VICTIM ADVOCATE

Job Location: 2005 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004

Salary: $36,779 - $55,000

About the role

The Arizona Attorney General’s Office Criminal Division/Office of Victim Services Section is seeking a Victim Advocate. This position performs case management, human service, and administrative duties of moderate difficulty, assisting victims through the complex investigations and prosecutions of the Attorney General's Office. This position may be eligible to work remotely up to two days a week based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.

Responsibilities

• Conduct case management, providing quality trauma-informed crime victim services, including both mandated and non-mandated services, as cases progress through the criminal justice process.
• Handle high-profile and complex cases such as multi-victim white collar crimes, elder exploitation, human trafficking, and appellate and death penalty cases, including victims' rights notification activities, assisting victims with restitution claims, and promoting victims' interests and participation in the criminal justice process.
• Implement program policies and procedures, operating manuals, and protocols.
• Review and document case activity and serve as a resource on victims' rights issues.
• Facilitate victim meetings and serve as a liaison between the victim and the investigator, prosecutor, and community agencies statewide.
• Provide crisis counseling and intervention (when necessary) and follow-up services to victims, such as referrals to community agencies for assistance, court orientation and escort, personal and legal advocacy.
• Ensure complete and accurate case documentation of activities and services.
• Assist in the selection, training, and monitoring of volunteer interns.
• Provide coverage for other advocates and perform crisis response when applicable and requested.
• Contact victims by phone or in writing to provide mandated victims' rights and non-mandated services; receive victims' calls; assess victims' needs and concerns; describe program services; explain victims' rights and pre-trial proceedings.
• Accompany victims to court proceedings, interviews, etc.; refer victims for services available throughout community agencies; provide emotional support and empathetic listening; explain status and disposition of victim cases.
• Assist victims in compilation of restitution claims, including assisting with paperwork; assist with completion of victim impact statements; intervene on victims' behalf with employers, creditors, and landlords; provide other forms of specialized assistance to victims.
• Promote advocacy and best practices for service to victims by working closely with case agents and prosecutors to strengthen the program within the Special Investigations Section (SIS) and understand the dynamics of a law enforcement culture.
• Partner with prosecution teams to ensure effective case management and advocacy; ensure victims' rights compliance within caseload.
• Examine and review documents, case records, incoming correspondence, memoranda, and evaluate appropriate actions to be taken, including formulating responses and conferring with supervisor for advice.
• Confer with agents, attorneys, and victim service experts to broaden knowledge, acquire specific information, or obtain advice on victims' rights and victim assistance.
• Attend workshops and training sessions to improve working knowledge and skills.
• Respond to cold calls/emails from members of the public, providing services such as referrals to community agencies, law enforcement agencies, and internal referrals.
• Assist with training and educating volunteer/intern advocates, including recruiting and screening applicants, training on the legal justice system, scheduling, and evaluating volunteer performance.
• Participate in and contribute to advocate and staff meetings; review and suggest updates to modify program policies and procedures; conduct New Employee Orientation training for new AGO staff on a rotating basis.
• Complete work assignments and duties of other staff specialists in their absence.
• Produce and maintain monthly statistics to reflect services provided to victims identified in AGO cases, including statistics on mandated and non-mandated services provided, number of victims in each case, and number of contacts made with justice practitioners.
• Perform other duties as assigned related to the position.

Requirements

• Considerable knowledge of the criminal justice system process, specifically relating to investigations, prosecutions, and restitution.
• Basic knowledge of victims' rights laws, current state and federal laws, and local social service agencies.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of case management and the effects of victimization, including the social, emotional, physical, and financial effects.
• Knowledge of standard crisis models and application.
• Knowledge of computers, Microsoft Office software, and the ability to generate word processing documents.
• Ability to effectively interpret program policies, procedures, rules, and regulations.
• Ability to analyze, act on, and interpret information from various sources and evaluate cases to make appropriate decisions.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with members of the justice communities and maintain effective interpersonal relationships with victims in stressful and demanding situations.
• Effective oral and written communication skills, empathetic listening, case management, and effective training and presentation skills.
• Exceptional organizational and time management skills, including working with interruptions, stringent deadlines, and changing priorities.
• Initiative and self-drive to develop and present ideas for effective implementation of the program and its procedures.
• Ability to plan, coordinate, and prioritize work activities for self and employ problem-solving methods.
• Ability to perform detailed work with a high degree of accuracy, write and communicate effectively, and edit and review materials for clarity.
• Ability to exercise good judgment in safeguarding sensitive and confidential information.
• Ability to work with the public, grasp points being made by others (oral or written), organize high-volume victim cases, produce complete and accurate case notes and summaries, and prepare letters, memoranda, and email effectively.

Qualifications

Selective Preference:

• Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited university with an emphasis on social science and/or criminal justice.
• Three to five years of experience in victim services or a related field.

Pre-Employment Requirements

• Travel is required for this position.
• A valid Arizona Driver’s License is required, along with consent to have your driving record run periodically.
• All applicants under serious consideration for hire with the Attorney General's Office are required to be fingerprinted and complete a criminal background check through State and Federal agencies. A job offer cannot be tendered until the candidate has successfully passed the initial background check. Your record does not automatically constitute a bar to employment; factors such as age at the time of offense and the relationship between the offense and the job will be taken into account.
• All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Benefits

• Student Loan Assistance
• Sick leave
• Paid Parental Leave: Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program)
• Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year
• Health and dental insurance
• Retirement plan
• Life insurance and long-term disability insurance
• Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance

Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS). Enrollment eligibility becomes effective after 27 weeks of employment.