2015 Workgroup to Study Safe Harbor Policy for Youth Victims of Human Trafficking

House Bill 456 established the Workgroup to Study Safe Harbor Policy for Youth Victims of Human Trafficking.  "The purpose of the Workgroup is to study legal protections for youth victims of human trafficking and the provision of services for youth victims of human trafficking.

The Workgroup must:

  1. Identify gaps in services currently available;
  2. Collect & compile data on the number of youth victims of human trafficking in the state, including the number of youth victims in each jurisdiction of the state;
  3. Evaluate current Maryland safe harbor policies & legal protections for youth victims of human trafficking; and
  4. Make recommendations regarding:
  • legislation & policy initiatives to address the provision of services & legal protections for youth victims of human trafficking in the State;
  • the collection of data to identify youth victims of human trafficking in the State;
  • funding requirements and budgetary priorities to address the needs of human trafficking in the State; and
  • any other relevant issues or considerations identified by the Workgroup.
Source:  http://goccp.maryland.gov/safeharbor/index.php

Report

On December 1, 2015 the Workgroup published a Final Report with its findings and recommendations to the Governor & the Maryland General Assembly.

View the Final Report here:

  • Detective David Blackburn — Baltimore County Police Department
  • Melissa Snow — National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
  • Amanda Rodriguez — TurnAround, Inc.
  • Mona Long — Maryland State Education Association
  • Amelia Rubenstein — Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force
  • Cpl. Chris Heid — Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force
  • Christine Raino — Shared Hope International
  • Benjamin Moser — Ayuda
  • Nicole Lee — Survivor
  • Tina Frundt — Survivor
  • Christi Megna — Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
  • Secretary of State John C. Wobensmith, Chairman
  • Senator Susan Lee
  • Delegate Marice Morales
  • Andrea Garvey — Maryland Department of Human Resources
  • Doug Mohler — Maryland Department of Juvenile Services
  • Michael Ford — Maryland State Department of Education
  • Lt. Matthew Kail — Maryland State Police
  • Melanie Shapiro — Office of the Public Defender Juvenile Division
  • Asha Reynolds — Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault
  • Patricia Arriaza — Governor’s Office for Children
  • Thomas Stack — Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention
  • Steve Kroll, Esq. — Maryland State’s Attorneys’ Association