Victim/Witness Advocate - I

Victim/Witness Advocate - I

Recruitment #2024-12850-01

The Placer County District Attorney’s Office is seeking to fill multiple Victim Advocate positions within the Victim Services Unit. Victim Advocates provide support to victims of crime throughout the criminal justice process. This includes in-person meetings, telephone and email communication, providing connections to outside resources and attending court proceedings. Victim Advocates are expected to familiarize themselves with the criminal justice system in Placer County so they can assist and explain that process to victims as their case moves through the court system. This work may also include reviewing sensitive material such as police reports, protective orders, or photographs and videos. Each Victim Advocate manages their own caseload, however, the Victim Services Unit functions as a team to work together to support each advocate as needed to cover cases and court appearances. Our Victim Advocates also work closely with the Deputy District Attorneys assigned to handle the criminal prosecutions.

Please visit our Victim Services page to learn more!

These are fully on-site positions working in an office and in a courtroom setting.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is the entry level class in the Victim/Witness Advocate series.  This class is distinguished from the journey level by the performance of the more routine tasks and duties assigned to positions within this series.  Employees at this level are not expected to perform with the same independence of direction and judgment on matters allocated to the journey level.  Since this class is typically used as a training class, employees may have only limited or no directly related work experience.  Employees work under immediate supervision while learning job tasks.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives immediate supervision from the Victim/Witness Supervisor and may receive technical and functional supervision from other staff members.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Advise crime victims and refer them to appropriate agencies; advise victims of crime of their rights and benefits under local, State, and/or Federal agencies (i.e. California Victim Compensation Board (Cal VCB)).
• Provide crisis intervention and emergency assistance.
• Conduct follow-up meetings with victims to ensure their needs have been met.
• Prepare victims to testify and accompany them to court, giving special attention to children and elderly victims and witnesses.
• Accompany victims of all crime types to interviews in preparation for court appearances. 
• Provide transportation to victims and witnesses when deemed necessary.
• Provide information to victims and witnesses of crime as to the Criminal Justice process and procedures.
• Assess need for and authorize referrals to other victim services and/or community resources/agencies to assist applicants/participants in identifying and utilizing the resources and services available; establish and maintain liaison with local private and public resources to provide continuity of services and awareness of designated program areas.
• Conduct program orientation and/or information sessions for applicants to disseminate accurate information regarding assigned program services and pertinent criteria, regulations, and guidelines.
• Prepare correspondence, victim fact sheets, program information and related reports.
• Maintain records and statistics as requested by the Victim/Witness Supervisor.
• Perform various office support and clerical duties such as receiving and logging phone calls, typing and processing program forms.
• Assist in training of program volunteers.
• Establish and maintain working relationships with other criminal justice and public and private agencies.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County and departmental employees, community agencies and resources, and the public utilizing principles of effective customer service.
• Perform related duties as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.

Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: One year of experience in a public or private agency which has provided an awareness and understanding of the problems of victims and witnesses is desirable.

Training: Equivalent to an Associate's degree with major course work in criminal justice, sociology, psychology, or a closely related field.

Note: Relevant, equivalent experience (performing the same or similar job requiring similar knowledge, skills, and abilities) may be substituted for the required education as determined by the Human Resources Department. Applicants receiving their degree outside the United States must submit proof of accreditation by a recognized evaluation agency.

Required License or Certificate:

• May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position.  Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.
• Must satisfactorily complete the California Office of Emergency Services (CALOES) Entry Level Victim Advocate Training Curriculum within one year of appointment to the position.  

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• Basic advocacy and crisis intervention techniques. 
• Interview techniques and record keeping practices.
• English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment.

Ability to:

• Conduct crisis intervention and provide emotional support to victims and witnesses of crimes.
• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; intermittently analyze work papers; identify and interpret technical and numerical information; explain designated and specific regulations and procedures to victims.
• On a continuous basis, sit at a desk for long periods of time; intermittently walk, stand, bend, climb, squat, twist and reach while retrieving or returning files or making field visits.  Intermittently twist to reach equipment surrounding desk; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; use telephone and write or use a keyboard to communicate through written means; see with correctable acuity sufficient to read characters on computer screen; hear and speak with correctable acuity sufficient to communicate with clients; and lift light weight.
• Learn practices and procedures of the criminal justice system.
• Learn basic regulations and procedures of victim restitution.
• Learn pertinent local, State, and Federal laws.
• Understand and apply complex laws and regulations.
• Effectively interview and advise a wide variety of individuals from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds and who may be physically, emotionally or mentally impaired or distressed. 
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Act quickly and calmly in crisis and/or emergency situations.
• Prioritize work in order to meet various program compliance deadlines.
• Work fairly and courteously with the public; handle multiple case assignments; and work effectively with interruptions.
• Analyze situations quickly and objectively and determine proper course of action within established guidelines and parameters.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the performance of required duties.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

Training & Experience Rating (100%)

Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training, and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula. Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.

Job Posting: Victim/Witness Advocate - I - Placer County (jobapscloud.com)