Complaint Mediation Program

Austin Police Oversight (APO)’s Complaint Mediation Program offers a confidential, voluntary, and impartial process to resolve disputes between community members and the Austin Police Department collaboratively and respectfully.

 

About Complaint Mediation

In collaboration with the Dispute Resolution Center (DRC) and the Austin Police Department (APD), the APO Complaint Mediation Program provides conflict resolution services.

  • Austin Police Oversight will:
    • Facilitate conversations between police and community members to help them reach mutually acceptable agreements regarding community complaints involving an APD police officer.
  • The Dispute Resolution Center will:
    • Provide professionally trained and neutral mediators to facilitate virtual, online sessions between APD officers and complainants.
    • Schedule and conduct virtual mediations promptly, in coordination with the parties' availability. The DRC will strive to perform the mediation within forty-five (45) calendar days of the referral date from APO.
    • Maintain confidentiality of the mediation sessions in accordance with Texas law and DRC policies.

 

Why Choose Mediation?

  • Confidential & Voluntary
    • All sessions are private, and participation is entirely up to you.
  • Empowering
    • You have a voice in the process and control over the outcome.
  • Relationship-Focused
    • We aim to preserve and strengthen community-police relationships through understanding and cooperation.
  • No cost to participants
    • All mediation services will be provided to community members and APD officers at no cost to the participants.

 

During Complaint Mediation, the APD and APO will:

  • Identify cases suitable for mediation based on public complaints against APD officers.
  • Refer the complainant, the involved officer, and the involved officer’s chain of command to the DRC for voluntary participation in the mediation process.
  • Provide the involved officer’s chain of command and other relevant non-confidential background information necessary to facilitate the mediation.
  • Respect and protect the confidentiality of the mediation process as required by law and mediation best practices.

 

All mediations will be conducted online.


For more information:

Contact: policeoversight@austintexas.gov

Phone: (512) 972-9090