DA Victim Witness Assistant

County of Weld•Greeley, CO

About The Position

The Victim Witness Assistant in the District Attorney’s Office advocates for victims, their families, and witnesses to minimize the negative impact of the criminal justice system. The role provides support and education to victims as they navigate the criminal justice process and assists Deputy District Attorneys with case management for witnesses subpoenaed to court hearings. The position is open until filled. Bilingual English and Spanish skills are highly desirable. The position provides direct services to victims of felony and misdemeanor crimes, including needs assessments, community referrals, assistance with victims’ compensation and restitution, safety planning, and connections to counseling and support services. It maintains case records, locates and communicates with victims and witnesses, coordinates interpreters and court-related arrangements, and helps address conflicts and safety concerns. The Victim Witness Assistant also prepares and supports victims and witnesses for court, coordinates interviews and critical case events, communicates case status and appearance information, and serves as a liaison among judicial officials, agencies, victims, and witnesses. Additional duties include outreach, professional development, and compliance with office policies and confidentiality requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Services, Criminal Justice, or a closely related field, or equivalent education and experience.
Knowledge of criminal justice and prosecution principles, crisis intervention techniques, counseling methods, and interviewing techniques in a victim/witness program.
Knowledge of human behavior, record-keeping and reporting procedures, routine software and business applications, and laws and regulations pertaining to victim/witness programs.
Considerable knowledge of Victims’ Rights Enabling Legislation, Colorado criminal statutes, rules of procedure, and criminal justice components and procedures.
Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, verbally and in writing, and prepare or correct correspondence and applications.
Ability to communicate effectively with clients from varied socioeconomic backgrounds and maintain effective working relationships with County employees, other agencies and organizations, and the community.
Ability to oversee court-case management, evaluate and apply program policies and procedures, and respond effectively to conflict situations.
Ability to provide empathetic support to victims and witnesses and extract pertinent information from interviews and reports.
Skill in using common office machines and computer-based word-processing, spreadsheet, and file-maintenance programs.
Must pass a criminal background check before the employment start date.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual in English and Spanish.

Responsibilities

Provide mandated direct services to victims of felony and misdemeanor crimes, including initiating contact, conducting needs assessments, making referrals, and assisting with victims’ compensation and restitution applications.
Maintain case records and files and collect and report restitution and statistical information.
Locate victims and witnesses, notify them when court dates are vacated, and obtain interpreters as needed.
Develop action plans and resolve conflicts involving victims and witnesses to support healing and effective prosecution.
Educate employers about the judicial process, their legal obligations toward employees who testify, and how to support employees during the healing process.
Assist victims and witnesses with safety planning, safe-house referrals, transportation, and reporting threats, tampering, or stalking to police and the District Attorney’s Office.
Refer victims and witnesses to service agencies, therapists, and support groups for continued counseling and therapy.
Accompany victims and witnesses to court, explain the criminal justice process and courtroom procedures, and respond to questions about pre-trial procedures.
Explain HIV testing to sexual assault victims and provide follow-up support, information about results, and appropriate referrals.
Coordinate interviews with individuals and officials involved in cases and attend interviews as required.
Coordinate trial and critical-event preparation, including meetings with prosecutors and investigators, witness notifications, transportation and lodging, pre-trial meetings, testimony preparation, and case-status communications.
Serve as a liaison among judicial officials and agencies, mediate differences between witnesses and judicial personnel, and encourage victim and witness participation in the judicial process.
Conduct outreach and provide agencies or the public with information about the Victim Witness Assistance Unit and its activities.
Attend relevant seminars, conferences, workshops, classes, and professional meetings; review professional journals and maintain professional contacts.
Follow the Weld County District Attorney’s Office policies and procedures and comply with confidentiality and information-release guidelines.
Travel to other jurisdictions for special prosecutions or remote offices as assigned.