Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Public Safety and Security
Office of Grants and Research
State Fiscal Year 2024
Human Trafficking Enforcement and Training
Grant Program
Report to the Massachusetts General Court
Senate and House Committees on Ways and Means
August 2024
Maura T. Healey Kimberley Driscoll
Governor Lieutenant Governor
Terrence M. Reidy Kevin J. Stanton
Secretary Executive Director
Introduction
Pursuant to Line Item 8000-0605 of the FY24 Budget, the Office of Grants and Research (OGR) submits
this report on the FY24 Human Trafficking Enforcement and Training Grant Program to the House and
Senate Committees on Ways and Means.
OGR is a state agency that is part of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS).
EOPSS is responsible for the policy development and budget oversight of the secretariat’s agencies,
independent programs, and several boards which aid in crime prevention, homeland security preparedness,
and ensuring the safety of residents and visitors in the Commonwealth. The agencies that fall under EOPSS
are:
• Massachusetts State Police
• Massachusetts Emergency management Agency
• Sex Offender Registry Board
• Department of Fire Services
• Department of Criminal Justice Information Services
• Department of Correction
• Parole Board
• Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
• State 911 Department
• Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab
• Municipal Police Training Committee
• Massachusetts National Guard
• Office of Grants and Research
In addition to managing and administering state-funded criminal justice, homeland security, and traffic
safety grant programs, OGR is the State Administering Agency (SAA) for federal grant funding received
by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts from the Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA), and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In total,
the agency manages more than $150 million in grant funds annually. Additionally, OGR’s Research and
Policy Analysis Division (RPAD), which houses the Massachusetts Statistical Analysis Center, utilizes
research and evaluation to promote public safety in the Commonwealth by informing criminal justice and
public safety policy. The goals of the OGR include:
• Improving community safety and local preparedness by providing resources to communities
based on need;
• Investing in evidenced based innovative programs;
• Granting awards based on national and state priorities;
• Fostering collaboration across jurisdictions by delivering grant dollars with a regional approach;
• Making funding decisions based upon research, empirical data, and best practices; and
• Ensuring the grant awarding process is transparent and in compliance with federal and state
guidelines.
This document serves as the report authored by OGR regarding the FY24 Human Trafficking
Enforcement and Training Grant Program. In this report, OGR outlines the:
1
 • Successful grant applications and the services they provide;
• Amount of funds awarded to each grantee;
• Criteria used to evaluate grant applications; and
• A brief description of each program and the communities they serve.
Program Narrative
OGR allocated $475,000 for efforts to combat human trafficking through a competitive grant program, with
the remaining $25,000 being set aside for OGR administrative costs. This initiative is being supported by
state funds authorized in the Fiscal Year 2024 General Appropriation Act, Chapter 126 of the Acts of 2023:
8000-0605: For efforts to combat human trafficking, including a competitive grant program to be
administered by the executive office of public safety and security; provided,
that not later than March 1, 2024, the executive office shall submit a report to the house and senate
committees on ways and means detailing expenditures from this item, including a list of grant
recipients
Funding was provided to support Massachusetts District Attorneys in their efforts to combat human
trafficking and enhance their capacity to identify, assist, and provide referral services to those most
impacted.
OGR awarded funds to five (5) District Attorneys to strengthen investigations and prosecution of human
trafficking and to enhance community relationships and municipal law enforcement’s capacity to work on
anti-trafficking cases. Additionally, these funds support the expansion of victim-centered, multi-
disciplinary approaches to working with survivors through trauma-informed programming and supporting
services that promote justice, access, and empowerment.
Competitive Application and Review Process
OGR awarded appropriated funds through a competitive grant process, according to the
following timeline:
AGF Posted October 2, 2023
Deadline for Questions October 11, 2023
Application Due Wednesday, October 30, 2023 @ 4:00 p.m.
Award Notification December 2023
Performance Period December 2023 – June 30, 2024
Each applicant was required to submit the following documentation in support of their application:
• Needs Assessment
o Statement of the Problem/Needs Assessment
• Program Description
o Scope of the program and how it will address the problem or need
• Program Goals and Objectives, Activities, Timeline, and Performance Measures
o Goals – Broad statements that describe the program’s intentions and desired outcomes
o Objectives – Describe the activities that support the program’s goal(s) as outlined
o Activities and Timeline – Represents the programmatic activities to be carried out within
the proposed program period
o Performance Measures – The means by which the applicant plans to collect data and
measure their program’s progress
2
 • Budget Detail
o Details the description and justification of the funds necessary to implement the proposed
program and achieve its goals and objectives over a 6-7 month period
OGR determined award amounts based upon the total amount requested, availability of funds, applicants’
compliance with the application process, and the review and approval of proposed projects and requested
budgets. OGR subjected applications to a competitive review process consisting of three (3) peer reviewers
assigned to evaluate each proposal submitted based on the following criteria:
• Relevancy of applicant’s qualifications as well as their proposed project
o The applicant’s demonstrated knowledge and professional experience providing strategic,
analytic, technical, and research support relevant to combatting human trafficking. Ability
to discuss the proposed programming and how it directly correlates to the Needs
Assessment provided.
• Justification of the partnership and collaboration
o Evidence of existing or proposed partnerships between the applicant and community
programming was used to determine if the proposed partnership will result in productive
and effective efforts that help combat human trafficking and support victim-centered,
multi-disciplinary approaches to working with survivors through trauma-informed
programming and supporting services that promote justice, access, and empowerment.
• Consistency between the proposed budget and strategy
o The proposed budget was evaluated to ensure that the approved cost categories would
ensure proper implementation and maximum effectiveness of the proposed strategy.
Awarded Funds
OGR received a total of six (6) applications. All applicants were selected to receive funding. The following
section provides details on each grant recipient, award amount, and a brief project description of the
program funded through the FY24 Human Trafficking Enforcement and Training Grant Program.
Awardee Award Amount Project Description
Program Overview: The Berkshire District Attorney’s
Office (BDAO) is proposing to use this grant to better serve
victims of human trafficking and train law enforcement on
better identify markers of human trafficking in the
Berkshires. The BDAO will contract with a part-time
specialized victim witness advocate to serve victims of
Berkshire District Attorney's Office $65,199.50 human trafficking, provide a reentry program to support
victims of human trafficking in partnership with the
Sheriff’s Office, provide trainings for BDAO’s staff and law
enforcement partners to better respond to human trafficking,
increase forensic interviewer capacity, and evaluate/address
language barriers for Central Americans living in Berkshire
County at risk of labor trafficking.
3
 Awardee Award Amount Project Description
Program Overview: The Cape & Islands District Attorney’s
Office (CIDAO) created a Human Trafficking Unit
dedicated to raising community awareness, investigating,
and prosecuting human trafficking violations, and
supporting survivors. The grant funds would support and
increase preventative measures, investigative capabilities,
Cape & Islands District Attorney's and supportive services. Funds will go towards trauma-
$97,051.00
Office informed training for our staff members, our multi-
disciplinary partners – including law enforcement and
community agencies – as well as to health care workers and
the hospitality industry to facilitate community-wide
awareness. Funds would create and increase services and
resources for survivors here. Funds would obtain equipment
to augment investigative capabilities.
Program Overview: The Middlesex County District
Attorney’s Office (MCDAO) intends to use any funds
provided through the grant to launch a Human Trafficking
Initiative by hiring a Human Trafficking Case Coordinator.
The coordinator would streamline management of the
Human Trafficking cases and investigations and related
Middlesex District Attorney's Office $51,794.50 cases and investigations within the office;
Coordinate with law enforcement and community partners
to assist and protect victims of human trafficking in the
county; coordinate trainings for staff, law enforcement, and
community partners; and increase access to resources for
victims.
Program Overview: Plymouth County District Attorney's
Office (PCDAO) requests funding to train community
partners on how to identify, support, and refer potential
victims of human trafficking; to send local police officers,
state police detectives, and specialized prosecutors to
nationally-recognized trainings on how to investigate and
Northwestern Attorney's Office $60,141.00
prosecute human trafficking; to provide resources to
investigators in terms of equipment and overtime to conduct
human trafficking investigations; and to support ongoing
efforts to connect and collaborate with other agencies
involved in the identification and enforcement of human
trafficking.
Hampden District Attorney's Office $100,000.00 Program Overview: The Hampden County District
Attorney's Office (HCDAO) will use the grant funds
4
 Awardee Award Amount Project Description
requested to combat Human Trafficking of adults and
children in Hampden County. With the ever evolving need
to address trends in criminal investigations, adapt prevention
protocols, and improve current practices, these funds would
help with staffing to initiate new as well as advance pending
investigations and provide key training opportunities to
prepare investigators on the front lines. Human trafficking
cases involve numerous components, from identifying signs
of trafficking in children and young adults to investigating
many types of offenders.
Program Overview: The Suffolk County District Attorney’s
Office (SCDAO) and its Human Trafficking & Exploitation
Unit (HTEU) will use grant funding to expand services within
the HTEU to provide specialized services to exploited
children; provide emergency supports to the most at-risk
victims; and enhance awareness and education about human
trafficking and exploitation through outreach and training for
law enforcement, stakeholders, and the community.
Specifically, funding will support a Victim Witness Advocate
Suffolk District Attorney’s Office $98,242.50 (VWA) to meet the critical needs of children that are sexually
exploited. Additional funding will support the SCDAO
partnership with My Life My Choice (MLMC) to develop and
implement enhanced community outreach strategies by
providing prevention education and training to key youth
serving professionals and provide a minimum of three half-
day multidisciplinary trainings on how to best identify youth
who are being trafficked and teach best practices for
responding to and engaging with young victims of human
trafficking.
5