AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- The City of Austin on Thursday settled a lawsuit involving the mishandling of sexual assault investigations between 2006 and 2019.
Thursday's vote by the Austin City Council awards $825,000 to 15 plaintiffs and an additional $50,000 to the plaintiff's attorneys.
In addition to the settlement, the city says it has spent $3.5 million since 2019 to improve the handling of investigations of sexual assaults, along with an additional $862,000 earmarked for future improvements.
“We have taken important steps to improve how law enforcement handles sexual assault reporting, processing, investigations, and prosecutions, and we are committed to continue improving,” said City Manager Spencer Cronk. “All survivors should feel safe, heard, and have confidence in every step of the process.”
City officials also commissioned an independent, external audit of the department's practices from the Police Executive Research Forum, Women’s Law Project and Wellesley Centers for Women. That report, including recommendations for improvements, is expected later this year.
“The Austin Police Department is making meaningful changes to better protect and serve survivors of sexual assault,” said APD Chief Joseph Chacon. “We are dedicated to prioritizing being victim-centered in our approach to investigations and victim services. This settlement highlights the methods we’ve updated to better serve victims of sexual assault.”