50.
Commissioners Court - Regular Session
- Meeting Date:
- 11/21/2023
- Title:
- 2023 SART Report
- Submitted By:
- Grace Frias, District Attorney
- Department:
- District Attorney
- Agenda Category:
- Regular Agenda Items
Information
Agenda Item
Discuss, consider, and take appropriate action regarding the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) 2023 Biennial Report.
Background
In 2021, the 87th Texas Legislature passed SB 476 which requires all Texas counties to form a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) to have a statewide infrastructure of resources, awareness, connection, and coordination to address adult sex crimes at a local level.
Each county’s commissioners court is required to establish a SART for the purpose of organizing professionals from multiple disciplines to provide wrap-around support to survivors of adult sexual assault. The current statutory members of the Williamson County SART are:
While these listed members are the statutorily required members of the SART, many other agencies voluntarily participate and are involved in the Williamson County SART to provide unified care for survivors of adult sexual assault.
Some of the intended purposes of the SART are to track data related to reports, investigations, and prosecutions of adult sexual assaults; ensure appropriate protocols are created and implemented across all agencies involved in the process of a survivor receiving services or making a report of sexual assault; and to collaborate, communicate and coordinate amongst agencies at all levels.
A SART report to the Commissioners Court is required in every odd-numbered year. This 2023 Report is the very first since SARTs were mandated in 2021 and details the work of the SART in Williamson County from January 2022 to September 30th, 2023.
Each county’s commissioners court is required to establish a SART for the purpose of organizing professionals from multiple disciplines to provide wrap-around support to survivors of adult sexual assault. The current statutory members of the Williamson County SART are:
- Jimmie Gabel, Vice President of Client Service – Hope Alliance
- Ryan Bownds, Chief Prosecutor of the Special Victims Unit – Office of the District Attorney, 26th Judicial District of Texas
- Commander Tom Sloan, Criminal Investigations Division – Round Rock Police Department
- Lieutenant Jason Braeutigam – Williamson County Sheriff’s Office
- Crystal Love, Executive Director – Brave Alliance
- Andrea Richardson – Bluebonnet Trails
- Lieutenant Bobby Vernengo – Cedar Park Police Department
While these listed members are the statutorily required members of the SART, many other agencies voluntarily participate and are involved in the Williamson County SART to provide unified care for survivors of adult sexual assault.
Some of the intended purposes of the SART are to track data related to reports, investigations, and prosecutions of adult sexual assaults; ensure appropriate protocols are created and implemented across all agencies involved in the process of a survivor receiving services or making a report of sexual assault; and to collaborate, communicate and coordinate amongst agencies at all levels.
A SART report to the Commissioners Court is required in every odd-numbered year. This 2023 Report is the very first since SARTs were mandated in 2021 and details the work of the SART in Williamson County from January 2022 to September 30th, 2023.
| Attachment: Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) 2023 Biennial Report. |
Fiscal Impact
| From/To | Acct No. | Description | Amount |
|---|
Attachments
Form Review
| Inbox | Reviewed By | Date |
|---|---|---|
| County Judge Exec Asst. | Becky Pruitt | 11/16/2023 10:41 AM |
- Form Started By:
- Grace Frias
- Started On:
- 11/16/2023 10:27 AM
- Final Approval Date:
- 11/16/2023