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County of Alpine Adopted 09/15/2015 VICTIM WITNESS COORDINATOR DEFINITION Under direction, to write and administer grant; to coordinate the Victim / Witness Assistance Program; and to perform victim and witness-assistance related duties as assigned. CLASS CHARACTERISTICS The Victim Witness Coordinator is a single-position classification responsible for coordinating and providing services through the Victim / Witness Assistance Program. EXAMPLES OF DUTIES – Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following: Prepares correspondence, memoranda, documents; and routine correspondence for the Victim-Witness program and to assist victims and witnesses. Contacts complainants, witnesses and other involved parties to coordinate court appearances and/or to assist with restitution and provide other services through the V- W program. Consults with and explains the court process to complainants and others involved in cases. Prepares related fiscal records and reports as required. Administers grant funds for the Victim / Witness Assistance Program Grant; prepares budgets; provides fiscal accounting; ensures compliance with grant requirements, and prepares related reports. Coordinates all aspects of the County’s Victim / Witness Assistance Program. Without providing legal advice, provides general information about crime victims’ rights rights. Provides crisis counseling, referrals, and intervention to victims and witnesses of crime. Provides emotional and moral support to victims and witnesses of crimes; refers victims and witnesses to other agencies for additional assistance. Serves as liaison between the victim / witness, law enforcement officers, investigators, court personnel and community organizations. Assist victims and witnesses with obtaining restraining orders. ---PAGE BREAK--- Victim Witness Coordinator Page 2 Keeps victims and witnesses informed of bail hearings, jail releases, court hearings, etc.; provides courtroom orientation and accompanies victims and witnesses in court as requested. Assists victims in obtaining compensation and/or restitution; assists or refers victims for assistance in submitting claims to the Victims of Crime Compensation Board. Assists victims with preparing/submitting Victim Impact Statements to court. Provides follow-up services to victims and witnesses of crimes and their families. Promotes awareness and support of the Victim / Witness Assistance Program to law enforcement departments and throughout the community through public speaking engagements and distribution of written materials. Assists with the preparation of the department’s annual budget; monitors expenditures and receipts. Prepares and/or assists in the preparation of various financial and statistical reports. Performs a variety of other related administrative duties, including but not limited to establishing and maintaining filing systems, making travel arrangements, ordering supplies and maintaining supply inventory, processing mail, copying and filing documents, sending and receiving faxes, etc. Answers the telephone; provides information and assistance, or screens and forwards calls. Coordinates Victim-Witness activities and issues with other County departments, governmental agencies, tribal governments, social services, court personnel, attorneys, and others as appropriate. Receives and responds to inquiries, requests for assistance and complaints regarding activities and policies. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Knowledge of: Pertinent federal, state and County laws, regulations, codes, policies and procedures. Basic functional responsibilities of the District Attorney’s office and the court system. Standard secretarial / clerical practices and procedures. Legal terminology and formats for preparing legal documents. ---PAGE BREAK--- Victim Witness Coordinator Page 3 Legal filing techniques and procedures. Grant administration methods and reporting requirements. Policies, practices and procedures of victim / witness advocacy. Interviewing techniques for gathering factual information from victims and witnesses. Principles and practices of caseload management. Record-keeping, report preparation and indexing / filing systems and methods. Correct English usage, including spelling, grammar, punctuation and vocabulary. Budget development, budget accounting and fiscal reporting procedures. Basic business arithmetic. Business letter writing techniques. Modern office technology, including the use of computers for word and data processing. Ability to: Understand, explain and apply federal, state and County laws, codes, rules, policies and procedures. Provide responsible support to professional staff regarding victim-witness matters. Process a variety of legal forms and documents in accordance with strict requirements. Compose routine correspondence and documents independently. Prepare clear, concise, and competent reports, correspondence and other written materials. Research, compile, analyze, organize and present legal, financial and statistical information. Establish effective rapport with complainants, victims and witnesses to obtain confidential and personal information and elicit cooperation. Administer grant funds for Victim-Witness program. Understand and follow complex oral and written instructions. ---PAGE BREAK--- Victim Witness Coordinator Page 4 Use initiative and independent judgment within established guidelines. Organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines and follow up on tasks with minimal direction. Type accurately at speeds necessary for successful job performance. Maintain accurate financial and statistical records and reports. Assist with budget preparation and expenditure control. Perform required mathematical computations accurately. Use computers effectively for word and data processing. Maintain a high degree of confidentiality. Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work. Organize and conduct various presentations before official and public bodies. Safely operate basic office equipment. Education: High school diploma or GED equivalent; specialized training in the legal secretarial field preferred. Experience: Previous legal secretarial experience or experience working with victims and witnesses desirable but not required. Other Requirements: Possession of a valid driver’s license. Successful candidate will be required to complete Victim-Witness certification (entry-level and advanced advocate) and ongoing training, as required by the Grant. ---PAGE BREAK--- Victim Witness Coordinator Page 5 TYPICAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Requires the ability to sit at desk for long periods of time and intermittently walk, stand, stoop, kneel, crouch and reach while performing office duties; lift and/or move objects weighing up to 25 pounds; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. Must be able to maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for making observations, communicating with others, reading and writing, and operating office equipment. Must be able to use a telephone to communicate verbally and a keyboard to communicate through written means, to review information and enter/retrieve data, to see and read characters on a computer screen. Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation and/or sitting in court.