Victim Services Specialist

Victim Services Specialist

The Office of the District Attorney has opportunities for Victim Services Specialists throughout Riverside County. Under general supervision, provides a wide variety of trauma-informed supportive services to victims, derivative victims, and witnesses of serious violent crimes; coordinates the role of victims and witnesses through client advocacy with respect to the courts, law enforcement, and related agencies; and performs other related duties as required pursuant to PC13835 and Marsy's Law. The department is looking for candidates who have experience working directly with victims of crime in a County District Attorney's office and/or victim services agencies. Candidates with previous experience working with victims, Family advocates in Behavioral Health, Child Protection Services, non-profit domestic violence, and County employees will be given priority.

Applicants will be reviewed only at the department's request for certain regions as positions become available.

The District Attorney of Riverside County, as the public prosecutor acting on behalf of the People, vigorously enforces the law, pursues the truth, protects those victimized by crime, exonerates the innocent, and safeguards the rights of all to ensure that justice is done on behalf of our community. The office's staff of over 700 is comprised of prosecuting attorneys, sworn investigators, victim-witness advocates, paralegals, investigative technicians, forensic analysts, and a wide range of information technology and supporting staff all committed to excellence and integrity in public service. We are, and we seek to maintain, a diverse workforce to match a diverse county.

Examples of Essential Duties

• Deliver crisis intervention services for crime victims and witnesses, employing robust de-escalation techniques, integrating suicide awareness and prevention strategies, empath skills, and trauma-informed practices to effectively support individuals in distress.

• Demonstrate strong ethical standards and integrity in all interactions and decision-making processes, ensuring confidentiality, fairness, and respect for the rights and dignity of victims and witnesses.

• Assist and collaborate with collateral agencies such as law enforcement, courts, social services, and community-based organizations to deliver essential services that support victims in their recovery and address the impact of crime; participate in and effectively contribute to multi-disciplinary committees, meetings and community outreach activities.

• Provide essential direct services as mandated by California Penal Code 13835.5 to initiate safety planning, identify and mitigate physical and psychological barriers to safety, explore options, develop and assist with action plans, and manage a complex caseload ensuring all victim needs are met; facilitate crime scene cleanups, protective relocation or shelter, document replacement, property return, funeral and burial arrangements, intervention with creditors, landlords, schools, and employers, application assistance for the California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB) program, and restitution; respond to victims' needs with resource and referral assistance to ensure immediate and long-term service needs are met.

• Identify victims with a history of trauma or poly-victimization and conduct comprehensive assessments to identify both risk and protective factors, which involves a thorough evaluation of their histories to understand the multifaceted impacts of past traumas, enabling tailored interventions aimed at fostering resilience and reducing risks.

• Develop and implement complex service and referral plans, monitor victim progress and conduct case evaluations to assess danger and risk of lethality; determine the appropriate types of services needed throughout the life of a case, leveraging safety resources from law enforcement and statewide victim programs.

• Navigate community-led services and state victim service programs to ensure comprehensive knowledge and maximize resource referral support for victims.

• Establish and cultivate rapport with victims and witnesses of crime; provide counseling, crisis intervention and case management services to support victim healing, which may include advocacy, education, referral, counseling, mediation, crisis intervention, and stabilization.

• Provide victims with detailed information about the CalVCB program, including program services available, eligibility criteria, required documentation, and covered expenses; assist and guide victims through the entire process from application completion to submission, and through the appeal process as necessary. When assigned to the CalVCB Claims Unit, process applications and assist with quality assurance of claims.

• Advocate on behalf of victims to help ensure that all victims and witnesses are treated with dignity, respect, courtesy, and sensitivity; advocate on behalf of clients to help ensure that their rights are protected; accompany victims to criminal court hearings, provide bio-psycho-social support and educate victims to the criminal justice process; utilize available resources to reduce the impact of trauma while at court; assist with the preparation of victim impact statements.

• Educate victims about their rights to restitution; direct and assist crime victims with document collection and preparation for criminal restitution requests; collaborate with relevant stakeholders involved in restitution orders to help ensure victims receive notifications and information regarding the collection of restitution orders.

• Counsel victims and witnesses to reduce trauma; provide advocacy and support to victims during interviews with law enforcement, district attorneys or defense attorneys.

• Organize direct travel and indirect travel arrangements; assess for financial hardship and facilitate emergency requests for assistance per internal policy and protocol.

• Provide information to victims and witnesses concerning the procedures of the criminal justice system, juvenile justice system and post-conviction Board of Parole Hearing processes; monitor and assess flaws in the criminal justice system and internal procedures, as well as challenges to victims' rights; report identified issues to supervisors for evaluation; propose recommendations to enhance processes and laws, advocating for systemic changes to better support victims and witnesses.

• Assist in the orientation, training and mentorship of Victim Services staff, volunteers and interns.

• Participate in the Mass Casualty Crisis Response Team, which involves delivering localized and mutual aid responses to mass casualty events, providing advocacy assistance at Family Assistance Centers, delivering death notifications, and collaborating with key stakeholders such as the California Crime Victim Assistance Association, FBI, Homeland Security, law enforcement, fire departments, and county emergency management departments.

• Participate in a variety of special teams/programs such as the Mass Casualty Crisis Response Team, Crime Prevention Unit, CalVCB Claims Unit, Collaborative Courts, K-9 Facility Dog Program, S.T.O.R.I.E.S, and others as needed.

• Drive a County vehicle as necessary to carry out services.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree, preferably with a major in psychology, sociology, social welfare, social/human services, criminal justice, or a closely related field to the assignment. Experience: One year of paid or unpaid experience providing case management, supportive or crisis intervention counseling and advising clients of available programs, services and resources in a public or private social service or criminal justice agency. One year of paid or unpaid experience can substitute for successful completion of the Division of Victim Services Volunteer/Intern Program. Knowledge of: The laws and procedures of criminal justice agencies as they affect the responsibilities and rights of victims and witnesses of crimes; public agency and community resources and their functions; interviewing and counseling techniques. Ability to: Lead and direct the work of volunteer staff; mentor Victim Services Specialist staff; prepare statistical and narrative reports; maintain effective working relationships with others; provide psychological and emotional support to reduce trauma associated with being a victim or witness of a crime; communicate effectively in oral and written form; promote specific program projects through the use of effective presentations.

Other Requirements

License: Possession of a valid California Class C Driver's License is required and must be maintained throughout employment. County vehicles may be available but are not guaranteed. Employees may be required to use their own vehicle for field travel. Mileage reimbursement is available when using a personal vehicle for County business. Must be able to pass an extensive background check.

Supplemental Information

For questions regarding this recruitment: Contact the recruiter, Mary Miller, at View phone number on click.appcast.io or via email at View email address on click.appcast.io with any questions regarding this recruitment. Please allow 1-2 business days for a response to general inquiries.