5751 - Victim Advocate

Salary Grade: 7

Pay Range
Hiring Range: $21.11 - $24.80 Per Hour
Full Range: $21.11 - $28.49 Per Hour

Salary offers are based on the candidate's equivalent experience and internal equity with other employees within the same job classification.  
   
Establishes communication with victims/witnesses, provides crisis intervention services, advises victims of their statutory rights, keeps victims/witnesses informed regarding their cases, provides referrals to appropriate community resources, and serves as a liaison between victims/witnesses and the Pima County Attorney's Office personnel.    

Duties/Responsibilities

(Work assignments may vary depending on the department's needs and will be communicated to the applicant or incumbent by the manager.)
 
Responds to requests by law enforcement and other concerned parties to provide crisis intervention services for crime victims and witnesses;

Assists clients in meeting immediate needs including, but not limited to, safety, medical care, legal services, food, transport, clothing and shelter;

Refers clients, when appropriate, to other public or private service providers;

Conducts developmental-appropriate crisis interventions with children of all ages and educates parents/caregivers on how to recognize and mitigate crisis reactions;

Provides information to victims and witnesses concerning their statutory rights, and procedures of the criminal justice system and facilitates communication with various representatives of criminal justice agencies;

Maintains contact with victims and witnesses as needed and accompanies them to court to provide support and information;

Serves as a liaison between the victim and attorneys and consults with attorneys regarding trial preparation/victim opinion;

Assists victims in applying for compensation through the Pima County Crime Victim Compensation Board;

Documents client services, contacts, and referrals in a designated database;

Prepares and delivers training to volunteers, law enforcement, social service agencies, and the public regarding crime victim issues;

Performs staff backup duties to support and advise volunteers during weeknights, weekends, and holidays;

Coordinates and directs volunteers who are performing crisis intervention services or court duties;

Maintains appropriate security and confidentiality of information created or encountered in the performance of assigned duties;

Develops and maintains sound working relationships with county attorney staff as well as personnel from law enforcement, medical, and social services agencies;

Participates in staff meetings and ongoing training.

Minimum Qualifications

A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university at the time of recruitment AND one year of experience in the area of assignment or other closely related field. 

(One calendar year of experience in the Pima County Victim Witness Volunteer Program, which encompasses a minimum of 240 volunteer hours, would satisfy the experience in the area of assignment requirement.) 

(Additional relevant education from an accredited college or university or experience may be substituted for any or all of the aforementioned education or experience.)

Qualifying education and experience must be clearly documented in the "Education" and "Work Experience" sections of the application. Do not substitute a resume for your application or write "see resume" on your application.

Preferred Qualifications: (Be specific in describing your experience in your application. Ensure the descriptions provided illustrate your competencies, specifically addressing the required and preferred qualifications.):   
 

1. Graduate of the Pima County Attorney’s Office Victim Witness Basic Crisis Training.
2. Experience working with victims of crime in the criminal justice system.
3. Experience in Crisis Response/Intervention.
4. Experience in social service or mental health service provision.
5. Bilingual English/Spanish.

Selection Procedure:
Pima County Human Resources Department reserves the right to admit to the selection process only those candidates that meet the minimum/desired qualifications. All applications will be assessed based on an evaluation of the listed education and experience. Candidates meeting the minimum/desired qualifications may be further evaluated/scored against any advertised Preferred Qualifications. The hiring authority will interview and select the successful candidates from a referral list provided by Human Resources. Additional assessments/testing may be required as part of the selection process.