Contact Information: E-mail Press Secretary Sydney Rainwater at slay@gagovernor.org or call 555-444-3333.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Gov. Brian Kemp Launches GBI Unit to Further Investigate Human Trafficking in Georgia
August 19, 2020
ATLANTA, Ga. — Governor Brian Kemp announced the creation of the Human Exploitation and Trafficking (HEAT) Unit today alongside First Lady Marty Kemp, Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) Director Vic Reynolds, Attorney General Chris Carr and Criminal Justice Coordinating Council Executive Director Jay Neal. The new unit will be housed within the GBI.
Georgia is ranked 15th in the nation for the number of human trafficking cases with three new criminal cases in 2019, according to the Federal Human Trafficking Report.
“With this new HEAT Unit, Director Reynolds will have the resources he needs to crack down on this criminal enterprise and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable,” said Governor Kemp. “By coordinating our efforts with the First Lady’s GRACE Commission, Attorney General Chris Carr, and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, Georgia is making huge strides in combating this evil industry.”
The GRACE Commission has made great strides in combating human trafficking in Georgia. First Lady Marty Kemp and the Commission partnered with the Georgia Department of Administrative Services (DOAS) in January of 2020 to launch a Human Trafficking Awareness Training for State of Georgia employees and the general public.
Kemp addressed the perpetrators in his speech saying, “we will not rest until we have ended this evil industry in our state.”
The HEAT Unit will focus on investigation and enforcement efforts of commercial sex and labor trafficking, as well as prioritizing rescue missions of victims. The unit will be staffed with four special agents to start.
If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Press Secretary Sydney Rainwater, please call at 555.444.3333 or e-mail Sydney at: slay@gagovernor.org.
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