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.
Responsibilities and services provided by the Child Abuse Unit
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to arranging forensic interviews for child victims, interviewing and taking statements of witnesses or suspects, scene preservation, evidence collection and the execution of search and/or arrests warrants. The Department also provides critical and immediate crisis intervention and counseling in addition to follow-up 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 goal of the team is to improve the response to abused and neglected children through a collaboration of investigative agencies and community support services.