20220124-02b: Marshal Report — original pdf

Recommendation

PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION NO. 20220124-02b January 24, 2022 WHEREAS, the City of Austin is committed to the Reimagine Public Safety Initiative, WHEREAS, the City of Austin operates the Austin Police Department, which currently Proposal that the Austin City Council create an Austin Municipal Court Marshal Office Date: Subject: Motioned by: Rebecca Bernhardt Seconded by: Rebecca Webber Recommendation: The Public Safety Commission recommends that the City Council reject the proposal to create a Marshal Office within the Austin Municipal Court and Downtown Austin Community Court. provides security to the Austin Municipal Court and Downtown Austin Community Court; which is a holistic approach to assessing and evolving public safety systems. Reimagine Public Safety is supposed to go beyond the scope of law enforcement, to design community centered interventions to reduce harm and address the root cause of systemic inequities which often lead to crime; for decades and continues to need reform to stop deepening poverty for Austin’s low-income residents; Court and Downtown Austin Community Court, will worsen inequities, increase criminalization and undermine the progress that has been made in reforming the Austin Municipal Court; be approved and finalized in advance of the creating a new Marshall Office. reimagining of the Austin Police Academy to create a pool of law enforcement officers to align with Reimagining Public Safety efforts. WHEREAS, creating a new police force, a Marshal Office within the Austin Municipal WHEREAS, the City of Austin and Austin Police Department are undergoing a WHEREAS, the Austin Municipal Court has been a driver of inequity for the City of Austin WHEREAS, processes around training, accountability, oversight and operations could not  WHEREAS, the Austin Police Department has the tools and capacity to provide for the security needs of the Austin Municipal Court and Downtown Community Court and creating a new police force for the courts is unnecessary; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RECOMMENDED BY THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN THAT: • the proposal that the City create a Marshal Office within the Austin Municipal Court and Downtown Austin Community Court be rejected; and • The City of Austin continue to provide for the security of the Austin Municipal Court and Downtown Austin Community Court with Austin Police Officers. Vote: Unanimous For: 11 (Commissioners Gonzales, Ramirez, Husenfluck, Austin, Kiracofe, Lewis, Lane, Sierra- Arevalo, Hall-Martin, Webber, Lewis) Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Absent: 0 Attest: [Staff or board member can sign] __________________________________ ,PSC Liaison