The West Virginia Human Trafficking Task Force is chaired by the United States Attorney Offices from the Northern and Southern District of West Virginia. The task force is comprised of federal, state and local law enforcement officers, service providers, victim advocates, educators, and representatives of the West Virginia Attorney General’s Office, among others. The task force meets bi-annually, rotating meeting locations between the southern and north central regions of West Virginia.

Task force subcommittees include (1) investigations; (2) victim services; (3) training and awareness; and (4) data collection and analysis.

Mission:

The West Virginia Human Trafficking Task Force proactively combats labor and sex trafficking and serves trafficking victims through multidisciplinary collaboration.

Objectives:

• Raise statewide awareness of human trafficking, especially among groups who are more likely to encounter trafficking victims.
• Train law enforcement personnel, service providers, and government agencies how to identify and appropriately respond to trafficking victims.
• Catalyze and coordinate trafficking investigations with federal, state and local law enforcement.
• Develop a network of service providers, victim advocates, agencies, and faith-based organizations to serve trafficking victims.
• Establish standard protocols for trafficking victim identification, services and referrals.
• Evaluate the prevalence and scope of trafficking using statistically reliable methods.