Chicago elected its first-ever police district councils earlier this year, and people around the country are watching. The councils put police accountability in the hands of neighborhood residents and could inspire similar models in other cities—depending on how they fare.

For the 65 council members across 22 districts, the first challenge is getting residents to show up and share their input. WBEZ’s criminal justice reporter Chip Mitchell talked at length with Austin District Council chair Carmelita Earls, who wants to create a safe space for people to share concerns without risking retaliation from officers in their neighborhood.

In this episode, Mitchell updates host Erin Allen on the first few months of police district councils.