DETENTION CENTER - Victim's Advocate

Horry County•Conway, SC

12d

About The Position

The Victim's Advocate assists primary and secondary victims and witnesses of crimes occurring in Horry County. The role provides immediate and temporary crisis counseling, helps address victims’ immediate needs, connects them with community services, and supports them through the criminal justice system. The advocate serves as a liaison within the Department and with other criminal justice agencies, helps victims seek state crime compensation, and provides case updates and assistance when appropriate. The position also supports families of employees killed or seriously injured in the line of duty, including at the hospital or funeral and with legal and benefit matters, and maintains long-term contact with those families. The advocate must protect confidential case information and be available for crisis callouts 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The incumbent may also perform other job-related tasks not specifically listed.

Requirements

Associate degree from an accredited college or university and five years of experience in related work involving contact with the public, or equivalent education, training, and experience providing the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Valid South Carolina driver’s license.
Ability to deal with victims and witnesses compassionately and without judgment.
Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other City employees.
Ability to maintain liaison with criminal justice agencies and institutions concerned with victim and witness needs.
Ability to be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and respond to crises where an officer or detective needs assistance with a victim or a victim’s family.
Knowledge of laws and regulations concerning victim and witness rights and the criminal justice system.
Knowledge of Superior, District, and Juvenile Court procedures and local support and health services.
Knowledge of victim advocacy principles and practices, accessing resources, and crisis intervention services.
Knowledge of relevant court mandates, laws, rules, and regulations concerning confinement in a juvenile detention center and juvenile detainee rights.
Knowledge of Department policies, rules, regulations, procedures, and division functions.
Knowledge of juvenile detention facility practices, methods, techniques, and equipment; human behavior as it relates to juveniles; search, transportation, and restraint procedures; leadership, supervision, and training; counseling juveniles; law enforcement and public relations activities; and legal and juvenile court procedures.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide appropriate personnel with the name of the victim advocate available for callout each day or weekend.
Assist victims and their families in cases involving death, serious injury, or serious emotional trauma.
Provide immediate and temporary crisis counseling to primary victims and, when necessary, secondary victims and witnesses.
Assist with victims’ immediate needs and refer them to appropriate community service organizations and agencies.
Assist community agencies and organizations in working with victims and witnesses.
Assist victims and witnesses through the criminal justice system.
Assist officers and detectives by providing assistance and case information.
Help victims file for compensation through the State Bureau of Crimes Compensation and Victim/Witness Services.
Serve as a liaison for victims within the Department and with other criminal justice agencies and institutions.
Submit supplemental reports when appropriate and maintain a log of cases involved in.
Maintain confidentiality of information about victims and their cases, sharing it only with people officially involved.
Transport victims or witnesses when necessary and when the caseload permits.
Provide appropriate assistance to victims or witnesses who have been threatened or have credible reasons to fear intimidation or further victimization.
Contact victims periodically when the impact of the crime appears unusually severe.
Train sworn and non-sworn personnel at least once every two years on the program’s existence and function, and train personnel who interact with victims or witnesses on their rights and needs under current policies.
Advise victims and witnesses of case status, including arrests and suspect releases, when possible.
Assist with family notification when an employee is killed or seriously injured in the line of duty, consistent with written directives and applicable procedures.
Assist the employee’s family at the hospital or funeral and with legal or benefit matters, and maintain long-term contact to provide assistance.