphia police officers on identifying human trafficking and collaborate with ethnic cultural groups and the labor and business community to report human trafficking. As it appears, this funding is critical to ensuring that the trafficking problem in Philadelphia is addressed and that the victims are protected.

Recent cases in the City unfortunately highlight the need for this grant. For example, in October 2011 four mentally challenged adults were found locked in a sub-basement boiler room in Philadelphia. This discovery led to an investigation into four traffickers who were found to be involved in beating, prostituting and even killing mentally challenged captives as they transported them across the country for a decade while stealing their benefits. This tragic story underscores the need for additional resources to help address this problem in Philadelphia and across the Commonwealth.

Thank you in advance for the consideration of my views. Please include this letter in the official record of the application. Consistent with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, I also respectfully request that you keep me informed of the status of this grant application. Finally, if you have any questions, comments or concerns, please feel free to contact me or my staff.

Sincerely,

Robert P. Casey, Jr.
United States Senator

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