Montana Human Trafficking Rights Project

Through the Montana Trafficking Victim Rights Project, the Montana Legal Services Association (MLSA) will build capacity in Montana to serve victims of human trafficking and to provide civil legal aid services for human trafficking victims. The project will serve the statewide community of Montana, with a particular focus serving rural, low-income trafficking victims including those with H-2A visas and those from Tribal communities. The goal of the project is to develop capacity and provide trauma-informed civil legal aid to trafficking victims in Montana, empowering trafficking victims to assert and protect their legal rights under the law, to keep themselves and their families safe from violence, to help hold offenders accountable for their crimes, and to work toward recovery, independence, self-sufficiency, and well-being. Project activities include 1) working with designed OVC human trafficking training providers to build internal capacity to serve trafficking survivors; 2) providing legal representation, advice, limited scope services, and representation to trafficking survivors; and 3) conducting education, outreach, and training for trauma-informed legal services referrals for victim service providers and criminal justice professionals in Montana. MLSA’s MOU Partner, HER Campaign, is a residential trafficking victim service provider who will provide victim referrals and help build a trauma-centered referral process. Additionally, the Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence will help build the referral process and provide access to their network of trafficking victim service providers.