DA office warns expiration of DOJ grant will strain trafficking response; commission forwards funding options

A representative of the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office told the Human Trafficking Commission on Sept. 8 that federal Department of Justice grant funding for trafficking response has not been renewed and is scheduled to expire at the end of the month, a development the office said could disrupt training, staffing and surge operations ahead of major upcoming sporting events.

Brian Slater, who supervises human‑trafficking prosecutors in the district attorney’s office, briefed commissioners on operational gaps the office expects if the grant is not renewed. He said the grant previously funded specialized survivor‑centered interviewing and trauma‑informed training, overtime for demand‑reduction operations and costs for advocates and a task‑force coordinator. “That grant funding is set to expire at the end of the month, and that…