Victim Witness Specialist

About the role

You will join a well-respected team responsible for performing a wide range of services related to the Victim Witness program for the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Mexico. Typical work assignments include:

Responsibilities

• Direct dissemination of information pertinent to various victim and witness protection laws.
• Speaking to public, civic, industry, and special interest groups on victim's issues.
• Coordinating efforts with local victim services providers, social services, law enforcement based victim assistance providers, and prosecution based victim-witness staff.
• Responding to victim inquiries, assessing concerns, and determining program eligibility for victim-witness services.
• Advocating on behalf of crime victims in regard to issues and problems caused by crime.
• Providing information to victims on schedule changes, status of defendant's pleas, results of trial.
• Providing in-court support during hearings and trials.
• Obtaining services and assistance for victims and witnesses through specific federal programs and funds.
• Reviewing literature on victim witness issues.
• Generating statistical and quantitative reports and analysis of program activity.
• Analyzing and applying changes in legislation, case law, and court rules.

Qualifications

GS-11: To be eligible at the GS-11 level, you must meet at least one of the following conditions, as defined below: Specialized Experience, Education OR a combination of Education and Experience.

• Specialized Experience: At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 in federal service. Specialized experience is defined as experience advocating on behalf of crime victims; providing information to victims in regards to status of cases and results of trials; providing in court support during hearings; and obtaining services and assistance for victims; analyzing victim communication needs; developing and administering a comprehensive victim/witness program; conducting workshops or meetings with victim subject-matter specialists and related officials; and determining the elements of an effective victim assistance program.
• Education: One of the following types of education in a related field (e.g., Criminal Justice, social work, Psychology, Sociology): a Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate degree; OR 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M, if related. Education at the graduate level must be in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position.
• Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of specialized experience as described in A and graduate education as described in B which when combined equal 100% of the requirements. To calculate your percentage of graduate education, first determine the total number of graduate hours that exceed 36 semester hours (or your school's definition of two years of graduate study), then divide the total number of your excess graduate semester hours by 18 (or your school's definition of one year of graduate study). To calculate your percentage of qualifying experience, divide your total number of months of qualifying experience by 12. Now add the two percentage together. The sum of the percentages must equal at least 100%. (Only graduate education in excess of the first two (2) years may be used in this calculation.)

GS-12

To be eligible at the GS-12 level, you must meet the Specialized Experience as defined below.

• Specialized Experience: At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 in federal service. Specialized experience is defined as experience performing the following types of duties: analyzing victim-witness communication needs in order to develop and administer a comprehensive victim-witness program; providing recommendations to senior management on victim related matters; providing information and direct support to crime victims throughout the legal process; and coordinating with organization personnel, law enforcement, and victim service providers to provide victim services required by law.

Additional Information

• Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses will not be authorized.
• Relocation Incentives: Relocation incentives may be authorized if this position is determined to be difficult to fill, if supported by the skills of the selected candidate, and subject to the availability of funds.
• Recruitment Incentives: Recruitment incentives may be authorized if this position is determined to be difficult to fill, if supported by the skills of the selected candidate, and subject to the availability of funds.
• The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; telework; life insurance; health benefits; and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System.
• Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov.
• Reasonable Accommodation Statement: Federal Agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities, where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
• EEO Statement/Policy: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. More information can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/media/1425556/dl?inline.