DETENTION CENTER - Victim's Advocate

Horry County•Conway, SC

2d•Onsite

About The Position

To assist primary and secondary victims, as well as witnesses of crimes that occur in Horry County. This role involves providing immediate crisis counseling, assisting with immediate needs, referring to community services, and guiding victims through the criminal justice system. The advocate will also serve as a liaison within the Department and with other criminal justice agencies, assist officers and detectives, and help victims file for compensation. Additionally, the position requires maintaining confidentiality, providing support to those threatened or fearing intimidation, and maintaining long-term contact with families in severe cases. The role also includes training personnel on victim rights and program functions, and assisting families of employees killed or injured in the line of duty.

Requirements

Knowledge of laws and regulations related to victim/witness' rights, the criminal justice system.
Knowledge of Superior, District and Juvenile Courts procedures.
Knowledge of local support and health services.
Knowledge of principles and practices of victim advocacy services and accessing resources including crisis intervention services.
Knowledge of relevant court mandates, laws, rules and regulations pertaining to confinement in a juvenile detention center and as applied to juvenile detainee rights.
Knowledge of Department policies, rules, regulations, procedures and division functions.
Knowledge of principles, practices, methods, techniques, and equipment used in juvenile detention facilities.
Knowledge of human behavior as it relates to juveniles, including various social, economic and cultural backgrounds.
Knowledge of search, transportation and restraint procedures.
Knowledge of principles and practices of leadership, supervision and training.
Knowledge of methods of providing counseling to juveniles.
Knowledge of law enforcement and public relations activities.
Knowledge of legal and juvenile court procedures.
Ability to deal with victims/witnesses in a compassionate and non-judgmental manner.
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 other criminal justice agencies and institutions concerned with victim/witness needs.
Ability to be on call 24 hours a day, seven (7) days a week and to be available for a call to any crisis in which an officer or detective needs assistance with the victim or a victim's family.
An Associate Degree from an accredited college or university and five (5) years of experience in related work involving contact with the public; or the equivalent in education, training, and experience, which would provide the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities.

Nice To Haves

A Bachelor Degree is preferred.

Responsibilities

Provides appropriate personnel with the name of the victim advocate who will be available for callout each day/weekend.
Provides assistance to victims in which there is a death, serious injury or serious emotional trauma to the victim or the victim's family.
Provides immediate and temporary crisis counseling to primary, and if necessary, secondary victims and witnesses.
Assists the immediate needs of the victim.
Refers to appropriate community service organizations and agencies.
Assists community agencies and organizations in working with victim/witnesses.
Assists victim/witnesses through the criminal justice system.
Assists officers and detectives to provide assistance and information on cases.
Assists victims in filing for compensation from the State Bureau of Crimes Compensation and Victim/Witness Services.
Serves as a liaison for the victim within the Department.
Submits supplemental reports on cases when appropriate.
Maintains a log of all cases in which involved.
Transports victim/witnesses when necessary and the case load permits.
Provides appropriate assistance to victim/witnesses who have been threatened or who, in the judgment of the agency, express specific, credible reasons for fearing intimidation or further victimization.
Contacts victim/witness on a periodic basis if it appears that the impact of the crime has been unusually severe.
Acts as a liaison with other criminal justice agencies and institutions concerned with victim/witness needs.
Trains sworn and non-sworn personnel about the existence and function of the program at least once every two (2) years.
Trains sworn and non-sworn personnel who have contact with victim/witnesses about the rights and needs of victim/witnesses under current policies.
Assures victim/witnesses are advised of the status of their cases, including the arrests and release of suspects, as possible.
Assists in the notification of the family when an employee is killed or seriously injured in the line-of-duty and all Class I, II, III procedures, consistent with written directives.
Assists the family at the hospital, funeral and/or with legal and benefit matters.
Maintains a long-term contact with the family to assist in any way.