Crime Victims Specialist

CRIME VICTIMS SPECIALIST

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

Performs complex, highly responsible, and specialized support duties involving legal terminology and judicial processes. Provides crisis intervention, information, emotional support, and ongoing services to victims of crimes and their families. Requires use of independent discretion and judgment. Provides trauma intervention at various locations during or after business hours, as directed.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:
Work is performed under the general supervision of the Victim Services Director who evaluates performance for quality of results achieved. Work is performed with considerable independent judgement based on department procedures and state law.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:
Supervises program interns and volunteers, as necessary. Provides direction for professional and clerical staff.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF POSITIONS ASSIGNED TO THIS CLASSIFICATION. DEPENDING ON ASSIGNMENT, THE EMPLOYEE MAY PERFORM A COMBINATION OF SOME OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING DUTIES:

• Provides specialized crisis and trauma intervention to victims of crime.
• Responds to crisis scenes and performs interviews during or after business hours.
• Provides complete, ongoing advocacy; including but not limited to explaining criminal justice system processes and procedures to victims, upholding victims' rights, providing case information, court accompaniment, safety planning, problem solving, liaison and advocacy with the prosecutor or other agencies.
• Provides assistance with protective orders, impact statements, restitution, and compensation claims.
• Coordinates meetings with prosecutors and law enforcement, providing emotional support and advocacy during those interactions.
• Establishes and maintains contact with victims in-person, by telephone, and in writing.
• Performs assessment of victims' needs.
• Exercises independent judgement to identify services; providing referrals to appropriate community resources.
• Maintains case information; creating and updating data entries.
• Works as receptionist.
• Assembles, types, and prepares materials and legal documents; scans and files various department records and court documents; tabulates data on projects and activities.
• Processes and researches restitution request forms throughout the duration of the criminal case including verifying losses, responding to discovery requests, preparing memorandums, and following up with victims on restitution deadlines.
• Prepares and files legal documents; including supplemental judgements adding restitution.
• Prepares amended judgement orders, motions, orders, subpoenas, affidavits, partial and full satisfaction of restitution, and creates exhibits for use as court documents.
• Testifies at restitution hearings regarding victims' losses, as needed.
• Facilitates monthly restitution court docket and works with identified partner agencies and programs to monitor defendants' restitution payment abilities.
• Works with offenders to make payment arrangements until restitution is paid in full.
• Prepares presentations and provides education, training, resources, or materials to the community, organizations, schools, and partner agencies as directed.
• Attends and participates in task forces, multi-disciplinary teams and collaborative meetings, independently representing victims' concerns and the office of the District Attorney.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with related community agencies and organizations.
• Attends trainings and conferences as required for the position and continues education to keep apprised of changing practices and laws directly related the caseload specialization.
• Assists in recruitment, screening, training, and mentoring of intern and volunteer victim advocates.
• Assists in administrative workflow; recommends and prepares procedures to improve productivity.
• Operates a computer and office equipment.
• Performs administrative tasks including documenting via electronic systems.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the District Attorney, Office Administrator or designee.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Crime victim trauma and crime category-specific dynamics and impacts, including crisis intervention techniques.
• Victims' rights and police, prosecution, and court procedures.
• Criminal justice system methods, legal principles, practices, and terminology relative to specific functions of the position.
• Empathetic listening techniques.
• Confidentiality rules, especially those specific to program area.
• Operation of office equipment, computer software and case management systems, English composition, and basic mathematics as required by the position.

SKILL IN:

• Communicating effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Developing and maintaining appropriate, relevant professional relationships.
• Effectively explaining criminal justice system processes and procedures to victims and members of the public.
• Maintaining composure and professionalism with people who are in distress and/or exhibiting irrational or hostile behaviors.
• Providing training, instruction, and developing a training plan.

ABILITY TO:

• Analyze situation and respond swiftly, calmly, and professionally.
• Interact with the public and coworkers in a pleasant, tactful, understanding, and courteous manner, including times under stressful conditions.
• Write concisely and perform administrative tasks, including documenting via electronic systems.
• Operate in the Microsoft Windows environment inclusive of using Excel, database management and record keeping programs.

• Work independently to complete required intake assignments in a timely and organized manner.
• Complete all assigned tasks accurately and precisely.
• Maintain a high degree of professionalism and confidentiality.
• Attend work as scheduled and/or required.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING:
Associate's degree and two years' experience in a related field or three years' experience at a level equivalent to a senior office specialist; any satisfactory equivalent combination of experience and training which ensures the ability to perform the work may substitute for above. Prior experience and/or training with victims of crime. Graduate of the Oregon Basic Victim Advocacy Institute strongly preferred. Bilingual/bicultural strongly preferred.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to secure and maintain a driver's license valid in the state of Oregon, or an acceptable alternative means of transportation. May be required to drive a County vehicle. Employees authorized to operate a private vehicle on County business are required to carry a valid driver's license and liability insurance minimums as outlined in ORS 806.070.
Will be subject to successful completion of a background check.WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL DEMANDS SUMMARY:
The employee typically works in an office environment and uses a computer, telephone and other office equipment as needed to perform duties. The noise level in the work environment is typical of that of an office. The employee will encounter frequent interruptions throughout the workday.
The employee is regularly required to, walk, sit or stand up to 70% of the time, talk, or hear 100% of the time, frequently required to use repetitive hand motion, handle or feel, and to reach and bend up to 15% of the time. Required to lift up to 20 pounds regularly and 30 pounds occasionally.
Contact with the public may risk exposure to irrational/hostile behavior, contagious diseases, or contact with domestic animals.
The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by an employee occupying this position. Employees may be required to perform other related duties as assigned, to ensure workload coverage. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisor. This job description does NOT constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the organizational needs and requirements of the job change.
Employment Type: Regular Full-Time