The APD Child Abuse Unit is responsible for investigating all criminal cases of physical abuse and neglect of children 14 years of age or younger and sexual abuse of children younger than 17 years of age, occurring in the City of Austin. The Child Abuse Unit is also responsible for investigating the physical abuse of Elderly Individuals 65 years of age and older.
Responsibilities and services provided by the Child Abuse Unit
Responsibilities include but are not limited to all investigative processes such as arranging forensic interviews for children, interviewing and taking statements of witnesses or suspects, scene documentation, evidence collection and preservation, as well as warrants for searches and arrests. The Child Abuse Unit also provides critical and immediate crisis intervention and can provide resource guidance for counseling for children and families involved in the criminal justice system. Other services provided by the Department include information and referral for services provided by the Child Protection Team or other local services, community training and education on child abuse and crime victim compensation for victims of abuse.
The Austin/Travis County Child Protection Team (CPT) was created in 1991. The team consists of multi-discipline members from law enforcement, the district attorney’s office, Dell Children’s Medical C.A.R.E. team, Department of Family Protective Services, and the Center for Child Protection. The goal of the team is to improve the response to abused and neglected children through a collaboration of investigative agencies and community support services.