Georgia creates sex trafficking prosecution unit

Attorney General Chris Carr in a 2016 file photo. DAVID BARNES / DAVID.BARNES@AJC.COM

Attorney General Chris Carr in a 2016 file photo. DAVID BARNES / DAVID.BARNES@AJC.COM

A new unit of Georgia prosecutors and investigators will lead an effort to fight sex trafficking crimes.

Attorney General Chris Carr and Gov. Brian Kemp announced the creation of the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit on Friday.

"We are excited to build this Human Trafficking Unit with dedicated staff who will work every day to protect our state's most vulnerable and put buyers and traffickers behind bars," Carr said in a statement.

The six-person Human Trafficking Unit will start work Jan. 1. It will be funded from a $370,000 appropriation from the Georgia General Assembly.

"One victim of human trafficking in the state of Georgia is one too many," Kemp said. "Attorney General Carr will have the resources he needs to crack down on this industry and make sure that buyers and traffickers know Georgia is a hostile environment for those who seek to abuse our children."

The unit will be housed in the Attorney General's Office and work with local, state and federal law enforcement officials to target trafficking crimes.