Ventura County Sheriff’s Office announces formation of Human Trafficking Task Force

VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. - The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is forming a human trafficking task force.

The sheriff's office was awarded $800,000 over a three-year period by the Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, to enhance the efforts of combating human trafficking and assisting victims, according to a news release from the sheriff's office.

They said the funding will provide them investigative resources to investigate and prosecute human trafficking cases.

The funding will enable the task force to work alongside victim service providers including Interface Children & Family Services among others, to provide victims with assistance

The grant-funded task force will establish a leadership panel comprised of local law enforcement and advocacy groups who will assess the local problem, increase public awareness, provide victim services and develop and implement effective strategies.