The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office has joined forces with the Human Trafficking Institute to enhance its initiatives against human trafficking and child exploitation by providing specialized training and resources.
The Montgomery County District Attorney's Office has initiated a multi-year partnership with the Human Trafficking Institute aimed at enhancing local initiatives to address human trafficking, child exploitation, and commercial sexual exploitation, as stated in a release dated Sept. 9.
Montgomery County has become one of the pioneering five counties in Texas to collaborate with the institute. The initiative emphasizes a victim-first approach, equipping law enforcement and prosecutors with essential training and investigative tools to enhance case outcomes and develop long-term enforcement strategies.
A two-day training event kicked off the partnership on September 8-9 at the Lone Star Convention Center in Conroe. The sessions focused on legal frameworks specific to Texas, strategies for proactive victim identification, cutting-edge investigative techniques, and the utilization of digital evidence.
There was a strong emphasis on collaboration between different agencies. Various law enforcement and frontline agencies from throughout the county took part, including the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, multiple constable precincts, and the Conroe Police Department. Representatives from the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services were also present. Among the attendees were representatives from Harris County, Klein ISD, and the Texas Office of the Governor.
Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon emphasized that this collaboration marks a crucial commitment to enhancing the county's capacity to safeguard its most at-risk residents. “This training and collaboration with [Human Trafficking Institute] are crucial commitments to Montgomery County’s capacity to target traffickers and protect our most at-risk population—our children,” Ligon stated in the announcement.
Ligon shares that, “ By enhancing our investigative and prosecutorial approaches, we are delivering a clear message: Montgomery County will not be a haven for traffickers or anyone looking to exploit children.”
Tyler Dunman, the vice president of programs at the Human Trafficking Institute, shared his pride in the partnership. "We are excited to collaborate with Montgomery County to provide this exceptional training to our local law enforcement," Dunman stated in the same announcement. "The dedication shown by law enforcement and prosecutors in this area is clear, and the training conducted this week represents a significant advancement in achieving more efficient enforcement throughout the county.”
Dunman, a former prosecutor from Montgomery County, brings a wealth of experience in combating human trafficking, both within Texas and on a global scale.
This collaboration will continue to offer technical training sessions for law enforcement and prosecutors throughout the county. Officials have stated that these initiatives will enhance the ability to identify victims more effectively, thoroughly investigate cases, and ensure that traffickers are held accountable.
"We are eager to enhance our office with cutting-edge training and expertise to improve our ability to identify and investigate cases of human trafficking and complex child exploitation," stated Montgomery County Sheriff Wesley Doolittle in the announcement.
Doolittle asserts that improved training for deputies leads to more effective strategies for combating traffickers and provides greater protection for victims in Montgomery County.
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