Volunteer-Victim Advocate

Volunteer Advocate For Parker Police Department

The Parker Police Department is looking for volunteer advocates for the Parker Victim Services Unit. This position requires a caring, articulate, sensitive individual with the ability to maintain good rapport with victims, patrol officers, outside agencies and the public. Advocates provide immediate crisis intervention and support for victims and survivors of crimes in cases including but not limited to death, domestic violence, sexual assault and other crimes.

In depth and on-going training is provided to Advocates on the dynamics of victimization and victim services. Advocates will gain direct experience in providing support to those in need. They will also gain knowledge about law enforcement and the criminal justice system. Participation will enhance community responsiveness to the right of victims and survivors of crime.

Essential duties and responsibilities include providing advocacy and immediate crisis intervention for victims of crime, acting as a liaison between victim(s) and the criminal justice system, ensuring that victims are aware of their rights under the Colorado Law and offering information about the Crime Victim's Compensation Act, providing all victims and survivors with emotional support, available long-term support services, community resources, and notification of all victim's rights to victims and survivors as required by the Victims Right Act, completing necessary reports – documenting services rendered and activities performed, representing this agency in a positive and professional manner when contacting victims and citizens, attending monthly support and training meetings, conducting follow-up assistance in providing information on victim compensation benefits along with status and progression of the case, and going on a four (4) hour ride-along with an officer once (1) per year.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum qualifications include being 21 years of age, possessing a valid driver's license, being able to work on-call including nights and weekends, being able to respond to a call in Parker or Lone Tree within a maximum of 45 minutes when scheduled most likely accomplished by being a Douglas County resident, completing initial forty (40) hour training, ability to communicate well, think well, and respond quickly, ability to offer emotional support and crisis counseling to crime victims and survivors in the Town of Parker, ability to maintain good rapport with victims, patrol officers, outside agencies and the public, ability to have an open, non-judgmental attitude toward victims/survivors, ability to make a one (1) year commitment to the program, and ability to successfully complete a full background check including a drug screen and polygraph test.

Tools and equipment used include personal computer, word processing software, database software, custom dispatch and records programs, telephone, copy machine, portable radio, pager systems, cellular phone, calculator, motor vehicle and other related equipment. Physical demands include sitting, standing, walking, talking, using hands, fingers, handling, feeling or operating objects, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling, reaching with hands and arms, communicating clearly and effectively, understanding and being understood, climbing and balancing on rare occasions, carrying, pulling, pushing, or lifting up to 20 pounds, and specific vision abilities including close and distance vision acuity and the ability to adjust focus, allowing a broad field of vision.

The work environment is usually quiet to moderate in a climate controlled office environment.