Austin PD review of sex crime investigations finds areas in need of improvement
APD's first yearly review of sex crime cases
The Austin Police Department is trying to improve how they investigate sex crimes and has finished their first yearly review of cases. This comes after criticism in recent years.
AUSTIN - The Austin Police Department is trying to improve how they investigate sex crimes.
The department says it recently completed its annual review of cases. The review stems from a Police Executive Research Forum report from 2022 which found numerous issues with sexual assault investigations.
Austin PD Sex Crimes Unit Case Review
The review was done via the Collective Sex Crimes Response Model (CSCRM) Project. APD describes it as an "inventory" of responses to cases.
"Survivors, I want assure you, you're not alone. You're seen, you are heard, and we are here to support you," Assistant Chief Gizette Gaslin with Austin Police said.
"We remain focused on providing the best possible service to survivors, and we're dedicated to learning and improving every day," Commander Deanna Lichter with Austin Police said.
With this annual review, the department says they want to set a precedent.
What It Found:
The review looked at cases that were closed between 2021 and 2022.
The department found eight areas for improvement.
- Enhanced Patrol Officer Training
- Establishment of Patrol Response Guidelines
- Implementation of a Detective Checklist
- Improved Documentation and Communication Tracking
- Implementation of an Evidentiary Inventory
- Improved Data Collection Systems
- Implementation of Quality Assurance Procedures and Personnel
- Clarification of Expectations and Standards
The backstory:
In 2018, APD cleared its backlog of more than four thousand rape kits.
"It's not just our agency. That was a nationwide problem, but our agency is very much focused on ensuring that we keep track of all sexual assault kits that are within our domain," Lichter said.
In 2022, the city settled a lawsuit from survivors who accused APD and the DA's Office of mishandling their cases.
Last year, the city formally apologized to victims for how they handled sexual assault cases.
What they're saying:
"We hope our proactive approach and ongoing efforts to improve the experience and outcome of sexual assault survivors will serve as an example to other units and agencies across the country," Gaslin said.
"What we want to be able to do is provide the utmost care, support, and handling of these cases," Hannah Senko, independent project manager with the Collective Sex Crimes Response Model Project, said.
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. If you or someone you know needs help, visit https://www.atxbelieves.org/
The Source: Information in this article comes from documents from the Austin Police Department and past coverage from the FOX 7 News team.