Victim​/Witness Counselor ; SR

Victim/Witness Counselor

Immediate vacancies:
Temporary full-time. Performs a variety of continuing counseling services, provides information, counsel, advice and assistance to victims and/or witnesses of criminal acts; acts as liaison between the victims and/or witnesses and the criminal justice system agencies; and performs other related duties as required. Distinguishing characteristics:
These classes are distinguished by their responsibility for independently providing comprehensive counseling to victims and/or witnesses of criminal acts and to coordinate activities with other public and private agencies providing services. Level I:
This level is characterized by its responsibility for providing professional counseling services to victims and/or witnesses of criminal acts which generally involve the handling of moderately difficult cases.

Examples of duties include: acts as liaison between the victims and/or witnesses and the criminal justice system agencies; contacts victims and/or witnesses to inform them of their rights and services available through the State Criminal Injuries Compensation Commission and other criminal justice system agencies; counsels the victims and/or witnesses as to their role in the prosecution and the role of the prosecutor;

arranges witnesses' schedules and testimony times; transports witnesses from the airport and court to their accommodations; acts as liaison between the prosecutor and the victims and/or witnesses; works with community organizations to establish possible groups to aid victims; establishes trust funds financed by the offenders, and solicits other sources of funds to service the victims; assists in the speedy return of property to the victims;

counsels victims who have been traumatized by their experience; collects and compiles information concerning the cases; prepares correspondence; prepares case records, reports and other documents; performs other related duties as required.

Minimum qualification requirements:
Training and experience substantially equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in social work, sociology, psychology, or a related field and for:
Level I: two years of professional counseling experience in a program which provided social services, one year of which involved crisis counseling. License requirement:
Possession of a valid motor vehicle operator's license (Type
3). Knowledge of: laws, rules and regulations relating to the State Criminal Injuries Compensation Commission; public and private community resources providing services and/or benefits relating to criminal justice programs; crisis counseling and social work techniques and methods; court procedures and the criminal justice system. Ability to: collect, analyze, and evaluate facts; diagnose social and emotional problems and make sound decisions;

utilize a wide variety of varying backgrounds; correctly apply the rules and regulations and other provisions of the law to the specific problem; understand and interpret a variety of benefits, services and rights; speak and write clearly; develop and maintain effective working relationship with victims and/or witnesses, public and private agency representatives. Health and physical condition:
Persons seeking appointment to positions in these classes must meet the health and physical condition standards deemed necessary and proper for performance of the duties. Physical effort grouping:
Light.

Temporary positions:
Employees appointed to temporary positions may also gain membership in the civil service upon satisfactory completion of an initial probation period of at least six months. Once you become a member of the civil service, you become eligible to apply for promotion and transfer opportunities to permanent as well as other temporary positions.