Victim Witness Program Advocate

This position is located in the Gallatin County Attorney’s Office and is responsible for providing system-based advocacy services to victims and witnesses of violent crimes through the Victim Witness Assistance Program. The position reports to the County Attorney through the Victim Witness Program Director and does not supervise others.

• Acts as liaison between victims and witnesses, law enforcement, prosecution, and the courts to maintain awareness of all proceedings related to victims and witnesses in the program, and to obtain current and accurate information regarding offender status, prosecutor’s position, etc. to keep victim/witness informed. Represents the interests and wishes of the victim or witness in dealing with legal representatives and serves as victim’s or witness’s advocate until the case is adjudicated.
  
  Evaluates and assesses individual needs of the victim, determines whether necessary resources are available, references victim to counseling services, and provides referrals to other community resources that could provide more extensive assistance as needed.
• Provides professional advocacy services to victims and witnesses, including referrals to legal advocacy, criminal justice advocacy, and providing court support. Represents the interest of the victims and witnesses with prosecutors and others, provides guidance, assists victims and witnesses in testifying and preparing victim impact statements, conducts interviews with law enforcement to obtain further information, and attends court hearings to provide moral support to victims and witnesses.
• Provides guidance and assistance with Crime Victim Compensation. Guides victims through required paperwork, collects required information, explains process, assesses qualifications of victims for compensation, and coordinates with the Montana Board of Crime Control to facilitate compensation procedures.
• Provides personal advocacy to victims and witnesses in a variety of circumstances. For example, contacts creditors (i.e. for medical bills) as needed to intervene and explain victim’s status, negotiate payment options, etc. on behalf of the victim.
• Provides funding for emergency services on a case‑by‑case basis as needed for victims of domestic violence, stalking and sexual assaults. This may include emergency hotel stays, gas cards, gift cards for essential items and household expenses and other items as needed.
• Ensures that the rights of violent crime victims as defined by state statutes are being upheld. Documents all contact with victims and witnesses, coordination with legal representatives, and other activities.
• Establishes and maintains confidential files for each victim and witness including documentation of all contact. Files may be subpoenaed, so documentation must be very detailed and specific.
• Obtains and compiles copies of bond orders from all courts for inclusion in files.
• Enters data for each victim, offender, and pertinent case information into program database.
• Updates and maintains database as needed to ensure currency of data.

• Performs a variety of other duties as assigned by supervisor. This includes participating in special projects, occasionally filling in for other employees, participating in ongoing training, and a variety of other functions as needed. If the County Commission proclaims a local emergency due to an actual or threatened disaster such as an earthquake, fire, riot, flood, etc., County employees may be required to provide services during the emergency and for a subsequent period of assessment and recovery.

This work requires knowledge of counseling, victim advocacy services, legal and law enforcement proceedings, criminal justice system,…