Victim Advocate - Family Court

Victim Advocate - Family Court

The New York City Law Department's Family Court Division is seeking a qualified candidate for the position of Victim Advocate. In prosecuting juvenile delinquency cases, the Family Court Division's Juvenile Delinquency Prosecution Unit seeks to ensure that those youth who commit delinquent acts are held accountable for their misconduct and receive appropriate services. The Family Court system is focused on rehabilitation. The victim advocate, under supervision, with wide latitude for independent judgment, will perform work in the supervision, planning, implementation, coordination, monitoring, and/or evaluation of community development programs as well as victim services and safety planning. The selected candidate will perform duties including but not limited to:

• Act as a continuing source of support for victims throughout the pendency of a juvenile delinquency case;
• Work closely with victims on all types of cases including Family Conflict, victims of cases assigned to the Special Victims Unit, Major Case Unit and victims on designated felony matters;
• Help to secure witness cooperation;
• Interview victims and witnesses and explain the juvenile delinquency process to them;
• Communicate with attorneys and coordinate the victim and/or witness' court appointments;
• Work with the victim/witness to obtain services including Office of Victims Services;
• Arrange for transportation to and from court for the victim or witness;
• Coordinate for interpreters for the victim or witness;
• Accompany fearful victims/witnesses to court when they testify;
• Develop an expertise regarding available community resources in order to assist victims and witnesses in navigating the court process and accessing proper services;
• Complete monthly victim advocate forms;
• Update electronic files as needed;
• Some of the physical activities performed and environmental conditions experienced include lifting and carrying boxes and files; climbing stairs; and traveling throughout the City on all types of public transportation, and/or walking in all kinds of weather, often carrying files and other documents.

This position will require citywide travel and may require travel to other jurisdictions including within New York State and other jurisdictions.

Additional Information: This would be considered a lateral move for candidates who are currently a city employee in the Community Coordinator title. The ideal candidate will have a combination of the following preferred skills:

• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and investigative skills.
• Critical thinking with the ability to arrive at logical conclusions.
• The ability to multitask, take initiative and function independently under tight deadlines.
• Proficiency in the MS Office Suite, including but not limited to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Ability to foster good working relationships within the community and with external community based agencies.

This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program. As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's website.

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic.