About SAATURN

In October 2015, the Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime awarded the Enhanced Collaborative Model to Combat Human Trafficking to the Tucson Police Department (TPD) and CODAC Health, Recovery & Wellness to address human trafficking in Cochise, Pima and Santa Cruz Counties. This launched the beginning of the Southern Arizona Anti-Trafficking Unified Response Network (SAATURN).

SAATURN is supported by several subcommittees each focused on a specific component of addressing human trafficking. These include:

SAATURN'S Mission

  1. It is SAATURN's mission to provide comprehensive services to trafficking victims by identifying and addressing their needs for safety, security, and healing.
  2. Proactively investigate, identify, apprehend, and prosecute those engaged in human trafficking.

Subcommittees

Law Enforcement & Prosecution
The Law Enforcement & Prosecution Subcommittee aims to enhance investigations and prosecutions of identified human trafficking offenders.  Activities include evaluation of current, ongoing, and past investigations and prosecutions.  Federal, state, and local counterparts work collaboratively to conduct successful investigations and prosecutions of offenders.

At-Risk Juveniles
The At-Risk Juveniles Subcommittee aims to strengthen task force capacity to assess and assist at-risk juveniles identified by law enforcement, juvenile probation, and the community.  Key stakeholders evaluate the flow of identification, referral, law enforcement action, and services provided to past and current identified at-risk juveniles in order to address any voids and enhance stakeholder communication and effectiveness.

Victim Services
The Victim Services Subcommittee aims to enhance the capacity of professional and key task force stakeholders to respond to the needs of victims of human trafficking throughout Southern Arizona.  Activities include identifying and evaluating both immediate and prolonged services for victims and addressing any identified issues and/or voids in needed services.

Training & Outreach
The Training & Outreach Subcommittee aims to strengthen task force capacity for human trafficking training across Southern Arizona.  Activities include evaluating past training events, identifying needed training events, and coordinating efforts for planned training events.

Network of Collaborators 

Law Enforcement  

  • Arizona Attorney General's Office
  • Arizona Department of Public Safety
  • Cochise County Attorney's Office
  • Cochise County Juvenile Court
  • Federal Bureau of Investigations
  • Homeland Security Investigations
  • Pima County Attorney's Office
  • Pima County Juvenile Court
  • Pima County Sheriff Department
  • Santa Cruz County Juvenile Court
  • Tucson Police Department
  • U.S. Customs & Border Protection
  • United States Attorney's Office

Victims Services Providers

  • Arizona Children's Association
  • Cochise Family Advocacy Center
  • CODAC Health, Recovery & Wellness
  • COPE
  • Emerge
  • Free Ever After
  • Gospel Rescue Mission
  • Internation Rescue Committee
  • Our Family Services
  • Salvation Army
  • Southern Arizona Against Slavery
  • Southern AZ Children’s Advocacy Center
  • Teen Outreach Pregnancy Services
  • Willow Way

Faith-based Organizations

  • Gospel Rescue Mission
  • Life in Christ Church
  • Sold No More

Educational Institutions

  • Arizona State University, Office of Sex Trafficking Intervention Research
  • The University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law, Immigration Law Clinic
  • The University of Arizona, Southwest Institute for Research on Women (SIROW)
  • Pima Community College, Truck Driving Program

Other Community Partners

  • Arizona Department of Child Safety
  • Arizona Legal Women and Youth Services (ALWAYS)
  • Cities Empowered Against Sexual Exploitation (CEASE)
  • Consulate of Mexico in Tucson
  • Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona
  • Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project
  • Goodwill of Southern Arizona, METRO Youth Program
  • U.S. Department of Labor, Wage & Hour Division

Click here to read SAATURN's Protocol.