Victim Assistance Coordinator

Victims Assistance Coordinator

Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, include the responsibilities, knowledge, skills, and other characteristics listed below. This list of responsibilities is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY, and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by positions in this class. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Other duties may be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Under general supervision of the Lead Victims Assistance Coordinator, the Victims Assistance Coordinator provides direct services to victims of crime, and their families within Hays County. The work involves treating a variety of problems, questions, or situations in conformance with established criteria. The work product affects the operation of the County's Victim's Assistance Program. This position affects the well-being of Hays County victims and their families. Individuals in this position serve at the pleasure of the current elected official.

• Maintains a positive working agreement with community agencies to secure available resources for victims and their families.

• Serves as the first contact for victims of misdemeanor, felony, violent and non-violent, property, and family crimes filed with and accepted by the Hays County Criminal District Attorney's office; maintains contact with and provides information to victims throughout the complex criminal justice process; and works as part of a multi-disciplinary team to assist victims.

• Limited counseling for violent crime victims.

• Assists victims in achieving, to the most practical extent possible, all the provisions set out in the Rights of Crime Victims, Chapter 56, Code of Criminal Procedure, specific to their situation; serves as an advocate for victims in ensuring that they receive eligible assistance and benefits; and assists in obtaining information and in the completion of the loss value information, Victim Impact Statement and Crime Victim Compensation Application.

• Refers victims to counseling, social services, shelters and other agencies for assistance.

• Keeps victims informed of the status of their case by mail, email and phone contact; provides emotional support by allowing victims to express their frustrations, anger, guilt, and/or fear and responding appropriately to their feelings; and independently determines course of action in responding to victims and or families.

• Enters victim information and documents all contact and attempted contact with victims in Odyssey.

• Prepares victim information packets to include pre and post indictment letters for felony cases, filed and unfiled letters for misdemeanor cases, Victim Information Packets explaining the criminal justice system and informing victims of services available, Victim Impact Statement and Crime Victim Compensation applications.

• Assists prosecutors and investigators in interviewing victims and witnesses as requested; and coordinates appointments and trial appearances as requested.

• Attends Jury Trials with victims during their testimony for emotional support

• Provides follow up on special requests from prosecutors and investigators as requested.

• Obtains restitution information from victims and provides alternate means for the victim to be compensated for damages incurred as a result of criminal behavior and process restitution orders once all documents are gathered.

• Provides ongoing support information, resource materials, and referrals for additional services to victims.

• Processes Witness Fee Claim Forms when necessary.

• Processes U visa applications upon request once case is closed.

• Assists in training Interns

• Assists in maintaining victim waiting rooms

• Translates for non-English speaking victims.

• Schedules appointments and interviews with victims

• Process Protective Order Applications

• Sets and attends Protective Order hearings with petitioner

• Attends bond increase hearings with victims

• Attends and participates in Multi-Disciplinary Team and Sexual Assault Response Team monthly meetings.

• Assists in making presentations to community agencies in regards to victim's rights.

• Accompanies crime victims at, court proceedings, including jury trials and protective order hearings; and accompanies investigators and prosecutors to victim's home, hospital, school, work, and counselor's offices.

• Performs routine administrative assistant tasks such as filing, scanning, emailing, copying and establishing, maintaining, and organizing case files.

• Prepares daily logs of numbers and types of contacts with victims and assists with case statistical recordkeeping and prepares cover sheets for both felony and misdemeanor with victim information to keep up with intake.

• May be called upon to testify.

• Performs other duties as assigned

Requires bachelor's degree or knowledge equivalent to a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, Behavioral Science, or a closely related area. Requires three years victim assistance or related social work experience. Any equivalent combination of experience and training may substitute for educational requirements.

• Requires attendance and completion of basic TLETS Course.

Knowledge Required

• General knowledge of the Hays County Criminal District Attorney's Office regulations, policies and procedures.
• General knowledge of Hays County law enforcement and criminal justice methods and practices.
• General knowledge of modern office procedures and practices.
• Exceptional knowledge of the impact of crimes on individuals and families.
• Exceptional knowledge of Hays County Victim's Assistance Program, including its mission statement, goals, methods and procedures and of acceptable practices in providing victims assistance to crime victims.
• Exceptional knowledge of word-processing specifically windows applications including Microsoft Word and Excel.

Required Skill

• General skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with supervisors, co-workers, vendors, outside agencies, victims of crime, and the general public.
• General skill in utilizing routine office equipment, including telephones, personal computers, Microsoft and Excel software.
• General skill in public speaking.
• General skill in following Hays County policy and procedures.
• General organizational skills.
• General skill in expressing oneself clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Spanish speaking preferred.
• Exceptional skill in listening to others and discerning appropriate needs and responses.
• Exceptional skill in assisting and advocating for crime victims and their families, throughout the judicial process, in all levels of crime.
• Exceptional skill in completing the forms and processes pertaining to victim's rights, including Victim Impact Statements, Crime Victims' Compensation Applications, Restitution Orders and Protective Orders.