Post by pavel on Jan 14, 2016 21:21:57 GMT -6
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton unveiled a 10-member team Thursday dedicated to investigating and prosecuting human trafficking, the next step in an ongoing mobilization of state and local resources to combat what is described as modern-day slavery.
With three lawyers, five investigators and a forensic accountant, the unit will help local officials pursue criminal cases while allowing Paxton’s office to wield its power to pursue civil racketeering penalties that can include seized assets and fines of up to $250,000 per count, agency officials said.
The final member of the team, which was formed using existing agency resources, is an advocate who will work directly with victims — mirroring efforts by nonprofits, such as Allies Against Slavery, as well as a progression of state laws passed since 2009 to identify and help victims while increasing penalties for offenders.
Paxton said the Human Trafficking and Transnational Organized Crime section, which replaces a single prosecutor who was dedicated to trafficking cases, also will work to raise awareness of the crime.
Read more: www.mystatesman.com/news/news/new-texas-effort-targets-modern-day-slavery/np5Jd/
With three lawyers, five investigators and a forensic accountant, the unit will help local officials pursue criminal cases while allowing Paxton’s office to wield its power to pursue civil racketeering penalties that can include seized assets and fines of up to $250,000 per count, agency officials said.
The final member of the team, which was formed using existing agency resources, is an advocate who will work directly with victims — mirroring efforts by nonprofits, such as Allies Against Slavery, as well as a progression of state laws passed since 2009 to identify and help victims while increasing penalties for offenders.
Paxton said the Human Trafficking and Transnational Organized Crime section, which replaces a single prosecutor who was dedicated to trafficking cases, also will work to raise awareness of the crime.
Read more: www.mystatesman.com/news/news/new-texas-effort-targets-modern-day-slavery/np5Jd/