2014 US Code
Title 42 - The Public Health and Welfare (Sections 1 - 18445)
Chapter 136 - Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement (Sections 13701 - 14223)
Subchapter III - Violence Against Women (Sections 13925 - 14045d)
Part O - Combatting Domestic Trafficking in Persons (Sections 14044 - 14044f)
Sec. 14044c - Enhancing State and local efforts to combat trafficking in persons

The Attorney General may make grants to States and local law enforcement agencies to establish, develop, expand, or strengthen programs—

(A) to investigate and prosecute acts of severe forms of trafficking in persons, and related offenses that occur, in whole or in part, within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States;

(B) to train law enforcement personnel how to identify victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons and related offenses;

(C) to investigate and prosecute persons who engage in the purchase of commercial sex acts and prioritize the investigations and prosecutions of those cases involving minor victims;

(D) to educate persons charged with, or convicted of, purchasing or attempting to purchase commercial sex acts; and

(E) to educate and train law enforcement personnel in how to establish trust of persons subjected to trafficking and encourage cooperation with prosecution efforts.

In this subsection, the term "related offenses" includes violations of tax laws, transacting in illegally derived proceeds, money laundering, racketeering, and other violations of criminal laws committed in connection with an act of sex trafficking or a severe form of trafficking in persons.

Grants under subsection (a) of this section may be made only for programs in which the State or local law enforcement agency works collaboratively with social service providers and relevant nongovernmental organizations, including organizations with experience in the delivery of services to persons who are the subject of trafficking in persons.

The Federal share of a grant made under this section may not exceed 75 percent of the total costs of the projects described in the application submitted.

An entity that applies for a grant under section 14044a of this title is not prohibited from also applying for a grant under this section.

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Attorney General to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2014 through 2017.

Not later than 30 months after March 7, 2013, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study of and submit to Congress a report evaluating the impact of this section on—

(1) the ability of law enforcement personnel to identify victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons and investigate and prosecute cases against offenders, including offenders who engage in the purchasing of commercial sex acts with a minor; and

(2) recommendations, if any, regarding any legislative or administrative action the Comptroller General determines appropriate to improve the ability described in paragraph (1).

(Pub. L. 109–164, title II, §204, Jan. 10, 2006, 119 Stat. 3571; Pub. L. 110–457, title III, §302(5), Dec. 23, 2008, 122 Stat. 5087; Pub. L. 113–4, title XII, §1242, Mar. 7, 2013, 127 Stat. 153.)

Section was enacted as part of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005, and not as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 which enacted this chapter.

2013—Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Pub. L. 113–4, §1242(1)(A), struck out ", which involve United States citizens, or aliens admitted for permanent residence, and" after "related offenses".

Subsec. (a)(1)(B) to (E). Pub. L. 113–4, §1242(1)(B)–(D), added subpar. (B), redesignated former subpars. (B) to (D) as (C) to (E), respectively, and in subpar. (C) inserted "and prioritize the investigations and prosecutions of those cases involving minor victims" after "commercial sex acts".

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 113–4, §1242(3), added subsec. (d). Former subsec. (d) redesignated (e).

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 113–4, §1242(2), (4), redesignated subsec. (d) as (e) and substituted "$10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2014 through 2017" for "$20,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2011".

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 113–4, §1242(5), added subsec. (f).

2008—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 110–457 substituted "$20,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2011" for "$25,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2006 and 2007".