Stearns County just landed a $955,000 war chest from the Minnesota Office of Justice Programs to beef up the Central Minnesota Human Trafficking Task Force. The two-year award runs from May 1, 2026, through April 30, 2028, and is aimed at ramping up investigations, victim services and cross-jurisdictional coordination across central Minnesota. County officials say the money will help investigators and service partners dig deeper into cases that routinely spill across city and county lines.
According to WJON, the Minnesota Office of Justice Programs chose the Stearns County Attorney’s Office for the award after reviewing applicants’ task-force models and investigative records. The outlet reports the recommendation highlighted the task force’s track record, investigative horsepower and long-running commitment to regional collaboration.
How the task force is structured
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Office of Justice Programs describes the sex-trafficking task-force model as a multi-jurisdictional partnership that brings together local law enforcement, prosecutors and victim-service providers to centralize expertise and information. OJP notes that this setup is considered a best practice for complex trafficking investigations because it supports coordinated proactive and reactive work across agencies. On the ground, the Central Minnesota team pairs detectives, county prosecutors and nonprofit service providers to investigate traffickers, pursue buyers and connect survivors with services.
Funding history in central Minnesota
The Central Minnesota task force is no stranger to state support. In 2021 it secured a two-year, $575,000 OJP grant that helped move the unit into full-time operations. Local reporting has shown that since the task force launched in 2018 it has generated hundreds of tips, more than 100 investigations and dozens of felony charges, all while connecting scores of victims to assistance. KNSI documented those earlier outcomes along with the broader network of law-enforcement and social-service partners involved.
What the new grant will fund
Per WJON, the new $955,000 award will cover task-force personnel, investigative work and victim-support services over the life of the grant. The station reports the Stearns County Attorney’s Office will serve as fiscal agent and handle contracts with partner agencies, school districts and nonprofits. Local leaders say the extra funding will let the task force take on more cross-jurisdictional cases and expand outreach and support for survivors.
Statewide, the Office of Justice Programs has set aside roughly $1.95 million for sex-trafficking investigations task-force grants as part of a broader push to grow investigative and victim-service capacity across Minnesota. OJP says the centralized model helps agencies share resources and specialized know-how, and Stearns County officials say the latest award will keep that work running through 2028.
