The Mississippi Human Trafficking Council (MHTC) was launched on September 9, 2019, through collaboration among the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi, and other government and community partners. The Council brought law enforcement, prosecutors, victim service providers, and other professionals together to strengthen Mississippi’s response to sex and labor trafficking affecting children and adults.

Federal grants awarded to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety and the Mississippi State Department of Health in 2019 supported investigative capacity and expanded victim services, helping strengthen the state’s multidisciplinary response.

Today, the Council continues this collaborative work under the leadership of Mississippi’s Statewide Human Trafficking Coordinator. It provides a forum for statewide partnerships, survivor-informed practices, professional training, and improvements in how agencies identify and respond to human trafficking.