Federal funds for human trafficking victim programs and services in the United States have increased from approximately $10 million in 2002 to more than $90 million in 2022. This increase in fund availability, however, has not necessarily translated into meaningful or accessible services for survivors. This research examines the distribution of Department of Justice anti-trafficking funds through the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), particularly looking at OVC recipients in Alaska. This case study of Alaska - which received more than $10 million since 2019 - highlights certain trends in OVC funding, including changes in distribution over time, emphasis on task force engagement between service providers and law enforcement, and discussions of equity and inclusion, while the reality faced by survivors can be quite different. What institutional accountability explains how the $10.7 million in federal funds have been spent in Alaska over the last decade? What do a plethora of victim service funds mean if survivors cannot access them? The presenters explore institutional mechanisms of exclusion and harm, particularly around concepts of ideal victims, complexities in collaborating with law enforcement, criminalization of trafficking survivors, and criteria to qualify for services. The implications of this research for policymakers and service providers are further explored, and suggestions are made for federal funding distribution and accountability and institutional engagement with federal funds and survivors.
Trigger Warning: This presentation contains information (written, spoken, or visual) that may be triggering or (re)traumatizing to attendees.
Tatiana Rothchild is a PhD candidate in Political Science at Northeastern University. Her research focuses on human trafficking at national and international levels, particularly in areas of problem framing, state coercion, workers’ rights, human rights audit culture, and international policy models.
Tara Burns serves as the Research and Policy Director of COYOTE RI (Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics Rhode Island). Burns is dedicated to advancing evidence-based policies that prioritize the rights and well-being of people in the sex industry.
Ajela Banks is an Alaskan sex trafficking survivor who aspires to become an attorney.