NH Delegation Announce Nearly $800K in Federal Funding to NH DOJ to Combat Human Trafficking

(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the lead Democrat on the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, announced with U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded $780,038 in federal funding to the New Hampshire Department of Justice (NHDOJ) in support of efforts to combat human trafficking in New Hampshire.

Using this award, NHDOJ will work in collaboration with Waypoint, a New Hampshire-based organization that provides social services throughout the state to families in need, and will use the resources provided by the grant to fund the Director position of the New Hampshire Human Trafficking Collaborative Task Force Program, a full-time human trafficking officer with the Merrimack County Sherriff’s Office and a part-time human trafficking officer with the New Hampshire State Police.

“Human trafficking is an insidious crime that exploits the most vulnerable in our society. Human trafficking often goes undetected which is why we need to direct resources to law enforcement to investigate and prosecute traffickers, and connect survivors to support services,” said Senator Shaheen. “This federal funding will bolster New Hampshire’s efforts to root out human trafficking and deliver justice. I’ll continue to prioritize bipartisan efforts to assist our local law enforcement as they perform this lifesaving work.”

“It is encouraging news that New Hampshire’s Department of Justice will receive additional resources to help prevent human trafficking and assist the survivors of these heinous crimes,” said Senator Hassan. “I am grateful for the work of our law enforcement and community organizations like Waypoint in doing everything that they can to address human trafficking, and I remain committed to advocating for federal resources for our state as we continue these critical efforts.”

“Human trafficking devastates lives and we have a responsibility to fight back,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “This funding will help improve support services for survivors and our ability to prosecute and bring to justice those responsible for instigating these heinous crimes. I will continue my efforts to combat human trafficking and all forms of sexual violence and modern slavery.”

“The state of New Hampshire has served as a leader in the fight to combat human trafficking, but the work is far from over,” said Congressman Pappas. “The federal dollars awarded to New Hampshire’s Department of Justice will assist the efforts of law enforcement and service providers to hold perpetrators accountable, support survivors, and stop these horrendous crimes. I remain committed to working with the rest of New Hampshire’s federal delegation to ensure our state remains a safe and welcoming place for everyone.”

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