Victim Witness Specialist

Summary

For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit http://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

If selected for this position, you will join a well‑respected team that is responsible for performing a wide range of services related to the Victim Witness program for the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Mexico. Typical work assignments will include:

• Direct dissemination of information pertinent to various victim and witness protection laws.
• Speaking to public, civic, industry, and special interest groups on victim's issues.
• Coordinating efforts with local victim services providers, social services, law enforcement based victim assistance providers, and prosecution based victim‑witness staff.
• Responding to victim inquiries, assessing concerns, and determining program eligibility for victim‑witness services.
• Advocating on behalf of crime victims in regard to issues and problems caused by crime.
• Providing information to victims on schedule changes, status of defendant's pleas, results of trial.
• Providing in‑court support during hearings and trials.
• Obtaining services and assistance for victims and witnesses through specific federal programs and funds.
• Reviewing literature on victim witness issues.
• Generating statistical and quantitative reports and analysis of program activity.
• Analyzing and applying changes in legislation, case law, and court rules.

Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory pre‑employment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. Continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation.
• You must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable.
• If selected, you may be required to complete a one year probationary period.
• Time-in‑Grade:
  Federal employees must meet time‑in‑grade requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement.
• You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement and before placement in the position.

To be eligible at the GS‑11 level, you must meet at least one of the following conditions, as defined below:
Specialized Experience, Education or a combination of Education and Experience.

At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS‑09 in federal service. Specialized experience is defined as experience advocating on behalf of crime victims; providing information to victims in regards to status of cases and results of trials; providing in court support during hearings; and obtaining services and assistance for victims; analyzing victim communication needs; developing and administering a comprehensive victim/witness program;

conducting workshops or meetings with victim subject‑matter specialists and related officials; and determining the elements of an effective victim assistance program.

One of the following types of education in a related field (e.g., Criminal Justice, social work, Psychology, Sociology): a Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate degree; or 3 full years of progressively higher‑level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M, if related.

A combination of specialized experience as described above and graduate education as described above which, when combined, equal 100% of the requirements. To calculate your percentage of graduate education, first determine the total number of graduate hours that exceed 36 semester hours (or your school's definition of two years of graduate study), then divide the total number of your excess graduate semester hours by 18 (or your school's definition of one year of graduate study).

To calculate your percentage of qualifying experience, divide your total number of months of qualifying experience by 12. Add the two percentages together; the sum must equal at least 100%. (Only graduate education in excess of the first two…