Victim Witness Specialist - District Court

Description

The Victim Witness Specialist - District Court Advocate performs semi-complex telephone and personal contact work with crime victims and witnesses in court matters to minimize the negative effect of the criminal justice system; supports deputy district attorneys in the prosecution of criminal cases through a variety of activities, including caseload management, scheduling, managing victim/witness meetings and interviews, arranging for travel, educating and referring victims to resources based on the needs of the victim or witness and the overall needs of the criminal prosecution/investigation.

Duties

• Greets victims and witnesses upon arriving at court; explains the criminal justice system, processes, procedures, and legal terminology to victims and witnesses; answers questions and provides information to assist them with the process of court proceedings and procedures, e.g. shelter, safety, transportation, compensation, therapy, and community referrals; ensures witnesses are present for hearings and appear at the appropriate times; accompanies victims to Court when they testify or when they are present for other hearings; provides court tours for victims and families to increase their awareness of the criminal justice system.
• Assists prosecutors in case preparation through education and problem solving with victims and witnesses to ensure their cooperation and timely appearance in court; informs prosecutors of any potential witness problems or special needs of victims or witnesses; schedules witness appointments for prosecutors and schedules witnesses' trial appearance within a previously defined time frame or at attorney request, arranges transportation, food allowance, and hotel accommodations for out-of-state witnesses.
• Works with staff to ensure all notification of “critical stages” (pursuant to the Victim’s Rights Amendment) is done accurately and in a timely manner; creates and maintains factual case records; familiarizes victims with legislation affecting their rights within the criminal justice system.
• Initiates and responds to a wide variety of in-person and telephone contacts with crime victims, police, and lay witnesses to provide factual case-related information; communicates with personnel from various departments, e.g. Social Services, police agencies, probation offices, hospitals, doctor offices, detention facilities and schools, to support particular needs of victims and witnesses.
• Monitors witness lists to ensure cases have necessary witnesses for trials and various types of hearings; keeps prosecutors informed of witness status and potential conflicts; electronically prepares personal service requests to ensure the attendance of victims and witnesses; provides basic investigative assistance to locate victims and/or witnesses whose whereabouts are unknown. Logs and maintains subpoena waiver cards for immediate reference.
• Reviews new cases to determine whether new case filings are Victim's Rights cases or have a victim that requires notification; makes telephone calls to a variety of agencies regarding status of case and other inquiries; reads police reports for court cases and contacts external agencies regarding the appropriate handling of case. Generates simple correspondence; collects information for the preparation of petitions for payment of witness expenses.
• Downloads information in ACTION (District Attorney database) to generate a variety of required correspondence; downloads subpoenas for trial; processes and mails notification letters to victims to provide case information; generates, mails, and receives victim impact statements from crime victims.

• Ability to gain general to considerable knowledge of the criminal justice system, standard legal/court procedures and terminology, and victimization issues, ability to discuss same with victims and witnesses of crimes.
• Ability to gain considerable knowledge of guidelines and statutes, e.g. Victim's Compensation Policy, Colorado Revised Statutes, Victim Rights enabling legislation, bond hearings, subpoena requests, and restitution issues; ability to find statutes applicable to situation; ability to stay informed and updated on ever-changing statutes. Ability to provide Criminal Justice System education, status of cases, court support, and referral services to victims. Ability to be sensitive to the needs of both victims and witnesses and the Criminal Justice System. Ability to gain familiarity with community agencies and resources.
• Ability to operate standard office equipment (e.g. computer, fax, copier), gain working knowledge of word processing/database programs (e.g. Word, E-Mail, Action), and gain working knowledge of procedures on downloading cases on Blackstone and processing notification letters for victims.
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and plan aspects of work; handle considerable detail and volume; be persistent and persuasive; perform under pressure in stressful situations with courtesy and tact; organize and maintain a referral system from E-Mail regarding the status of cases and Victim/Witness policies and procedures; establish and maintain effective working relationships with superiors, co-workers, attorneys, other law enforcement agencies' personnel, and the public, including victims, witnesses, and clients; communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with same.

Requirements

Education and Experience:
District Court
Bachelor’s degree in victim assistance, human services, criminal justice or closely related field plus four (4) years’ experience in crime victim services. Comparable education and experience may be considered.

Supplemental Information

Pre-Employment Additional Requirements:

• Must successfully pass pre-employment testing which includes an acceptable motor vehicle record (MVR).
• Will require fingerprinting and a Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) background check.

• Work is generally confined to a standard office environment.

• Spends 90% of the time sitting and 10% of the time either upright or walking.
• Occasionally lifts, carries, pulls or pushes up to 20 lbs.
• Occasionally uses cart, dolly, or other equipment to carry in excess of 20 lbs.
• Occasionally climbs, stoops, kneels, balances, reaches, crawls and crouches while performing office or work duties.
• Verbal and auditory capacity enabling constant interpersonal communication through automated devices, such as telephones, radios, and similar; and in public meetings and personal interactions.
• Constant use of eye, hand and finger coordination enabling the use of automated office machinery or equipment.
• Visual capacity enabling constant use of computer or other work-related equipment.

• Arapahoe County does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation or any other status protected under the law. It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity in any term, condition, or privilege of employment and that selection decisions are based on job-related factors. Arapahoe County is committed to making employment accessible to persons with disabilities.

** In accordance with Senate Bill 23-058, applicants understand that Arapahoe County will not request or require the applicant to include their age, date of birth, or date of attendance/graduation date on the initial application. Applicants understand that Arapahoe County can request or require an individual to provide documentation including copies of certification, transcripts, and other materials created by a third party. The applicant understands that the applicant can redact, if they so choose, information that identifies age, date of birth, or dates of attendance/graduation from an educational institution on those requested/required certification, transcripts and other materials created by a third party.

Toll Free Applicant Technical Support: If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (i.e. uploading or attaching documents to your online application), call NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627. Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application, first, ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files, and second, close the document before you attempt uploading (attaching) it.

As a Regular Full-Time employee at Arapahoe County Government, you are eligible for benefits such as:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Life and Supplemental Life Insurance
• Short and Long Term Disability
• Mandatory Pension Plan
• Deferred Compensation Plan
• Pre-paid Legal Services
• Vacation and Sick Leaves
• Holiday pay
• Training and Educational Reimbursement Opportunities