SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio police and the Rape Crisis Center were awarded two grants Thursday from the Department of Justice.
SAPD was awarded a grant for $650,000 and the Rape Crisis Center was awarded just over $580,000.
In total, the two entities will receive $1,230,000 from the Department of Justice.
The money will be disbursed over the next three years.
The San Antonio City Council also voted to contribute a 25 percent match, chipping in an additional $216,667.
The Rape Crisis Center provides intervention, counseling and advocacy services to children and adult victims of human trafficking.
San Antonio police Chief William McManus said the money will allow the department to continue to aggressively target anyone involved in trafficking and exploitation.
"The District Attorney's Office and its Human Trafficking Task Force are honored to work with the Rape Crisis Center on providing victims much-needed services," said Bexar County Criminal District Attorney Nico LaHood. "This grant will allow the coalition, led by the DA's office, the opportunity for its partners to dedicate personnel to fighting human trafficking."
According to U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, human trafficking is one of the nation’s fastest-growing crimes. Profits from trafficking are estimated to be $32 billion a year, and one-quarter of human trafficking victims are from the Lone Star State.
*Editors note -- a previous version of this story incorrectly stated that the money was from a single grant totaling $650,000.