Victim Advocate - County Attorney

Closing Date: 28th May, 2024

Description:

Role:
This Victim Advocate position will fill the role of the Yavapai County Crime Victim Compensation Program Coordinator. This position is not a traditional social services Victim Advocate position. The ideal candidate for this position will have experience in bookkeeping, be well organized, and must be able to maintain compliance with strict deadlines. Additional experience that would be helpful also includes medical billing, QuickBooks, and public speaking.
Under general supervision, performs advanced casework of considerable difficulty providing emotional support, information, and services to crime victims.
Major Duties, Responsibilities:

• Assists victims in exercising their rights by providing them written documentation regarding the charges filed against the defendant, all scheduled hearings (date/time/location/purpose), plea agreements, sentencing documents, and post-conviction notification rights.
• Ensures that all victim-related data is timely and accurately recorded in the case management system.
• Adheres to statutorily prescribed timelines when providing victims written notification of all court proceedings and outcomes. Facilitates victim input into the criminal justice process by obtaining their thoughts regarding release conditions, contact with the perpetrator, plea offers, sentencing, and the physical, emotional, and psychological impact of their victimization and relaying said information to the prosecutor and the court.
• Educates victims about their rights and about the criminal justice process.
• Acts as a liaison between the victim and criminal justice system partners to facilitate communication.
• Assess the needs of victims and provide information and referrals to social service providers.
• Ensures proper case management through the thorough, timely and accurate recording of information into the case management.
• Processes special requests by prosecutors and Victim Advocates regarding the generation and sending of uncommon letters to victims.
• Participates in the creation and modification of notification letter templates, ensuring compliance with statute and Attorney General's Office requirements, as well as being clear, concise, and easily understood by victims.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:
Education:
Associate's Degree in Criminal Justice or Social/Behavioral Science or related field.
A minimum of two (2) years of relevant experience, preferably in criminal justice, counseling, or social services. An equivalent combination of directly related work experience and education may substitute for the degree requirement on a year-per-year basis.
Additional Requirements:
Must possess a valid Arizona driver's license.
Other Skills:
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Knowledge of:

• Issues related to the criminal justice system, victims' rights, courtroom protocol, and new case law.
• Pertinent legal databases.
• Workflow in the legal system.
• Business English, spelling, grammar, punctuation, and composition.
• Clerical office practices and procedures.
• Research techniques.
• Microsoft Office 365 software.
• Filing and recordkeeping.

Skill in:

• Victim advocacy and support.
• Communicating effectively verbally and in writing and communicating orally in a face-to-face setting and by telephone with public and employees.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with employees, other agencies, and the public.
• Organization and attention to detail.

Ability to:

• Maintain appropriate security and confidentiality of information.
• Adhere to current Office policies and procedures.
• Build rapport with individuals of various socioeconomic, religious, and ethnic backgrounds.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with associates, employees of other departments, representatives of other organizations, County officials, and the public.
• Keep management informed of key operating issues affecting the department.
• Remain current in knowledge required to perform assigned duties.
• Handle confidential matters and maintain discretion always.
• Act with courtesy, tact, and diplomacy.

Work Environment:
The work environment is associated with an office. The work area is adequately lighted, heated or cooled and ventilated.
Physical Requirements:
Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time. Sufficient vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; hearing and speech ability to communicate effective in-person and telephonically. Capable of frequent repetitive movement of arms, fingers, and wrists. Ability to lift up to 30 pounds.

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