Crime Victim Advocate (Grant Funded)

City of Las Cruces • Las Cruces, NM

13h • Hybrid

About The Position

Performs casework services for victims of crimes by providing information, education, and other assistance. Work is performed in a standard office environment and may also require travel to various locations such as the courts, reporting to on-scene calls and hospitals with exposure to various hazards and all weather and traffic conditions. Light physical demands; mostly desk work. Frequent to constant use of a personal computer. Position involves competing demands, performing multiple tasks, working to deadlines, and responding to issues. Also involves working extended hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays; on-call status on a rotational basis twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week. Regular attendance is an essential function of this job to ensure continuity of services. Position is subject to drug testing in accordance with applicable State and Federal regulations and City of Las Cruces policies. This posting may be utilized to fill other Crime Victim Advocate vacancies to include full time, part time, regular or grant funded.

Requirements

• College credit hours equivalent to an Associate’s degree, designated or undesignated, in Human Services, Criminal Justice, Sociology, Psychology or a related field and two (2) years of experience in social work, counseling, or crisis intervention.
• Must pass applicable background checks.
• A combination of education, experience, and training may be applied in accordance with City of Las Cruces policy.
• Valid driver’s license is required.
• Position requires an acceptable driving record in accordance with City of Las Cruces policy.

Nice To Haves

• Criminal justice degree and crisis intervention experience preferred.
• Bilingual skills (English/Spanish) are preferred.
• Additional technical certifications and training will be required for incumbents in this job class.

Responsibilities

• Reviews law enforcement crime reports, victim files, and communicates with victims of crimes to provide guidance and assistance with available resources; reviews cases to determine victim assistance needs; acts as liaison with law enforcement and prosecutors to provide timely information and notify victims of case status, criminal proceedings, trials, and court hearings.
• Provides crisis intervention, counseling services, and information regarding the legal process and rights afforded under the law to assist and educate victims; advises victims of community resource programs to provide assistance to victims and their families; provides information and assistance within the scope of designated authority.
• Researches and provides information to address victim's questions and issues of concern; provides ongoing assistance and follow-up as the case progresses through the judicial process to provide the client with timely information and status.
• Performs as a court advocate, provides direct services such as transportation, hotel vouchers, and employment assistance and follows up with client progress and referrals to community agencies.
• Prepares and presents various special and recurring reports; reviews and verifies information and documentation, assists victims in completing forms and generating documents to meet standards and filing requirements; creates, updates, and maintains records and case files; conducts research to collect statistical data and compile information for reports; assures that all reports and paperwork is completed accurately and in a timely manner, and cases are resolved and documented according to established procedures and standards.
• Interacts with and provides information to community organizations and citizen groups to explain the objectives of the Victim Assistance Unit and dynamics of specific crimes; responds to requests for information and provides information within scope of authority.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree