State of Connecticut

RICHARD BLUMENTHAL
ATTORNEY GENERAL

Hartford

December 8, 2008

Raymond Bechard
Founder & President
Ahava Kids
Post Office Box 498
Old Saybrook, CT 06475

Dear Mr. Bechard:

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

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

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

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

Very truly yours,

RICHARD BLUMENTHAL

RB/AJ/ug:s
 Department of Public Safety
Division of State Police
Statewide Organized Crime Investigative Task Force
294 Colony Street, Bldg. #7
Meriden, CT 06451
203-238-6550

January 9, 2008

Raymond Bechard
Director, Ahava Kids
P.O. Box 498
Old Saybrook, CT 06475

Dear Ray,

How can we possibly thank you enough for your constant support during our recent
investigation into Prostitution and Human Trafficking. Your suggestions and assumption
of responsibility for the well being of one of our victims/witnesses is critical to our
investigation. One of the most amazing things is that you said you would do specific
things 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 comes
to working with our victims.

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

We sincerely appreciate your help.

Sincerely,

AY-9~=--
Lucien St Germain
Commanding Officer SOCITF
 i;\1)

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April 9, 2009

Mr. Mark B. Taylor

Senior Coordinator, Reports and Politicai Affairs
Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
U.S. Department of State
Washington DC 20520

Dear Mr. Taylor:

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

I have only known Ray for a short time but in that time he has impressed me with his commitment
to the young victims of human trafficking. He has traveled the world and witnessed multiple
cases of young people enslaved in the world of trafficking. He has traveled to Iraq and other
locations in the Middle East to investigate Child Trafficking. He has given iectures to bring
awareness to this issue and has written the book "Unspeakable: the Hidden Truth Behind the
World's Fastest Growing Crime". Additionally, he has recently opened two Safe Houses, one in
Connecticut 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 victims
of human traffiCking, he and Ahava Kids are making an impact. As a member of Soroptimist
international, I have heard him speak at many club meetings and at the Northeastern Region's
Spring Conference. He is working with Soroptimist to bring attention to this crime. When we had
a production of "Body & Sold" he served on a pane! to answer questions from the audience, many
of 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 of
our foster care girls that had run away. She had been missing for five days and three police
departments were searching for her. Ray and his staff were able to locate her and she was
rescued 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 to
make a difference in the lives of young vulnerable children. He is very deserving of this
recognition.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely yours,

,-i]/)J;.mO-t~ trt~L
Rosemarie Burton
Fre;:sident

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Streer 13ritilin, CT ;)60':;2
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Raymoud Hill School Telephone: 860 c; i 2_:1307
 University of Connecticut
Torrington Campus

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May 30, 2009 ' e~~I'e?c~ /
/

Dear Community Leader:

I am writing to express my appreciation for your participation as a community partner for

my "Exploring Your Community" course this spring.

Your participation enabled a young person to learn about the community and about
themselves. You gave my student a glimpse into an interesting and important setting, and
enabled them to make a meaningful contribution. You also helped my student to develop
self-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 want
young 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 in
the winter with more detailed information. It has been great working with you, and I hope
you 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) 459-4304
frances. moulder@uconn.edu

An Equal Opportunity Employer

855 University Drive

Torrington, Connecticut 06790
Telephone: (860) 626-6800
Facsimile: (860) 626-6847
web: www.rorringron.uconn.edu
 ~ tate of O1onn.ertirut
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
STATE CAPITOL
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06106-1591

March 17, 2009

Dear colleagues,

Enclosed please find a report of the Task Force on Domestic Violence in Immigrant
Communities. The task force was established by former Speaker Jim Amann to develop
best practices in the areas of victim services, offender management, the judicial system
and 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. Some
of our recommendations will serve as the basis for a committee bill being drafted in the
Judiciary committee.

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

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

Sincerely,

--;::;:-p ~
TO~~-+~~~~---
Gera a Fox, III
State Representative, 42nd District State Representative, 146th District

f::' Primed on recycled paper

 $>tate of QConnecticut
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
STATE CAPITOL
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06106-1591

TASK FORCE ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN

IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES

FINAL REPORT
JANUARY 2009

Chaired by:
Representative Gerald Fox
Representative Tom Reynolds

Report Prepared by
Heidi 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 COMMUNITIES 3
FINAL REPORT
JANUARY 2009

TASK FORCE ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES

FINAL REPORT
RECOMMENDATION SUMMARY

The overarching recommendation of the Task Force on Domestic Violence in Immigrant

Communities (Task Force) is to develop and promulgate best practices in the areas of victim
services, offender management, the Judicial system and the field of Law Enforcement in the State
of Connecticut.

Victim Services
Access to Services: 2417 Shelter Staffing, Translation Services, Services for Children
Educational Outreach: Immigrant Communities & Stakeholders in Immigrant Communities
Preserve Funding for Civil Legal Services
Family Justice Centers

Offender Management
Recommendations Concerning CSSD Domestic Violence Contracted Services Programs: Solutions to "Wait
Lists," Increasing Multilingual Course Offerings, Programming for Female Offenders, Uniformity of Access
Educational Outreach: Cultural Norms & Current Federal and State Laws

Judicial
Enhanced Training for Judicial Personnel on If-Visa Issues
Enhanced Training on Dual Arrests
Interim Services for Victims Filing for Ll-Visa Protection
Specialized Domestic Violence Dockets
Funding for Family Violence Victim Advocates
Increased Staffing Levels for Public Defenders
Funding for Certified Language Interpreters
Reducing Disparities in Case Disposition Among Geographical Areas
Expansion of Time Limits for Vacating Guilty Pleas
Resolution of Support for the U-Visa Program
In-state Housing for ICE Detainees in Connecticut Legal Proceedings

Law Enforcement
Reducing Disparities Regarding Dual Arrests and Probable Cause
Designation of Law Enforcement Official for Certifications of Helpfulness
Policies Regarding Citizenship Status Inquiries When Victims Report To Law Enforcement
 TASK FORCE ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES 5
FINAL REPORT
JANUARY 2009

Membership
The 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