Excerpted from Compass
Ohio University Det. Mathew Austin and sophomore Brie Sivy were awarded the Law Enforcement and Survivor Special Courage Award (Team) at the 2018 Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center’s Models of Justice (OCVJC) Awards Celebration on April 12 in Columbus, Ohio.
Austin and Sivy were nominated for the award by Ohio University Survivor Advocacy Program Director Kim Castor.
Austin earned an M.A. in Sociology from the College of Arts & Sciences and a master’s in Recreation and Sports Science from the Patton College of Education at Ohio University.
Det. Mathew Austin and Brie Sivy showed were honored for their persistence and courage. Photo courtesy of: Det. Mathew Austin
Castor said she nominated Austin after witnessing his work over the past two years with sexual assault survivors. She praised him for giving 110 percent to each investigation and said she was impressed by how he maintains a trauma-informed approach throughout the process, which helps the survivor feel as if they are maintaining some control in the investigation.
Castor used Sivy’s case as an example.
“Det. Austin always made sure to give the power back to her (Sivy) in any way he could. He was as transparent as possible and was as committed to seeking justice in this case as myself, Brie and her parents,” Castor said. “The long process ended in December 2017 when Brie’s perpetrator accepted a plea bargain and was sentenced to prison.”
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