Victim Advocate

County of Thurston•Olympia, WA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is seeking a professional, motivated, and dependable candidate for the position of Victim Advocate. This role involves performing specialized counseling and referral functions to support victims and/or witnesses, and working as part of a team to provide information, support, and referral regarding justice system procedures. The Victim Advocate consults with deputy prosecuting attorneys on witness status and court testimony expectations, makes recommendations to the court, and serves as an advocate on a specific team. Responsibilities include maintaining detailed notes and files, preparing reports and statistics, providing victim counseling and referrals, interviewing and assessing victim needs, educating victims about the justice system and relevant laws, escorting victims to court, reviewing cases, and establishing working relationships with community and social service agencies. The role also involves making presentations to community groups and recommending program improvements. The position requires staying up-to-date on current trends through continuing education.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree with major course work in justice administration, counseling, psychology, social sciences or a related field.
Three years of experience interviewing and counseling clients involved in the justice system.
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required skills, knowledge and abilities to perform the work will be considered.
Thorough knowledge of laws and regulations related to victims' and/or witnesses' rights and the criminal justice and/or court system.
Depending on assigned office, thorough knowledge of procedures of the Superior, District, Municipal and/or Juvenile Courts.
Thorough knowledge of available community counseling resources and programs.
Thorough knowledge of crisis intervention methods.
Knowledge of the principles, techniques, and practices of interviewing and counseling.
Knowledge of the dynamics of sexual and physical abuse.
Ability to provide initial evaluation and counseling services to crime victims; assess people and situations accurately and adopt effective courses of action; and conduct interviews to accurately assess client needs.
Ability to provide ongoing support services to crime victims, and interpret and apply applicable policies, procedures, laws and regulations.
Ability to appear for scheduled work and complete assigned tasks within a reasonable period of time; communicate clearly, both orally and in writing; prepare reports, maintain detailed records and make presentations; analyze and evaluate investigative material; and make sound decisions on difficult and unusual cases.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with victims, attorneys, law enforcement personnel, other agencies, co-workers, and the general public.
Must be able to meet all traveling requirements of the position and maintain a current Washington State Driver's License or have requested and obtained an appropriate accommodation.
Knowledge of the principles of mental health evaluation and diagnostic techniques.
Ability to effectively assess each child's developmental level and emotional state and to adapt interview techniques accordingly; and sensitively relate to and establish an immediate rapport with children of varying ages, developmental, emotional, and socio-economic levels.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with child victims and their families.

Nice To Haves

Work involves knowledge of the criminal justice system and victim support systems within the community.
Ability to counsel victims and/or witnesses who may be experiencing differing levels of distress, anxiety, anger, possible hostility, and other emotions and psychological responses.

Responsibilities

Consults with and provides suggestions and information to assigned deputy prosecuting attorneys regarding the status of witnesses and expectations for court testimony.
Makes recommendations to the court as requested by the court.
Serves as the advocate assigned to a specific team, working with other members of the team to provide services to victims and/or witnesses.
Maintains detailed notes and files.
Works as a team with other advocates to prepare reports and statistics as they are needed and may prepare annual reports.
Provides victim counseling and makes appropriate referrals.
Interviews and assesses needs of victims and/or witnesses; determines needed community resources such as counseling and support groups and refers victims and/or witnesses.
Educates victims and/or witnesses about justice system procedures and court proceedings, and may educate victims and/or witnesses of relevant laws.
Escorts victims to court and explains procedures and forms.
Reviews completed cases by examining case records and reports; provides feedback and suggestions to other team members regarding case methodologies and procedures as they relate to victim services.
Establishes and maintains working relationships with the community, human and social service agencies to which victims may be referred, and with other agencies in the criminal justice system.
Makes presentations to community groups to educate and inform the public about the services to and rights of victims.
Recommends modifications to program objectives, policies, procedures and strategies to improve service quality.
Keeps up-to-date on current trends and practices applicable to the area of assignment through continuing education (seminars, classes, meetings) and reading of applicable journals.
Performs other duties as assigned.