Human Trafficking
Montgomery County, MD
Human Trafficking Prevention Committee
Human trafficking has long been an issue in Montgomery County, in Maryland, nationally and internationally. Human trafficking is a form of modern slavery where people profit from the control and exploitation of others (Polaris Project). There are generally two forms of trafficking: sex and labor. Victims of human trafficking include men, women, boys and girls.
The Polaris Project, a national non-profit that assists human trafficking victims, does an excellent job of collecting statistics by state. Maryland data may be found here (PDF).
In 2014, County Executive Ike Leggett created the Montgomery County Human Trafficking Task Force. The purpose of the task force is to increase understanding of the issue in Montgomery County and to develop interagency coordination of strategies for response and prevention.
In October 2017, the task force transitioned into the Montgomery County Human Trafficking Prevention Committee (Committee) via 27-17 Human Rights and Civil Liberties—Human Trafficking Prevention Committee Established.
Full Committee Meeting Dates
Meetings are held on the third Wednesday, every other month.
- Wednesday, November 20, 2024, 12:00-1:30pm
- Wednesday, January 15, 2025, 12:00-1:30pm
- Wednesday, March 19, 2025, 12:00-1:30 PM
- Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 12:00-1:30 PM
- Wednesday, July 16, 2025, 12:00-1:30 PM
- Wednesday, September 17, 2025, 12:00-1:30 PM
- Wednesday, November 19, 2025, 12:00-1:30 PM
Meetings for the full human trafficking prevention committee are in person, and take place in the second floor meeting room of the Rockville Library. Please note that meeting dates and times are subject to change, so please call or email ahead to confirm
Please email [email protected] or call 240-777-8333.
Meeting Agenda and MinutesThe Committee’s overarching goals include:
- Increasing the identification and prosecution of all parties supporting the organized crime of human trafficking to include traffickers, suppliers, transporters, advertisers and demand elements;
- Elimination of human trafficking, and
- Improving identification of and services for human trafficking victims
Watch the Task Force's kick-off event (YouTube)
The following organizations are active in reducing and preventing trafficking in Montgomery County:
Human Trafficking Prevention Committee Members
- Wendy Stickle (Chair), University of Maryland at USG /Academic Advisor
- Cara Grant, Montgomery County Public Schools
- Debbie Feinstein, Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office
- John Witherspoon, Montgomery County Police Department
- Kara Davis, Department of Correction and Rehabilitation
- Lt. Kathy Estrada, Commission for Women
- Dawn Luedtke, Montgomery County Council
- Rose Scotman, Health and Human Services
- Sara Morningstar, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
- Michael McAuliffe, Judiciary, Circuit Court
- Marsha Liss, Community member
- Shelby Hickman, Community Member
- Cynthia Defriece, Montgomery County Sheriff's Office
- Julia Aviles Zavala, SAFE Center (Service Provider)
- Florence Jewell, Criminal Justice Coordinating Commission
- Margaret Walsh Rudmann, Catholic Charities of Washingt,on, D.C. (advocacy)
- Janice Freeman, Human Rights Commission
Request a speaker
Are you looking for a speaker to talk about human trafficking? We have speakers that may be able to attend your event free of charge.
Human Trafficking Speaker RequestSubcommittees
The Human Trafficking Prevention Committee has three subcommittees:
Please note that meetings are subject to change. Call 240-777-8333 with any questions.
Full committee meetings will be in person in the 2nd floor meeting room of the Rockville Library, 21 Maryland Ave., Suite 330.
All subcommittees use the same Zoom link