Promoting Racial Equity through Specialized Legal Services for Underserved Alaska Victims of Human Trafficking

Under this award, Alaska Institute for Justice (AIJ) will provide specialized legal services statewide to underserved human trafficking survivors, including immigrant survivors. AIJ’s primary purpose is serving immigrants and refugees from diverse backgrounds and cultures including survivors who are Black, Hispanic/Latinx, Asian, Native Hawaiian and/or Pacific Islander. AIJ also provides culturally specific services for Hispanic/Latinx trafficking survivors. With OVC funding, AIJ will provide specialized legal services including immigration assistance, protective orders, crime victims’ rights enforcement, navigating and understanding the criminal justice process and legal resources available to victims. AIJ will follow a victim-centered and trauma-informed approach to ensure human trafficking victims have the opportunity to make informed decisions about the support they need to work through the impact of the crime, address the issues that may have shaped the trafficking situation, and work toward identifying and achieving their personal goals. AIJ’s provision of specialized legal services will support underserved crime victims impacted by the justice system, strengthen community safety, and build trust between law enforcement and the community. These services will increase access to justice by ensuring that survivors are able to access specialized legal representation to apply for immigration documentation, including continued presence, work authorization and U and T visas.