Victim Advocate

Violent Crime Victim Advocate

Provide services and advocacy for victims of violent crimes and their families working through the Albuquerque Police Department. The violent crime victim advocate will greatly assist detectives and officers in next of kin notifications, immediately responding to calls and contacts from victims, coordinating communication between the case agents, and being experts in locating and connecting victims to services in the community. This position will also work with prosecuting agency advocates and processes to ensure a smooth handoff from the police department to the prosecutor. This position will help create and maintain training for officers, civilians and community groups. This is a safety sensitive position subject to random drug/alcohol testing. Job descriptions are intended to present a general list of tasks/duties performed by employees within this job classification. Job Descriptions are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

Essential and Supplemental Functions

Essential functions may include but are not limited to the functions listed below. Must be able to perform the essential functions of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation.

1. Communicate with victims of violent crimes in person, telephone and letter.
2. Update victim contact database and let case agents know of important communications from the families.
3. Coordinate with local community groups who work with victims of crime and align the internal programs of advocates with the paths to their recoveries.
4. Connect victims and their families with the Crime Victims Reparations Commission and other State and Federal agencies that are set up to help qualifying persons for assistance.
5. Meet with supervisors inside the division to provide high level updates on current cases.
6. Set up and attend meetings that families request with the appropriate police representative.
7. Provide victim follow-up contact or initiate outreach contact.
8. Coordinate with prosecutors and their advocates on updates on past cases that are not yet adjudicated.
9. Review police reports to identify victims that might not have come through the normal referral channel and contact them.
10. Complete reports detailing the number of contacts and referrals made.
11. Audit open cases to ensure that case specific contact deadlines have been met.
12. Perform administrative duties, including handing the mailing of update letters to victims and status updates in our victim contact database.

Supplemental functions:

1. Respond to crisis situations
2. Perform related duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Minimum Education, Experience And Additional Requirements

Education and experience directly related to the minimum requirements below may be interchangeable on a year for year basis. Associate's degree from an accredited or college or university in Human Services, Criminal Justice, Social Work, or directly related field; and three (3) year of experience working with victims of a crime.

Additional requirements:

Possession of a City Operator's Permit (COP) within 6 months from date of hire.

Possession of a valid New Mexico Driver's License, or the ability to obtain by date of hire.

Working Conditions

Environmental: Office environment, exposure to computer screens. Physical: Essential and supplemental functions may require maintaining physical condition necessary for sitting for prolonged periods of time; extensive use of computer keyboard.