Victim/Witness Services Provider

Walworth County•Elkhorn, WI

4d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is responsible for providing information, referral and support to citizens and law enforcement officials who have been victims or witnesses of crimes committed in Walworth County pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 950 and 1997 Wisconsin Act 181. Applications are being accepted from current County employees as well as members of the public.

Requirements

High school plus two additional years of formal preparation, and two to three years of relevant prior experience.
Proven experience in ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals as well as ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
Proven experience in legal terminology.
Ability to establish and effective working relationships with others.
Ability to monitor and maintain confidentiality.
Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
Ability to balance the demands of varying workload responsibilities and deadlines.
Knowledge of criminal law, legal terminology, court procedures and the criminal justice system.
Ability to communicate effectively with the public and employees on matters requiring discretion and knowledge in a courteous and professional manner.
As a post-offer pre-employment condition, a criminal background check conducted by the State Department of Justice (DOJ) including FBI fingerprinting must be successfully completed and passed.
Must have excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal and communication skills.
Must have the ability to exercise judgment and diplomacy.
Must maintain a high level of confidentiality, discretion and integrity.

Nice To Haves

Employees of the District Attorney’s Office are expected to respect the public’s privacy and provide confidentiality of all Protected Health Information (PHI).
District Attorney employees will have access to all information that is needed to perform their job, but they shall not have, or seek to gain, access to PHI that is not necessary to perform their job.
Every District Attorney employee, even one who does not use protected health information in their work duties, is obligated under the provisions of HIPAA.
All District Attorney employees must protect the public’s privacy and respond to situations that may put the public’s privacy in jeopardy.

Responsibilities

Provide information, referrals for services and support to citizens and law enforcement officials who have been victims or witnesses of crimes committed in Walworth County in compliance with Chapter 950, 1997 Wisconsin Act 181, Marsy’s Law, and as criminal court processes and procedures; inform victims of their rights and explain the court process; provide support, guidance and referral throughout the court process to develop rapport and facilitate cooperation.
Assist victims and witnesses with questions and concerns about possible crimes prior to any case filing.
Schedule and attend appointments with victims; memorialize meetings in case management system (PROTECT).
Attend court hearings with victims to assist them in exercising their rights to speak at hearings in which their rights are implicated, in compliance with Marsy’s Law.
Assist victims with restitution questions; research and discuss issues with claim qualifications with prosecutors; file restitution requests with the Court; assist prosecutors in preparation of restitution hearings; document and file payments made by Crime Victim Compensation.
Review and file victim impact statements.
Advocate on behalf of the victims and witnesses; inform prosecutors of victim’s requests, including requests for speedy disposition.
Refer victims to appropriate agencies for financial, housing, medical or therapeutic needs; maintain a close relationship with New Beginnings, the Walworth County Alliance for Children and the Department of Health and Human Services to assist with mutual clients/victims.
Ensure victim information is accurately entered in the case management system (PROTECT); assist prosecutors and county law enforcement agencies with victim and witness location; update current contact information for victims and witnesses as necessary.
Assist in the timely return of property held as evidence to victims of crime.
Coordinate protection of victims and witnesses through police agencies, witness protection and other agencies; refer victims to SAFE AT HOME when safety is a concern.
Assist prosecutors with trial preparation by coordinating the testimony of victims and witnesses during trial; schedule interpreters as needed for court hearings and/or meetings.
Create forms/templates for use by victim/witness services; update letters as needed.
Arrange transportation and hotel accommodations for victims and witnesses attendance in court; notify all witnesses of cancelled trials in a timely fashion; provide employer and/or medical intercession on behalf of victims and witnesses.
Participate in Multi-Disciplinary Team (M-Team) meetings as victim/witness representative to determine prosecution status and the need for services of victims and their families for both charged and uncharged cases; request and schedule meetings on behalf of the District Attorney’s office.
Attend Core Team meetings for Special Bulletin Notices (release of sex offenders); locate and contact victims for notices of release.
Cooperate with the Crime Victim Resource Center, the Crime Victim’s Complaint Board, and the District Attorney’s office, in formal or informal inquiries regarding victim’s rights compliance.
Actively recruit and interview new speakers for the Victim Impact Panel; contact and arrange speakers when needed; attend Victim Impact Panels when necessary.
Manage and maintain office supplies and brochures for the Victim/Witness program; maintain informational board in the lobby of the Judicial Center and in the District Attorney’s office; update information as needed regarding programs and services offered.
Comply with victim’s rights for Child Sexual Assault Material cases (formerly known as Child Pornography); work with law enforcement regarding child identification; document CSAM series names, country of origin, point of contact and attorney representation; contact DOJ for any possible victim impact statements on file.
Participate in any training necessary to improve performance and efficiency.
Demonstrate a commitment to county safety and risk management efforts.
Other duties as assigned.