Rochester’s Human Trafficking Court Receives $700,000 Toward Expansion Efforts

Written by Jasmine

The Federal Bureau of Justice Assistance has granted $728,318 to the Rochester Human Trafficking Court to help expand the services available through the court and change lives.

The court was originally established based on a common thought, many of the people arrested for prostitution crimes are victims themselves. Currently, the court can only take cases from the city of Rochester. However, with the help from this grant, other Monroe County area villages and towns will now be able to transfer their cases to the Rochester Human Trafficking Court.

A press conference was held on Tuesday where local advocate groups and leaders attended to learn of the good news. Judge Ellen Yacknin, who has presided over the Rochester Human Trafficking Court since 2013, shared the following statement,  “It will help the community of Rochester because the victims of abuse and trauma and cohesion will get the help that they need to begin to change their lives.”