What are the responsibilities and job description for the Victim Advocate position at City of Colorado Springs?
Victim Advocate
About the Job:
As a Victim Advocate, you will provide direct services to victims and witnesses encountered by CSPD (Colorado Springs Police Department). You will coordinate crisis intervention for victims of crimes, assess the needs of the victims and witnesses, determine the assistance needed, and provide referral support and follow-up.
About the Job:
As a Victim Advocate, you will provide direct services to victims and witnesses encountered by CSPD (Colorado Springs Police Department). You will coordinate crisis intervention for victims of crimes, assess the needs of the victims and witnesses, determine the assistance needed, and provide referral support and follow-up.
Job Type:
This special (at-will) position is grant-funded through December of 2025 with the possibility of extension.
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As a Victim Advocate, you will:
- Provide immediate on-call crisis intervention and emotional support to crime victims as needed on a 24-hour basis
- Review case reports to identify crime victims and contact the victims to offer services
- Provide high quality and comprehensive follow-up support services for crime victims
- Coordinate the provision of services with other criminal justice and community-based service programs to facilitate a seamless transition for victims
- Ensure that victims are aware of their rights under the Colorado Victim Rights Act
- Assist victims in applying for crime victim compensation, when applicable
- Provide information and referrals on resources to crime victims for long-term assistance
- Assist with informing victims of the status of their case through the initial phases of the investigation, including the filing of the case by the District Attorney's Office or when a final decision is made by CSPD not to file charges
- Maintain data on victim contacts for tracking and grant reporting purposes
- Assist with grant applications and reports
- Other duties as assigned
Learn more about this job by reviewing the class specification on the City of Colorado Springs Class Specifications page
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Knowledge of:
- Colorado Crime Victim Rights Act and the criminal justice system
- Community resources for crime victims
- Modern office procedures and equipment, including computers and supporting software (especially Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, and Outlook)
- Proper English usage, grammar, spelling, and punctuation
- Internet usage
- Strong crisis intervention and teamwork skills
Ability to:
- Conduct field work and provide direct, in-person crisis intervention services to victims of violent crime
- Communicate clearly and concisely, verbally and in writing
- Establish and maintain positive and productive working relationships with co-workers and with internal and external partners
- Cope with emotional and stressful situations and make sound decisions
- Drive government vehicle at night and during inclement weather
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Position requires working on a rotating on-call basis for after hours and weekend callouts.Work is performed primarily in an office environment with travel to crime scenes and possible exposure to unpleasant crime scene conditions and inclement weather.
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in criminal justice, behavioral science, social science, or a related field
- One year of full-time experience working with victims of a violent crime, including crisis intervention experience or specialized training from a law enforcement agency in victim advocacy
- Possess, or obtain upon hire, and maintain a valid, non-probationary Colorado driver's license not subject to restriction related to alcohol and/or drug violations or pending charges
Additional appropriate education may be substituted for the minimum experience requirements.The following qualifications are not required, but they are considered desirable. If you possess any of the preferred qualifications, please include specific details in your application. This information may be used to identify a top group of applicants.
- Proficiency in spoken and written Spanish
- Experience working with victims of violent crime in a criminal justice setting
- Experience that demonstrates a strong knowledge of victims’ rights and the criminal justice system
- Basic Advocate Certification through Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance
The job offer will be contingent upon successful completion of a polygraph examination, extensive background check, and other pre-employment assessments.
Applicants that have used marijuana or CBD products within 3 months from the date of their application submission will not be eligible for hire. More information about the Colorado Springs Police Department’s Marijuana Use Policy can be found here.
Physical Demands: This position requires the ability to lift up to 20 pounds occasionally, 10 pounds frequently, walking or standing to a significant degree, and possible exposure to unpleasant crime scene conditions.
Environmental Conditions:
Primary Work Environment - Office with some travel from site to site and possible exposure to extreme weather conditions
Extreme Temperature - Seasonally
Wetness and Humidity - Seasonally
Respiratory Hazards - Never
Noise and Vibrations - Never
Physical Hazards - Never
Mechanical and/or Electrical Hazards - Rarely
Exposure to Communicable Diseases - Rarely
Salary : $4,632 - $5,561
