OAG - Criminal Prosecutions | Program Specialist I

About the role

The Criminal Prosecutions division is seeking a Victim Assistance Coordinator to provide highly complex and advanced victim assistance services. The Coordinator serves as the primary point of contact for victims of crimes prosecuted by the division, acting as a liaison between victims, prosecutors, and investigators, and ensuring victims’ rights under the Crime Victims Bill of Rights are upheld. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) is a dynamic state agency with over 4,000 employees, providing exemplary legal representation across diverse areas of law.

Responsibilities

• Serve as liaison between victims and attorneys.
• Maintain contact with victims and their families.
• Refer victims to appropriate services and maintain knowledge of victim services throughout the State.
• Provide direct victim assistance by notifying crime victims of case status, rights afforded by law, and information on the Crime Victims Compensation fund.
• Accompany victims to trials, hearings, oral arguments, and executions as necessary.
• Work with Criminal Prosecutions staff to assist victims and families in booking appropriate travel accommodations for court hearings.
• Research and respond to questions from victims, victim‑advocacy groups, prosecutors’ offices, law‑enforcement agencies, and other state and federal offices.
• Maintain and update regional contact phone and mailing lists to ensure accurate dissemination of information.
• Collaborate with staff to determine trends and resolve logistical issues (Program Specialist V).
• Review relevant legal statutes, literature, rules, and policies and prepare reports as needed (Program Specialist V).
• Recommend and coordinate activities to produce more effective workplace solutions (Program Specialist V).
• Train others as needed (Program Specialist V).
• Perform related work as assigned and maintain relevant knowledge necessary to perform essential job functions (Program Specialist V).
• Attend work regularly in compliance with the agreed‑upon schedule (Program Specialist V).
• Ensure security and confidentiality of sensitive and/or protected information (Program Specialist V).
• Comply with all agency policies and procedures, including those pertaining to ethics and integrity (Program Specialist V).

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Graduation from high school or equivalent; a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university (or equivalent experience in mental health, social or behavioral sciences, or criminal justice).
• Experience: Five years of full‑time experience in general mental health and behavioral counseling, including clinical crisis intervention and/or trauma counseling. One year of internship or voluntary community service in a related field may substitute for one year of experience. (Program Specialist V requires one additional year of such experience.)
• Knowledge: Crime Victims Compensation Program.
• Skills: Ability to handle multiple tasks, prioritize, and meet deadlines; effective oral and written communication; sound judgment and decision‑making; receptiveness to constructive feedback; cooperative teamwork; excellent customer service.
• Abilities: Work in person at the assigned OAG location for the full work week; arrange personal transportation for business‑related travel; work more than 40 hours as needed; lift and relocate up to 30 lb; travel (including overnight) up to 50% of the time.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Master’s degree in a mental health, social or behavioral science discipline.
• Experience: Prior employment as a Victim Assistance Coordinator.
• Knowledge: Crime Victims Compensation Program.
• Skills: Experience working with multiple criminal‑justice organizations.
• Language: Ability to read, write, and speak Spanish proficiently.