Kirk Preston Watson - Mayor of Austin, Texas | Facebook
Kirk Preston Watson - Mayor of Austin, Texas | Facebook
The City of Austin (COA) and the Austin Police Department (APD), in collaboration with partner agencies and the Austin-Travis County Sexual Assault Response and Resource Team (A/TC SARRT), have announced the launch of a public service announcement (PSA) campaign to raise awareness of a newly created website: atxbelieves.org. This website is part of the Collective Sex Crimes Response Model (CSCRM) project, aimed at providing access to community resources for survivors of sexual assault.
The campaign will inform the community about critical support services available to those who have experienced sexual assault. It will utilize a multi-platform approach, with PSAs appearing on various media outlets.
“If you or someone you know are a survivor of sexual assault, we want you to find comfort in knowing that we’re here for you and we want to help,” said Interim Police Chief Robin Henderson. “There are so many resources available and people who are ready to listen and help, many of whom are survivors themselves.”
This collaborative effort underscores COA and APD's commitment to providing comprehensive support to sexual assault survivors. The campaign prioritizes survivor well-being by highlighting resources and fostering a safe space to seek help, regardless of their decision to involve law enforcement.
You are not alone. We believe you. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, there are community resources available to help. Visit atxbelieves.org for more information.
For emergencies, call 9-1-1 or reach out to SAFE: 512.267.7233, or TEXT: “SAFE” to 737.888.7233.
In 2023, the Austin Police Department launched the Collective Sex Crimes Response Model project with the objective of leveraging a multidisciplinary team to create a comprehensive system for overhauling their Sex Crimes Unit (SCU). The goal is making it a national standard for investigating and addressing sexual assault cases in the United States. Through this project, APD has collaborated with key stakeholders including A/TC SARRT, local non-profit partners, universities, subject matter experts, advocates, and survivors in the Austin community.
The scope of the CSCRM project was derived from settlement terms of Smith v City of Austin and Senko v City of Austin (2022) as well as recommendations published via the Police Executive Research Forum Reported Sexual Assault Comprehensive Evaluation (2022).
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