Governor Kay Ivey awarded a nearly $200,000 grant to a non-profit that’s designed to train law enforcement methods to combat human trafficking.
The Covenant Rescue Group is a non-profit based in Jefferson County that trains law enforcement statewide, provides initial surveillance for rescue or sting operations and assists in making arrests. Instructors are former law enforcement officers and special operations veterans.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Justice.
“Many law enforcement agencies may lack the resources and expertise to investigate or respond to this type of crime,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said in a statement. “ADECA joins Gov. Ivey in support of these and other efforts to crack down on sex trafficking.”
“Our men and women in law enforcement should have access to tools and techniques that help them protect the people in their communities from exploitation,” Gov. Ivey said in a statement. “I am pleased to award this grant to an organization working to stop those criminals who seek to victimize vulnerable people.”
Human trafficking is one of the largest and fastest-growing criminal industries in the world and affects many of Alabama’s most vulnerable residents. Gov. Ivey has been vocal about her aims to crack down on human trafficking in Alabama, and during her State of the State address this year called to have HB42 sent to her desk.
In this past legislative session, Rep. Donna Givens introduced HB42, the Sound of Freedom Act which amended the existing human trafficking law in Alabama. It was enacted in April to establish a mandatory minimum sentence of life imprisonment for anyone convicted of human trafficking where the victim is a minor and will become effective later this year.
