Victim Advocate-District Attorney's Office

Victim Advocate

The Multnomah County District Attorney's Office is seeking applications for Victim Advocates to join our team of dedicated professionals. Your role as a Victim Advocate is to ensure crime victims are informed and supported in the criminal and juvenile justice system. This will be done in a professional, meaningful way to accord them due dignity and respect. You will provide advocacy assisting crime victims and family members through the aftermath of a crime, orienting them to the criminal justice system, keeping them informed and ensuring their rights are honored at every step of the process.

You will be working collaboratively with our Deputy District Attorneys, law enforcement, system and community partners to improve access, coordinate services and create system improvements to support victims and survivors.

These positions are typically Monday through Friday from either 8:00am to 4:30pm or 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, as assigned by the Supervisor. 8:00am to 5:00pm with an hour-long lunch is also an option.

The essential functions of this position include but is not limited to the following areas:

Advocacy and Preparation

• Provide orientation to the criminal justice system, investigation process, and post-conviction systems.
• Prepare and accompany victims to court hearings, law enforcement interviews, and other related meetings. Explain complex processes in a trauma-informed manner that allows victims to make informed decisions, including applicable rights and options for exercising their rights.
• Assist victims with logistical issues to appear in court, such as transportation, interpreter services and childcare.
• Assist with applications for Crime Victims' Compensation and the Address Confidentiality Program. Provide referrals to other resources. Assist with restitution.
• Assist victims/survivors in reporting new and historical crimes to law enforcement, documenting injuries.
• Provide crisis intervention and conduct safety-planning as needed. This could include but is not limited to: working with victims/survivors to create personal safety plans, assisting victims/survivors with information about protective orders, communicating needs and perspectives to prosecutors, pretrial release and probation departments to support victims exercising their rights, increasing safety and keeping them informed.

Crime Victim Notifications

• Provide notice to victims of crime about their rights as soon as practicable. Explain how to request specific rights and document all rights asserted. Provide information and options for exercising rights at each stage of the criminal justice process. This includes providing information about post-conviction systems and notifications.
• Keep victims up to date on case status. Monitor cases for any qualifying action or hearing and provide timely notification over the phone, in person or in writing as appropriate.
• Communicate with the prosecutor and all appropriate parties, information about victim participation, needs, accommodations, statements to the court and rights asserted.
• Provide information about victim impact statements and other opportunities to address the court.
• Establish and maintain accurate and current contact information for victims including alternate contacts.

Community Engagement, Trainings and Reporting

• Assisting in the design and delivery of training, community outreach, and education for internal and external partners, members of the public and victims of crime. Participate in volunteer training and on-going volunteer meetings.
• Provide feedback and attend victim services meetings/work groups; contribute to system improvements to better serve victims/survivors.
• Complete required training including but not limited to State Victim Assistance Academy, Crime Victims' Compensation Program, Address Confidentiality Program and Sexual Assault Victim Advocacy trainings.
• Update computerized case tracking system. Maintain records, accurate case notes, data entry and communicate relevant case information.
• Submit memorandum of activities and statistics for grant reports or court hearings as requested.

This is an open continuous posting, meaning the job posting will be open to fill positions as they become available or as we fill current vacancies. If you would like to be considered, we invite you to apply immediately!

To qualify, we will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific about how your background is relevant. For details about how we typically screen applications, review our overview of the selection process page.

Required

Minimum Qualifications /
* Transferable

Skills:

• Associate degree from an accredited college or university with course work in social work, psychology, sociology, criminal justice, or a related field.
• (1) to four (4) years of experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position. (Equivalency 3-6 years of…