[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that $1.4 million in funding has been awarded by the Department of Justice for law enforcement activities in Illinois. The following entities will receive funding:

• Salvation Army Metropolitan Division, Chicago: $450,000 in funding to support a comprehensive approach to combating human trafficking by 1) conducting proactive, victim-centered trafficking investigations; 2) offering a comprehensive array of restorative services to meet each victim’s identified needs; 3) supporting the prosecution of trafficking crimes on state and federal levels; and 4) enhancing community capacity to identify trafficking crimes and provide services to victims.
  
   
• Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, Chicago: $500,000 in funding to support a comprehensive approach to combating human trafficking by 1) conducting proactive, victim-centered trafficking investigations; 2) offering a comprehensive array of restorative services to meet each victim’s identified needs; 3) supporting the prosecution of trafficking crimes on state and federal levels; and 4) enhancing community capacity to identify trafficking crimes and provide services to victims.
  
   
• DuPage County Sherriff Department, Wheaton: $285,287 in funding to assist state and local government in reducing forensic DNA sample turnaround time, increase the throughput of public DNA laboratories and reduce DNA forensic casework backlogs. These improvements are critical to preventing the future DNA backlogs and to helping the criminal justice system use the full potential of DNA technology.
  
   
• Microtrace, Elgin: $237,977 in funding for research and development to advance the analysis of paint, ink and fiber evidence.