Bilingual (Spanish) & Non-bilingual Victim Assistance Specialist

The District Attorney's Office currently has a vacancies for Bilingual & non-bilingual Victim Assistance Specialist. The bilingual position requires the employee to communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing in Spanish and English. Additional compensation is provided to staff members occupying positions designated as bilingual.  

Please note: We are also accepting applications for non-bilingual candidates to establish a pool of candidates for future full-time, part-time, limited-duration, and/or temporary vacancies within the next six months.
 
The Position
The Victim Assistance Specialist will have a varied caseload of all types of criminal cases and will work with assigned district attorneys covering their caseloads.  The Victim Assistance Specialist will also work closely with the Victim Assistance Team to ensure that all of the cases and court appearances will be covered on a daily basis.   The primary functions of the Victim Assistance Specialist include:

• Communicating with victims in person, on the phone, and in writing to inform them of their constitutional rights and assist them in asserting them.  
• Documenting in the computer database the nature and frequency of the victim contacts.  
• Accompanying the victim to various court appearances if requested.  
• Assisting in the documentation of possible claims for restitution.  
• Meets with community partners to support joint efforts to assist victims of crime.  
• Presents about the role of the victim advocate to community groups and partners.
• Keeps up on current laws, policies and skills in the area of victim assistance and will be given opportunities for additional training and professional growth and development.

Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate for this position will have an in-depth understanding of the complexities of the criminal justice system and the roles of the various persons in that system. They will understand the resources in the community that are available to assist victims of crime, and possess exceptional communication skills. They will also be comfortable giving presentations and assisting in trainings.   

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they can perform every job description task. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may come from a less traditional background. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role, even if you believe you do not meet all of the hiring criteria described in the minimum qualifications. 

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

For a list of essential job duties and to learn more about this position’s knowledge, skills, and abilities, use this link: Victim Assistance Specialist

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

** A cover letter is required to apply for this position. **  

Your cover letter must:

• Highlight key points of your application
• Provide a detailed explanation of your training, education, and experience working with victims of crime.  Include information about the type of victims you worked with, your role in providing services to victims and the agency for which you worked
• Describe your experience working with diverse communities

Education and Experience:

• An associate degree or equivalent in Criminal Justice, Corrections, Social Work, or related fields; and one (1) year of experience as an advocate in the justice system, probation, victim assistance, or other closely related areas serving vulnerable populations. OR
• Three (3) years of work experience as an advocate in the justice system, probation, victim assistance, or other closely related areas serving vulnerable populations.

Additional Requirements

• Possession of a Victim Service Professional certification within one (1) year of hire date 
• Must pass a comprehensive background investigation.
• Bilingual positions require oral and written fluency in another language.

Please be clear and specific in the applicable sections of the employment application about how your background is relevant. This information must also be consistent with your supplemental question responses if applicable.  Please note: Answers to the supplemental questions are typically evaluated separately from your application.