State of Connecticut

RICHARD BLUMENTHALATTORNEY GENERAL

Hartford

December 8, 2008

Raymond BechardFounder & PresidentAhava KidsPost Office Box 498Old Saybrook, CT 06475

Dear Mr. Bechard:

I was pleased to hear from you about your non-profit organization, Ahava Kids, whichseeks to rescue victims of human trafficking. I also greatly appreciate your kind words about theagreement my office recently reached with Craigslist.

Craigslist has assured me that it will donate any funds collected through credit cardverification. My office has been asked whether there are any charitable organizations --especially any aiding victims of human trafficking -- that might wish to receive proceeds fromthe revenue generated from these advertisements.

I will forward a copy of your letter and my response to Craigslist and ask them to contactyou directly.

Thank you for your great work on behalf of children and please do not hesitate to contactme or my Special Counsel Anthony Jannotta if you need further assistance.

Very truly yours,

RICHARD BLUMENTHAL

RB/AJ/ug:s

Department of Public SafetyDivision of State Police

Statewide Organized Crime Investigative Task Force294 Colony Street, Bldg. #7

Meriden, CT 06451203-238-6550

January 9, 2008

Raymond BechardDirector, Ahava KidsP.O. Box 498Old Saybrook, CT 06475

Dear Ray,

How can we possibly thank you enough for your constant support during our recentinvestigation into Prostitution and Human Trafficking. Your suggestions and assumptionof responsibility for the well being of one of our victims/witnesses is critical to ourinvestigation. One of the most amazing things is that you said you would do specificthings to care for the victim and then did them; a rare commodity.

We are grateful as well for the efforts of Leslie A. Hodges; she has a gift when it comesto working with our victims.

Iknow you share our frustration with the lack of shelter space for these girls inConnecticut. Ihope somehow that this situation is soon resolved; we could then conductour mission and common interests more efficiently.

We sincerely appreciate your help.

Sincerely,

AY-9~=--Lucien St GermainCommanding Officer SOCITF

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April 9, 2009

Mr. Mark B. TaylorSenior Coordinator, Reports and Politicai AffairsOffice to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in PersonsU.S. Department of StateWashington DC 20520

Dear Mr. Taylor:

I am writing in support of Ray Bechard and Ahava Kids. Specifically. I would like to see Ray andAhava Kids recognized in the "Heroes" section of the State Department's annual Trafficking inPersons (TIP) Report.

I have only known Ray for a short time but in that time he has impressed me with his commitmentto the young victims of human trafficking. He has traveled the world and witnessed multiplecases of young people enslaved in the world of trafficking. He has traveled to Iraq and otherlocations in the Middle East to investigate Child Trafficking. He has given iectures to bringawareness to this issue and has written the book "Unspeakable: the Hidden Truth Behind theWorld's Fastest Growing Crime". Additionally, he has recently opened two Safe Houses, one inConnecticut and one in Georgia and established a nationwide 24-hour Rescue hotline.

As the Founder of Ahava Kids, an organization dedicated to rescuing and caring for young victimsof human traffiCking, he and Ahava Kids are making an impact. As a member of Soroptimistinternational, I have heard him speak at many club meetings and at the Northeastern Region'sSpring Conference. He is working with Soroptimist to bring attention to this crime. When we hada production of "Body & Sold" he served on a pane! to answer questions from the audience, manyof whom did not realize that this was a problem in the United Statos.

As President of Klingberg Famiiy Centers, I had to call on Ray for assistance in locating one ofour foster care girls that had run away. She had been missing for five days and three policedepartments were searching for her. Ray and his staff were able to locate her and she wasrescued from the trafficker who already had her working on the streets.

I am so impressed with the level of commitment of this gentle man and his humility as he works tomake a difference in the lives of young vulnerable children. He is very deserving of thisrecognition.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely yours,

,-i]/)J;.mO-t~ trt~LRosemarie BurtonFre;:sident

8lind Copy: ~::CI~I::~,!~~f~i~J~~,"t)lIdStreer N;:'\\, 13ritilin, CT ;)60':;2 Td\:'ph'1:l~:~,602~-Ll}i U

Raymoud Hill School Telephone: 860 c; i 2_:1307

University of ConnecticutTorrington Campus

May 30, 2009 '

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Dear Community Leader:

I am writing to express my appreciation for your participation as a community partner formy "Exploring Your Community" course this spring.

Your participation enabled a young person to learn about the community and aboutthemselves. You gave my student a glimpse into an interesting and important setting, andenabled them to make a meaningful contribution. You also helped my student to developself-understanding and to get insights into fulfilling career choices.

This kind of direct involvement in community organizations helps bring students'academic learning to life. In my experience there is no substitute for this, if we wantyoung people to become thoughtful, engaged and serious about their work.

I will be teaching the course again in spring, 2010, and will contact you at some point inthe winter with more detailed information. It has been great working with you, and I hopeyou will be able to participate again next spring.

Best wishes for an enjoyable summer!

Sincerely,

~~

Frances V. Moulder, Ph.D.Urban & Community Studies Program(860) 459-4304frances. moulder@uconn.edu

An Equal Opportunity Employer

855 University DriveTorrington, Connecticut 06790

Telephone: (860) 626-6800Facsimile: (860) 626-6847web: www.rorringron.uconn.edu

~ tate of O1onn.ertirutGENERAL ASSEMBLY

STATE CAPITOLHARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06106-1591

March 17, 2009

Dear colleagues,

Enclosed please find a report of the Task Force on Domestic Violence in ImmigrantCommunities. The task force was established by former Speaker Jim Amann to developbest practices in the areas of victim services, offender management, the judicial systemand the field of law enforcement in the State of Connecticut.

We would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the work of the task force. Someof our recommendations will serve as the basis for a committee bill being drafted in theJudiciary committee.

We anticipate a public hearing on the bill in the next two weeks and we encourage you tosupport our recommendations.

Should you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact our office.

Sincerely,

--;::;:-p ~TO~~-+~~~~---State Representative, 42nd District

Gera a Fox, IIIState Representative, 146th District

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$>tate of QConnecticutGENERAL ASSEMBLY

STATE CAPITOLHARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06106-1591

TASK FORCE ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INIMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES

FINAL REPORTJANUARY 2009

Chaired by:Representative Gerald Fox

Representative Tom Reynolds

Report Prepared byHeidi Alice Voight, Policy Aide

Office of the Speaker of the House

Legislative Office Building. Hartford, CT 06106-1591. www.cga.ct.gov

TASK FORCE ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIESFINAL REPORTJANUARY 2009

3

TASK FORCE ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIESFINAL REPORT

RECOMMENDATION SUMMARY

The overarching recommendation of the Task Force on Domestic Violence in ImmigrantCommunities (Task Force) is to develop and promulgate best practices in the areas of victimservices, offender management, the Judicial system and the field of Law Enforcement in the Stateof Connecticut.

Victim ServicesAccess to Services: 2417 Shelter Staffing, Translation Services, Services for ChildrenEducational Outreach: Immigrant Communities & Stakeholders in Immigrant CommunitiesPreserve Funding for Civil Legal ServicesFamily Justice Centers

Offender ManagementRecommendations Concerning CSSD Domestic Violence Contracted Services Programs: Solutions to "WaitLists," Increasing Multilingual Course Offerings, Programming for Female Offenders, Uniformity of AccessEducational Outreach: Cultural Norms & Current Federal and State Laws

JudicialEnhanced Training for Judicial Personnel on If-Visa IssuesEnhanced Training on Dual ArrestsInterim Services for Victims Filing for Ll-Visa ProtectionSpecialized Domestic Violence DocketsFunding for Family Violence Victim AdvocatesIncreased Staffing Levels for Public DefendersFunding for Certified Language InterpretersReducing Disparities in Case Disposition Among Geographical AreasExpansion of Time Limits for Vacating Guilty PleasResolution of Support for the U-Visa ProgramIn-state Housing for ICE Detainees in Connecticut Legal Proceedings

Law EnforcementReducing Disparities Regarding Dual Arrests and Probable CauseDesignation of Law Enforcement Official for Certifications of HelpfulnessPolicies Regarding Citizenship Status Inquiries When Victims Report To Law Enforcement

TASK FORCE ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIESFINAL REPORTJANUARY 2009

5

MembershipThe following individuals were members of the Task Force:

Public Officials

Speaker of the House James A. Amann

Representative Gerald Fox: Co-Chair

Representative Tom Reynolds: Co-Chair

Senator John Kissel: Ranking Member

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal

Representative Andres Ayala

Representative Kelvin Roldan

Members

Raymond Bechard: President, AHA VA Kids

Linda J. Cimino: Director, Office of Victim Services, CT Judicial Branch

Michael Culhane: Executive Director, CT Catholic Conference

Michelle Cruz: State Victim Advocate, Office of the Victim Advocate (Hakima Bey-Coon, Designee)

Deborah DelPrete Sullivan: Legal Counsel, Designee for the Office of the Chief Public Defender

Enelsa Diaz: Attorney, Greater Hartford Legal Aid

Kevin Dunn: Senior DV Prosecutor, Division of Criminal Justice

Kenneth J. Edwards, Jr.: Inspector, Division of Criminal Justice

Robert Fishman: President, CT Immigration and Refugee Coalition

Kara Hart: Attorney, Greater Hartford Legal Aid

Paul Killoran: Sergeant, CT State Police

Wendy Kwalwasser: Prevention Services Coordinator, Department of Children and Families