Discuss, consider, and take appropriate action regarding the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) 2025 Biennial Report.

In 2021, the 87th Texas Legislature passed SB 476, which requires all Texas counties to form a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) in order 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 Williamson County SART consists of many law enforcement agencies, advocacy groups, mental health services, and medical organizations. The law which created the requirement for a county SART enumerated statutory core members that must be identified and involved with the team. The current statutory core members of the Williamson County SART are:

- Jimmie Gabel, Vice President of Client Service – Hope Alliance
- Victoria Winkeler, Chief Prosecutor of the Special Victims Unit – Office of the District Attorney, 26th Judicial District of Texas
- Lieutenant Joseph Claypool, 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 in order 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.