USF receives nearly $3M in funding for anti-trafficking research tools
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The University of South Florida’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Risk to Resilience Research Lab has received nearly $3 million in federal funding for the creation of new anti-human trafficking resources and victim aid, the university announced Wednesday.
The funding will help TIP develop a statewide database to help law enforcement with human trafficking investigations as well as expand online tools for survivors such as housing and mental health.
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“By creating and expanding these tools, we will be better able to combat and reduce this illegal activity in Florida while providing essential resources to survivors when they need it most,” said Joan Reid, USF St. Petersburg professor of criminology and director of the TIP Lab. “We can’t thank Rep. Kathy Castor and Rep. Scott Franklin enough for their leadership on issues related to disrupting human trafficking and providing support for our lab.”
Around $1.85 million will go towards the expansion of the TIP Lab’s BRIGHT Network, which was developed in 2020 as a referral network for those looking for services to help escape human trafficking. The network currently serves confirmed and potential victims of sex or labor trafficking throughout Florida, according to USF.
“It is helping us paint a more complete picture of the human trafficking situation in the greater Tampa Bay region, including what types of services are needed, what might not be available and what groups are missing to assist in helping victims and disrupting human trafficking,” said Shelly Wagers, a criminology professor at USF St. Petersburg and lead researcher of the BRIGHT Network. “Federal support will now allow us to do the same throughout Florida.”
An additional $1 million will go towards the development and operation of a statewide human trafficking data repository called TIPSTR, which will assist law enforcement by addressing gaps in victim services, developing prevention programs, and increasing understanding of trends in human trafficking in Florida.
“The continued support from both our state and federal elected officials shows just how vital the work is coming out of our TIP Lab,” said Christian Hardigree, regional chancellor of USF St. Petersburg. “These powerful tools will be key in making our region and the state of Florida more resilient and safer from this pervasive crime.”
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