Victim/Witness Counselor I (SR-20)

About the role

This class involves providing professional counseling services to victims and/or witnesses of criminal acts, coordinating with the criminal justice system, and performing other related duties.

Responsibilities

• Acts as liaison between the victims and/or witnesses and the criminal justice system agencies;
• Contact 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;
• Aids 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.

Requirements

• Combination of education 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;
• Two years of professional counseling experience in a program which provided social services, one year of which involved crisis counseling.

Qualifications

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.

Skills

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.

Benefits

Not specified.

Pay

Not specified.

Schedule

Not specified.