Victim Advocate

Overall Job Objective

Description

Example of Duties

• Provide caseworker services to assist victims of crimes, provide information on the procedures of the criminal justice system, and act as advocate to assure services are provided and resources are available as needed.
• Provide crisis intervention and direct services, information, and assistance to victims within scope of designated authority.
• Educate clients on victim advocacy services and support programs available, act as liaison with law enforcement and prosecutors, review cases, and determine victim assistance needs.
• Provide case management services and explain how the criminal justice system works.
• Notify victims of case status, criminal proceedings, trials, court hearings, and case dispositions and explain the PCAO programs, procedures, and services for clients regarding the legal process and the rights afforded them under the law.
• Work with courts and attorneys to assure victim's rights are addressed.
• Maintain statistics and activity logs, document client contacts, and assure the accuracy of the case files.
• Create, update, and maintain records and case files and research files and computer databases.
• Notify victims of the defendant's court appearances, outcome, legal status, and release date and attend court hearings and legal proceedings as needed.
• Maintain the integrity, professionalism, values, and goals of the County Attorney's Office by assuring that all rules and regulations are followed, and that accountability and public trust are preserved.
• Maintain absolute confidentiality of work-related issues, customer records and restricted County information.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Requirements

• Associate's degree in Criminal Justice, Social Services, or related field.
• One (1) year of social services experience.
• Must pass a thorough background investigation.
• Or an equivalent combination of relevant education and/or experience may substitute for the minimum requirements.

• Valid Arizona State Driver's License.

Supplemental Information

• Knowledge of County Attorney's Office policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of state regulations and standards governing the administration of victims' rights laws, including Arizona Revised Statutes A.R.S. Title 13 - Criminal Code and Arizona Attorney General's Office of Victims' Services.
• Knowledge of Arizona criminal justice and court systems, procedures, and protocols.
• Knowledge of Arizona laws and regulations governing the release of information from law enforcement records.
• Knowledge of principles of caseload management, record keeping, and records management.
• Skill in interviewing techniques applicable to victim advocacy services.
• Skill in interpreting and applying criminal laws to a variety of information, evidence, and other investigative data.
• Skill in identifying and assessing victim's needs and adversarial situations.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients and law enforcement and justice agencies.
• Ability to operate a personal computer utilizing standard and specialized software.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to interact with people of different social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with co-workers and local agencies.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The work is sedentary and requires exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. The work also requires the ability to finger, perform repetitive motion, hear, speak, and demonstrate mental and visual acuity.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Work is performed in a dynamic environment that requires the ability to be sensitive to change and responsive to changing goals, priorities, and needs.