The Michigan Human Trafficking Commission has scheduled six upcoming meetings in 2025, according to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.
Meetings are held at the Williams Building at 525 W. Ottawa Street and are accessible remotely via Microsoft Teams.
The commission invites survivors of human trafficking, advocacy groups, law enforcement partners, and members of the public to join their upcoming meetings from noon to 1 p.m. scheduled for:
• January 23
• March 10
• May 19
• July 14
• September 22
• November 17
“The Human Trafficking Commission is a diverse group of survivors, victim advocates, attorneys, government agency representatives, and law enforcement agents all working together to end human trafficking,” Nessel said. “These members, including the Department’s very own Assistant Attorney General Melissa Palepu, bring an unwavering commitment in the fight to combat this horrific crime. I encourage anyone supporting this cause to attend an upcoming meeting.”
The Michigan Human Trafficking Commission was created within the Department of Attorney General by statute, when the 2014 Human Trafficking Commission Act became law, and began operations in 2015. The Commission is comprised of 10 members appointed by the Governor, Attorney General, Michigan State Police, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.
The Commission is comprised of the following members:
• Chair, Assistant Attorney General Melissa Palepu
• Vice Chair, Katie Papke, LMSW, Human Trafficking Victim Services Provider
• Michael Draminski, Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
• Jeff Getting, Kalamazoo County Prosecutor
• Alice Johnson, Human Trafficking Peer Specialist, Outreach/Case Management
• Leslie King, founder of Sacred Beginnings, Human Trafficking Advocate
• Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Lisa McCormick
• Tiffany Martinez, Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Victim Services;
• Benjamin O’Hearn, Immigration Attorney
• Detective Sergeant Jonathan Walden, Michigan State Police.
The mission of the Michigan Human Trafficking Commission as set forth by the 2014 Human Trafficking Commission Act includes:
• Identifying sources for grants that will assist in examining and countering human trafficking in this state and applying for those grants when appropriate.
• Funding research programs to determine the extent and nature of human trafficking in Michigan.
• Providing information and training regarding human trafficking to:
- Police officers
- Prosecutors
- Court personnel
- Health care providers
- Social services personnel
- Other individuals the commission considers appropriate.
• Collecting and analyzing information regarding human trafficking in Michigan.
• Identifying state and local agencies within Michigan and other states, as well as within the federal government, that are involved with issues relating to human trafficking, and coordinating the dissemination of information regarding human trafficking in Michigan to those agencies.
• Reviewing existing services available to assist human trafficking victims, including crime victim assistance, health care, and legal assistance, and establishing a program to make those victims better aware of the services available to them.
• Establishing a program to improve public awareness of human trafficking.
• Reviewing existing state laws and administrative rules relating to human trafficking and making recommendations to the legislature to improve those laws and rules to address human trafficking violations in Michigan.
Last Thursday, Palepu testified in support of the House Bills 5836-5854 and 5864, as well as Senate Bills 515-517, which aim to strengthen protections for human trafficking survivors and enhance accountability for traffickers. The legislative package was unanimously advanced out of Committee to the full Michigan House of Representatives for consideration.
Additional information on the attorney general's human trafficking initiative, including prosecutions and laws, is available at www.michigan.gov/ag/initiatives/human-trafficking.
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