The Austin Police Department (APD) is taking steps to refine its investigation process for sexual assault cases, as shown by its recent completion of the first annual review of the Sex Crimes Unit's work, per reporting from KVUE. This review comes on the heels of recommendations from an earlier report by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) and has identified several improvement areas ranging from officer training to data collection systems.
A key aspect of the review involved the establishment of standardized methodologies that aim to refine future assessments in ensuring efficient, consistent evaluations of the unit's performance. "This review isn't just about looking for what went wrong – it's about identifying how we can always get better," Cmdr. Deanna Lichter told KVUE. According to APD, the full impact of any changes may not be immediately visible due to the delay between case closures and when they're reviewed.
The review pointed out specific areas needing refinement, including enhanced training for patrol officers, implementation of new guidelines and checklists for responding to sexual assault incidents, and improved tracking of communications, as reported by FOX 7 Austin. Moreover, the review is intended not as an audit, but rather as a tool to enhance understanding of the department's actions, enhance quality assurance measures, and clarify expectations and standards in its policy and training protocols.
This extends from a broader framework called the Collective Sex Crimes Response Model (CSCRM) Project, according to KVUE, developed after a 2022 lawsuit settlement requiring over 100 changes to the Sex Crimes Unit. The project has been spearheaded by Hanna Senko, a lead plaintiff in the case and a sexual assault survivor herself. "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," Assistant Chief Gizette Gaslin stated in an interview obtained by FOX 7 Austin.
