VICTIM ADVOCATE

Victim Advocate

The Arizona Attorney General's Office Criminal Division/Office of Victim Services Section is seeking a Victim Advocate.

Under general or limited supervision, this position will perform case management, human service and administrative duties of moderate difficulty, assisting victims through the complex investigations & prosecutions of the Attorney General's Office including:

• Conducting case management, providing quality trauma-informed crime victim services, including both mandated and non-mandated services, as cases progress through the criminal justice process.
• Handling often high-profile and complex cases such as multi-victim white collar crimes, elder exploitation, human trafficking, and appellate and death penalty cases, including victims' rights notification activities; assisting victims with restitution claims; and promotion of victims' interests and participation in the criminal justice progress.
• Implementing program policies and procedures, operating manuals and protocols.
• Reviewing and documenting case activity and serving as a resource on victims' rights issues.
• Facilitating victim meetings and serving as a liaison between the victim and the investigator, prosecutor and community agencies statewide.
• Providing crisis counseling and intervention (when necessary) and follow-up services to victims, such as referrals to community agencies for assistance, court orientation and escort, personal and legal advocacy.
• Ensuring complete and accurate case documentation of activities and services.
• Assisting in the selection, training and monitoring of volunteer interns.
• Providing coverage for other advocates.
• Performing crisis response when applicable and requested.
• Completing periodic assignments from the Advocate Program Manager and the Director of OVS.

This position may be eligible to work remotely up to two days a week based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.

Job duties include:

• Contacting victims by phone or in writing to provide mandated victims' rights and non-mandated services; receive victims' calls; assess victims' needs and concerns; describe program services; explain victims' rights, pre-trial proceedings; accompany victims to court proceedings, interviews, etc.; refer victims for services available throughout community agencies; provide emotional support and empathetic listening; explain status and disposition of victim cases.
• Assisting victims in compilation of restitution claims, including assisting with paperwork; assist with completion of victim impact statements; intervene on victims' behalf with employers, creditors and landlords; provide other forms of specialized assistance to victims.
• Promoting advocacy and best practices for service to victims by working closely with case agents and prosecutors to strengthen program within the Special Investigations Section (SIS) and understand the dynamics of a law enforcement culture; partner with prosecution teams to ensure effective case management and advocacy; ensure victims' rights compliance within caseload.
• Case management: examine and review documents, case records, incoming correspondence, memoranda and evaluate appropriate actions to be taken, including formulating responses and conferring with supervisor for advice. Confer with agents, attorneys and victim service experts in order to broaden knowledge, acquire specific information or obtain advice on victims' rights and victim assistance. Attend workshops and training sessions to improve working knowledge and skills.
• Responding to cold calls/emails from members of the public. Responsibilities include providing services to constituents such as referrals to community agencies for assistance, referrals to law enforcement agencies and internal referrals. When called upon, will provide crisis response in conjunction with AGO requests.
• Assisting with training and educating volunteer/intern advocates who participate in the Office of Victim Services volunteer intern program. Functions include recruiting and screening of applicants, training on the legal justice system, scheduling, accompany interns/volunteers on scheduled tours, promoting attendance to various trainings and evaluating volunteer performance.
• Participating in and contributing to advocate and staff meetings; review and suggest updates to modify program policies and procedures; conducts New Employee Orientation training for new AGO staff on a rotating basis; complete work assignments and duties of other staff specialists in their absence.
• Producing and maintaining monthly stats to reflect services provided to victims identified in AGO cases, including statistics on mandated and non-mandates services provided, number of victims in each case, number of contacts made with justice practitioners, etc.
• Other duties as assigned as related to the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) required:

Knowledge:

• Considerable knowledge of the criminal justice system process, specifically relating to investigations, prosecutions and restitution.
• Basic knowledge of victims' rights laws, current state and federal laws and local social service agencies are required in order to perform work satisfactorily for this position.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of case management and the effects of victimization, including the social, emotional, physical and financial effects are critical to the work performance required of this position.
• Knowledge of standard crisis models and application is necessary.
• Knowledge of computers, Microsoft Office software and the ability to generate word processing documents.

Skills:

• Ability to effectively interpret program policies, procedures, rules and regulations.
• Ability to analyze, act on and interpret information from various sources and evaluate cases and make appropriate decisions is fundamental to the success of this position.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with members of the justice communities, and be able to maintain effective interpersonal relationship with victims in stressful and demanding situations.
• Effective oral and written communication skills, empathetic listening; case management; and effective training and presentation skills.
• Exceptional organizational and time management skills that will benefit when working with interruptions, working against stringent deadlines and having to adapt to changing priorities.

Abilities:

• Initiative and self-drive to develop and present ideas for effective implementation of the program and its procedures.
• Ability to learn how to plan, coordinate, and prioritize work activities for self and employ problem-solving methods.
• Ability to perform detailed work with a high degree of accuracy will rely heavily on the candidate's ability to write and communicate in an effective manner and their ability to edit and review materials for clarity and certainty.
• Ability to exercise good judgment in safeguarding sensitive and confidential information is critical to the services provided.