Legal Secretary / Crime Victims

County of Newaygo•White Cloud, MI

19h•Onsite

About The Position

The Legal Secretary/Crime Victim Rights Provider within the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office serves as a liaison between a crime victim and the judicial system. The selected candidate will educate crime victims on how the criminal justice system works and maintain open communication with the crime victim throughout the judicial process. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are a must in this position. While the ideal candidate will have some knowledge and experience with court procedures, there are opportunities to learn on the job.

Requirements

High school graduation or equivalent.
One year of prior secretarial experience, preferably in a legal setting providing a knowledge of legal terminology and court procedures.
Requires some knowledge or experience with computer systems.
Must submit to pre-employment background check and drug screening.

Nice To Haves

Prefer advanced coursework in word processing and legal secretarial areas.
Some knowledge and experience with court procedures.

Responsibilities

Prepares initial victim rights packet following issue of warrant; processes all incoming and outgoing victim correspondence; schedules victim appointments for the prosecutors; notifies victims of scheduled hearing dates, delayed sentences, deferred judgment of guilt, acquittals, dismissals, probation hearings, and changes in court schedules.
Speaks with victims on all cases; charged or uncharged.
Ensures pertinent information is communicated to victims, such as but not limited to, notice of availability of pretrial release, telephone number of sheriff or juvenile facility, and notice of right to contact sheriff or juvenile facility.
Provides victims of domestic violence contact information for immediate counseling, housing and transportation assistance.
Serves as the contact person for victims who have concerns about testifying at any court proceeding.
Schedules meeting between the victim and the prosecutor if necessary.
Informs victim that address, phone number and personal information are not divulged publicly through the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Upon request, provides victims with the defendant’s conviction; the crimes for which the defendant was convicted; their right to make a written or oral impact statement for use in the preparation of a presentence investigation report; address and telephone number of the probation office preparing the presentence investigation report; informs them that any statement of the victim in the report will be made available to the defendant unless exempted from disclosure by the court; their right to make an impact statement at sentencing; and time and place of sentencing.
Provides instructions to victims for preparing an oral impact statement at the sentencing of the defendant.
Advises victims who are physically and emotionally unable to make the oral impact statement that they may designate another person to make the statement on his or her behalf.
Provides victims, in a timely manner, with a form to complete in order to receive specific notifications when a defendant is sentenced to probation, to a term of imprisonment, or ordered to be placed in a juvenile facility or hospitalized.
Assists victims with inquiries regarding restitution and direct them to the court for distribution, non-payment, and change of address.
May make a referral to the Crime Victim’s Compensation Board for assistance for those individuals eligible to receive compensation in Michigan.
Provides timely notice to victims if an appeal has been filed and the final results of the appeal and if the defendant has been sentenced to probation or if probation is terminated earlier than previously ordered.
Upon the request of the victim, provides notice of review hearing and their rights to make a statement at the hearing, submit a written statement for use at the hearing, or both.
Processes requests for return of property to victims.
Consults with the prosecuting attorney and communicates the decision to the victim.
If the request is granted, direct the victim to the law enforcement agency that issued the complaint for retrieval of property.
Responds to inquiries from attorneys, parties, victims, witnesses, and others regarding departmental procedures, schedules, case information and other information requested and responds using discretion and legal ethics and office policies as to the release of information.
Must accurately document all communication and maintain logs to meet requirements of the State guidelines.