Victim Witness Assistant

About the role

If selected for this position, you will join a well-respected team that is responsible for the District’s Victim Witness Program.

Responsibilities

• Respond to victim inquiries via phone, e-mail, letters and fax, provide initial screening of victim concerns, and determine program eligibility for victim-witness services.
• Maintain accurate resource materials that identify available counseling and treatment programs in the jurisdiction.
• Provide information to victims on schedule changes, status of defendants’ pleas, results of trial, whether a defendant is incarcerated and for how long, opportunities to address the court, and post-sentencing notification.
• Orient victims to the Crime Victim Compensation Program and provide information on how to contact the program and how to submit an application.
• Coordinate with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, as needed, to assist victims with the return of their property being held as evidence, obtaining copies of reports needed for securing services and assistance from other programs.
• Assist Victim-Witness staff and other support staff with logistics of court events by assisting victims and witnesses with issues concerning employers in connection with court appearances, preparing witnesses to testify by explaining processes and procedures and resources available to them, providing information on restitution to AUSAs, and forwarding Victim Impact Statements to U.S. Probation.
• Secure travel and lodging reservations for victims and witnesses and prepare vouchers for payment and reimbursement of expenses.
• Assist with the mailing, emailing and distribution of victim and witness notifications and information.
• Input data into applicable databases and produce notification documents using the automated Victim Notification System (VNS).

Requirements

• You must be a United States Citizen or National.
• You will be required to complete a pre-employment security investigation and background check which includes a drug screening.
• You may be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born on, or after, December 31st 1959. Those not registered should have an approved exemption on file.
• You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
• A USA Hire assessment is required. An email will be sent with additional information after you submit your application. You will have 48 hours from the closing date of this announcement to complete the assessment.

Qualifications

To qualify for the position of Victim Witness Assistant, GS-0303-8, you must meet the qualification requirements listed below.

GS-8: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7, defined as experience performing the following duties:

• Determining eligibility for victim witness services.
• Maintaining a tickler system of cases and informing Victim Witness staff of statuses.
• Assisting victims with applications for compensation programs.
• Preparing witnesses to testify by explaining processes and procedures.
• Maintaining working files consisting of correspondence and reports relating to victim witness cases.
• Preparing travel arrangements as well as vouchers for payment of expenses.

Proficiency in Bilingual (English/Spanish) is highly preferred.

Conditions of employment

• Responsibilities may increase as your training and experience progresses.