For Immediate Release Contact: Lisa Robinson, 702.326.0334, lisa@ffwpr.com
Feb. 19, 2020
THE RAPE CRISIS CENTER AND LAS VEGAS METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES SUPPORTED BY DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE GRANTS
FOCUSED ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN SOUTHERN NEVADA
U.S. Congressman Steven Horsford will join law enforcement agencies and program partners from the Southern Nevada Human Trafficking Taskforce for press conference February 19 at 3 p.m.
WHAT: Human trafficking initiatives in Southern Nevada supported by U.S. Department of Justice Grants. U.S. Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV) and Alissa Engler, Nevada Senior Deputy Attorney General, will join leaders from Signs of Hope (SOH), the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) and the steering committee of Southern Nevada Human Trafficking Taskforce to announce programs and services, bundled under the acronym RISE for Resources and Integration for Survivor Empowerment, made available through grant funding. The steering committee of the Southern Nevada Human Trafficking Taskforce includes LVMPD, Signs of Hope, Henderson Police Department, North Las Vegas Police Department, Nevada Attorney General’s Office, U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Department of Labor, and Nevada Parole and Probation.
Nevada continues to rank among the top states in the nation for calls to the National Human Trafficking hotline, and as of June 2018, seventh in the nation for reported human trafficking cases, the majority of which were sex trafficking related. Signs of Hope and LVMPD are the lead agencies that will tackle these issues in Southern Nevada. These efforts will be complemented by a network of partner organizations, which will now be working with the RISE program thanks to the Office for Victims of Crime grant that provides funding totaling $889,015 over three years. Victim services providers will work in partnership with LVMPD to develop and implement a coordinated, community-wide approach to ensure that victims of human trafficking are identified and receive access to a comprehensive array of supportive services. These efforts are funded by a partner grant from the Bureau of Justice Administration in the amount of $897,155 over the same three-year period. Both granting departments are housed within the Department of Justice.
At the press conference, organizers will provide details on how the funding will be utilized, including: expansion of the local human trafficking hotline operations; community training to better identify and support victims of human trafficking; program staffing to address crisis response; 24-hour services, victim support, case management and counseling.
WHEN: Wednesday, February 19, 2020
3:00 p.m.
WHERE: Southern Nevada Family Justice Center
861 North Mojave Road, Las Vegas, NV 89101
WHO: Steven Horsford, U.S. Congressman, 4th District of Nevada
Alissa Engler, Senior Deputy Attorney General, Nevada Attorney General’s Office
Daniele Staple, Executive Director, Signs of Hope
Elynne Greene, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
Southern Nevada Human Trafficking Task Force Steering Committee Representatives
MEDIA
RSVP: Lisa Robinson, 702.326.0334 or lisa@ffwpr.com
About Signs of Hope:
Signs of Hope (SOH) is a non-profit organization founded in 1974 by Florence McClure and Sandra Petta as the Community Action Against Rape (CAAR) with the goal of helping those in Clark County heal from the trauma of sexual violence. Today, Signs of Hope operates a 24/7 crisis hotline and hospital response for sexual assault victims and provides counseling, advocacy and support to help victims begin the healing process and navigate the legal system. SOH is also committed to raising awareness of sexual assault and engaging in prevention efforts through educational programs and community outreach, particularly to youth. Signs of Hope hotline number is 702-366-1640. For more information, visit www.rcclv.org.
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