MOU WITH ASU FOR DPS HUMAN TRAFFICKING 1-9-26_ASU 2.26.26._FINAL.PDF

Maricopa County — Formal (2026-03-25)

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MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING 
Between 
THE MARICOPA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE 
And 
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERISTY OFFICE OF 
SEX TRAFFICKING INTERVENTION RESEARCH 
1.
PARTICIPANTS: The Participants to this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) are Maricopa
County on behalf of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), and Arizona Board of Regents
on behalf of Arizona State University (ASU) and ASU’s Office of Sex Trafficking Intervention
Research (STIR). Nothing in this MOU should be construed as limiting or impeding the basic
spirit of cooperation which exists between these agencies.
2.
AUTHORITY: This MOU is entered into under the authority of Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.)
§§11-951 et seq., and A.R.S. §§11-952 et seq.
3.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this MOU is to memorialize the collaborative efforts between
MCSO and ASU to develop targeted human trafficking training courses and establish the
responsibilities of both Participants for the collaborative work on the project entitled “Anti-
Human Trafficking Grant Fund” awarded through the Arizona Department of Public Safety
(DPS), contract 2025-294.
4.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
a.
MCSO will:
i.
Host training in facilities equipped with audio/video equipment and internet access
ii.
Host annual conference in facilities equipped with audio/video equipment and
internet access
iii.
Promote training and conference opportunities as part of their outreach and track
participation by MCSO employees.
b.
ASU will:
i.
Assist MSCO with trainings, conferences, networks and analysis.
a.
Annual Conference: Assist MCSO with hosting a 1-day conference twice-per
year at the MCSO training center serving 250 attendees per year.
b.
Training for Sheriff’s Officers:  Community investigations:  40; Patrol: 50.
c.
Build a network with MSCO within the Maricopa County jails to respond to
potential sex trafficking victims, identified sex trafficking victims, and identified
sex traffickers.
d.
Explore the experiences of the female inmates at the Estrella Jail for Women
with an annual life-history survey.
ii.
Provide direct counseling and victim advocacy services to female survivors of
human trafficking who are incarcerated at MSCO.

iii.
Direct connection to Phoenix Starfish Place.  This direct connection will include a
Resource Specialist at Phoenix Starfish Place to assist with re-entry referrals for
persons released from Estrella.
iv.
MSCO Social Work interns.  2 MSW social work interns to work with MCSO jail
staff to provide interviews of self-identified victims, emotional support, and provide
community referrals to high risk and identified victims of sex trafficking.
v.
Community Outreach activities.
vi.
Develop a training video for MSCO training portal using MCSO and ASU material
and staff expertise.
vii.
Provide access to legal support through Arizona Legal Women and Youth Services
(ALWAYS) for individuals who have experienced sex trafficking.
viii.
Provide Human trafficking awareness material for distribution within the MCSO
Jails.
5.
REPORTING: Pre and/or Post Surveys with attendee lists will be compiled and provided to
MCSO by ASU for any funded trainings and conferences. The reporting will provide sufficient
detail to assess beliefs, learnings, and individual empowerment to identify and respond to
suspected or confirmed cases of human trafficking. All survey responses will be anonymous and
will serve to meet documentation requirements for the use of grant funds for training.
6.
FUNDING:
a.
This Agreement is not an obligation of or a commitment of funds, or a basis for a transfer of
funds, but rather a statement of understanding between the Participants concerning the use of
Grant Funding because of this collaborative relationship.
b.
The Participants will enter into a separate funding agreement outlining the specific terms and
conditions for the funding amount, use of funds, reimbursements and payments according to
the requirements of the funding source.
c.
If ASU STIR receives reimbursement from a party other than MCSO in connection with
work conducted by STIR with respect to the “Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, FY 2026
Anti-Human Trafficking Grant Fund” project, ASU shall reimburse MCSO for any grant
money (not to exceed the amount received by STIR from a party other than MCSO)
supplanted by other sources.
7.
SUBSEQUENT TREATMENT OF INFORMATION; CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION:
The Participants understand that confidential information, as defined below shared as a result of
this MOU is restricted by the following conditions:
a.
The Participants may, at their discretion, and in connection with the Purpose,
disclose their respective proprietary or confidential information (“Confidential
Information”) to each other. To be protected hereunder, Confidential Information
must be marked confidential if disclosed in written or other tangible form. If
Confidential Information is disclosed orally or visually, Confidential Information
must be identified as confidential at the time of disclosure and reduced to writing,
marked confidential, and transmitted to the receiving Participant within thirty (30)
days of the initial disclosure.
b.
Nothing in this MOU will be construed to convey to either Participant any right, title
or interest in any Confidential Information provided by the other Participant or any
right, title or interest in any intellectual property of the Participants, including but
not limited to, processes, copyrights or patents. No license to the receiving

Participant under any trademark, patent or copyright is either granted or implied by 
the conveying of Confidential Information to the receiving Participant.  
c. The Participants will use reasonable efforts to prevent the disclosure to unauthorized 
third parties of any Confidential Information of the other Participant and will use 
such information only for the purposes of this MOU. The receiving Participant’s 
obligations with respect to Confidential Information will survive for three (3) years 
after the termination of this MOU. Receiving Participant’s obligations hereunder 
will not apply if the receiving Participant can show, with convincing written 
evidence that the Confidential Information of the disclosing Participant received 
under this MOU:  
i. was already known to the receiving Participant prior to the time of first 
disclosure; 
ii. at the time of disclosure is in the public domain, or after the date of disclosure, 
lawfully becomes a part of the public domain other than through breach of this MOU 
by the receiving Participant; 
iii. is received in good faither, without any obligation of confidentiality from a third 
party having a legal right to disclose the same; 
iv. is independently developed by the receiving party by individuals without access 
to such information; or  
v. is required to be disclosed by the receiving Participant pursuant to a legally 
enforceable order, law, subpoena, or other regulation (“Order”), provided, however 
that the receiving Participant promptly notifies the disclosing Participant in advance 
of such disclosure and discloses only that Confidential Information necessary to 
comply with said Order. Participant will protect such Confidential Information from 
disclosure to the greatest extent permissible under applicable state and federal laws.  
d. MCSO and ASU are subject to A.R.S. §§39-121 through 39-127 regarding public 
records. Any provision regarding confidentiality is limited to the extent necessary to 
comply with Arizona law.  
e. A Participant that has received Confidential Information from another Participant 
pursuant to this MOU is not to use or disclose such Confidential Information except 
as agreed to by the Participants or required by law.  
f. Except when prohibited by law, the Participants will obtain permission for the 
disclosure of Confidential Information to third parties prior to making such 
disclosure.  
g. To prevent the unauthorized disclosure, copying, use or medication of Confidential 
Information provided to a Participant under the MOU, the Participants are to restrict 
access to Confidential Information shared pursuant to the MOU on a need-to-know 
basis, and, where applicable, use recognized security mechanisms such as 
passwords, encryption, or other reasonable safeguards to prevent unauthorized 
access.  
 
8. OTHER PROVISIONS: 
a. INSURANCE. Maricopa County is self-insured for liability and ASU is self-insured per 
A.R.S. 41-621. The Participants will provide a certificate of coverage to the other 
Participant upon request.  
b. INDEMNIFICATION. Each Participant (as “indemnitor”) agrees to indemnify, defend, 
and hold harmless the other Participant (as “indemnitee”) from and against any and all 
claims, losses, liability, costs, or expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees) 
(hereinafter collectively referred to as “claims”) arising out of bodily injury of any

person (including death) or property damage, but only to the extent that such claims 
which result in vicarious/derivative liability to the indemnitee are caused by the action, 
omission, negligence, misconduct, or other fault of the indemnitor, its officers, officials, 
agents, employees, or authorized volunteers. Indemnification for punitive damages will 
not be provided by either Party.  
c. ARIZONA LAW. Applicable law of Arizona applies to this MOU including, where 
applicable, the Uniform Commercial Code as adopted by the State of Arizona.  
d. Nothing in this MOU is intended to conflict with current law or regulation or the policies 
and procedures of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office or Arizona State University. If 
any term of this MOU is inconsistent with such authority, then that term shall be invalid, 
but the remaining terms and conditions of this MOU shall remain in full force and effect.  
e.  CONFLICT OF INTEREST. Pursuant to A.R.S §38-511, the State, its political 
subdivisions or any department or agency of either may, within three (3) years after its 
execution, cancel any agreement, without penalty or further obligation, made by the 
State, its political subdivisions, or any of the departments or agencies of either if any 
person significantly involved in initiating, negotiating, securing, drafting, or creating the 
agreement on behalf of the State, its political subdivisions or any of the departments or 
agencies of either is, at any time while the agreement or any extension of the agreement 
is in effect, an employee or agent of any other party to the agreement in any capacity or a 
consultant to any other party of the agreement with respect to the subject matter of the 
agreement. A cancellation made pursuant to this provision shall be effective when the 
non-cancelling party receives written notice of the cancellation unless the notice 
specifies a later time.  
f. ARBITRATION. Pursuant to A.R.S. §12-1518, disputes under this MOU shall be 
resolved through the use of arbitration as follows: Cases under the Jurisdictional Limit. 
In all cases filed in superior court in which the court finds or the parties agree that the 
amount in controversy does not exceed the jurisdictional limit; arbitration shall be used, 
unless all parties file a written stipulation waiving the arbitration requirement, and the 
court waives the arbitration requirement on showing of good cause.  
g. INA. Each Participant to this MOU warrants compliance with the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (INA using E-Verify) and all other federal immigration laws and 
regulations related to the immigration status of its employees and A.R.S. §23-214(A). 
Each Participant shall obtain statements from its subcontractors certifying compliance 
and shall furnish the statements to the other Participant upon request. These warranties 
shall remain in effect through the term of this MOU. Each Participant and its 
subcontractors shall also maintain Employment Eligibility Verification forms (1-9) as 
required by the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, as amended from time to 
time, for all employees performing work under this MOU and verify employee 
compliance using the E-verify system and shall keep a record of the verification for the 
duration of the employee's employment or at least three years, whichever is longer. I-9 
forms are available for download at USCIS.GOV. Each Participant retains the legal right 
to inspect contractor and subcontractor employee documents performing work under this 
MOU to verify compliance with this MOU. Each Participant and its subcontractors shall 
be given reasonable notice of the other Participant's intent to inspect and shall make the 
documents available at the time and date specified. Should either Participant find that the 
other Participant or any of its subcontractors are not in compliance; such non-
compliance may be considered a material breach of this MOU and may pursue any and 
all remedies allowed by law. Nothing set out herein shall make any subcontractor an 
agent or employee of either Participant.

h. This MOU is an agreement between Maricopa County on behalf of the MCSO and 
Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of ASU and does not create or confer any right or 
benefit on any other person or party, public or private. The right and obligations of the 
Participants shall be only those expressly set forth in this MOU.  
 
9. The employees of each Participant shall remain as employees of said entity, and this MOU does 
not convey any rights, duties or obligations to the other Participant's employees. 
 
10. This MOU may be canceled at any time for lack of funding. 
 
11. PARTICIPATION IN SIMILAR ACTIVITIES. This MOU in no way restricts either Participant 
from participating in similar activities with other public or private agencies, organizations and 
individuals. 
 
12. ADVERTISING, PUBLICITY, NAMES AND MARKS. Neither Participant will do any of the 
following, without, in each case, prior written consent: (i) use any names, service marks, 
trademarks, trade names, logos, or other identifying names, domain names, or identifying marks 
of the other Participant (Marks), including online, advertising, or promotional purposes; (ii) 
issue a press release or public statement regarding this MOU, except for documents used for 
internal consumption by the Participant; or (iii) represent or imply any endorsement or suppo1i 
of any product or service in any public or private communication. Any permitted use of Marks 
must comply with the owning Participant's requirements, including using the® indication of a 
registered mark. 
 
13. NON-BINDING. With the exception of ADVERTISING, PUBLICITY, NAMES AND 
MARKS above, this MOU is not intended to create any legally binding obligations on either 
Party but, rather is intended to facilitate discussions regarding general areas of cooperation 
related to the Grant Funding. 
 
14. FEDERAL DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS. MCSO acknowledges and agrees that: (1) 
federal agencies that provide funding for research may require disclosure of contracts pursuant 
to Section 223 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Section 117 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), and National Security Presidential Memorandum 33 
(NSPM-33) (collectively, "Federal Disclosure Requirements"); and (2) nothing in this MOU 
shall prevent ASU from disclosing the MOU to federal agencies pursuant to the Federal 
Disclosure Requirements. 
 
15. This MOU constitutes the entire understanding between the Participants as to the activities, 
conditions and terms addressed herein. 
 
16. POINTS OF CONTACT 
 
MCSO:  
Brandon Smith 
 
 
Custody Region IV Deputy Chief 
 
 
550 West Jackson Street 
 
 
Phoenix, Arizona 85003 
 
 
Office: 602-876-3231 
 
 
Email: B_Smith@MCSO.Maricopa.gov

ASU Legal: 
ORSPA 
Heather C. Clark 
PO Box 870611 
Tempe, AZ 85287-6011 
Asu.awards@asu.edu 
STIR: 
Dominique Roe-Sepowitz 
Director of Office of Sex Trafficking Intervention Research 
411 North Central Avenue, Suite 800  
Phoenix, Arizona 85004  
Office: 602-496-0093  
Email: Dominque.Rose@asu.edu 
EFFECTIVE DATE: The terms of this MOU will become effective as of the date of the final signature 
by the Participants.  
DURATION: The terms of this MOU will remain in effect for one (1) year, unless terminated according 
to provisions provided herein or superseded by a separate funding agreement between the Participants as 
contemplated by Clause 6.b. above.  
MODIFICATION: This MOU may be modified by amendment and upon the mutual written consent of 
both Participants.  
TERMINATION: Either Participant may terminate this MOU upon thirty (30) days' written notice to the 
other Participant. 
[Signatures on next page]

We, the undersigned, as authorized representative of the named agency, do hereby approve this 
document.  
 
 
ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS, on 
Behalf of Arizona State University 
 
MARICOPA COUNTY, a political 
Subdivision of the State of Arizona 
 
 
BY:  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
______________________________________ 
Robert Weidenbaum 
 
 
    Date 
Director, Contract Services, , Research 
Operations 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Approved as to form: 
 
 
______________________________________ 
Legal Counsel  
 
 
    Date 
 
 
 
 
 
MARICOPA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE 
 
 
 
 
______________________________________ 
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office 
Jerry, Sheridan, Sheriff 
 
 
 
_____________________________________ 
Date 
BY:  
 
 
___________________________________ 
Kate Brophy McGee 
 
        
Date 
 
Chairman 
 
 
 
Attest:  
 
 
___________________________________ 
Clerk of the Board 
 
        
Date 
 
 
 
Approved as to form: 
 
 
___________________________________ 
Deputy County Attorney 
 
Date 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY OFFICE   
OF SEX TRAFFICKING INTERVENTION  
RESEARCH 
 
 
____________________________________ 
Dominique Roe-Sepowitz, MSW, Ph.D. 
Director of Office of Sex Trafficking 
Intervention Research 
 
 
_____________________________________ 
Date