Victim Assistance Advocate - Bilingual (English/Spanish)

The District Attorney's Office is responsible for attending court and conducting all local criminal prosecutions. The District Attorney is a State Constitutional Officer when prosecuting crimes defined under State Law. Additionally, the Office provides legal advice to all law enforcement agencies and provides training programs for their personnel; thus, increasing the probability of successful prosecutions.  

The mission of the Office is to promote justice, ensure that the rights of victims are upheld by treating them with dignity, respect and compassion, and aggressively and fairly prosecute those who violate the law.  

The Monterey County District Attorneys' Office is accepting applications to fill a Victim Assistance Advocate position. Under direction, the incumbent will coordinate the involvement of victims of crime through the criminal court system and coordinate support for victims of crimes.  

The Eligible List established by this recruitment process may be used County-wide to fill current and future vacancies on a regular full-time, part-time, or temporary basis.

• Provides immediate field and office crisis intervention services to victims of crime by interviewing them, identifying their needs, and referring them to the appropriate community resources; provides follow-up to ensure victim’s needs are being met.
• Interviews victims and gathers information to determine their eligibility for reimbursement and restitution by various federal and State programs and agencies; assists them in completing, verifying, and submitting reimbursement claims.
• Advises and provides support for victims in order to reduce their stress and anxiety by keeping them informed of the status of cases, explaining criminal justice and police procedures, and being available to respond to their questions and concerns regarding the criminal justice process.
• Prepares victims of crime for their participation in the criminal justice system by educating them on the criminal justice process and the various steps involved, escorting them to court and community resource agencies for assistance, and providing reassurance when having to face a defendant in court.
• Establishes relationships and maintains a list of community referrals, service agencies and law enforcement agencies.
• Keeps current of and interprets rules, regulations, and policy regarding state victim reimbursement, restitution programs and crisis response.
• Serves as a liaison between the victim and community resource agencies, police agencies and judicial agencies; keeps attorneys up to date on the status, reaction, emotional states and extenuating circumstances of a victim’s case; works with various federal and state governmental agencies providing restitution and assistance concerning program policies, procedures, and client eligibility and crisis response.
• Keeps current of the court calendar; coordinates victim and/or witness court appearances, arranges meetings with police agents, attorneys, and community resource agencies.
• Conducts outreach, participates in community meetings and administers educational presentations on the Victim/Witness Assistance Program for community groups, schools, and law enforcement agencies; answers public inquiries regarding the program; solicits participation from volunteers.
• Attends training and educational conferences to stay current on issues, trends, and developments in the field of victim/witness assistance programs.
• Performs administrative tasks such as tracking and tallying workload statistics for the Victim/Witness Assistance Program and compiles and summarizes program information for grant applications.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

To view the complete classification description, please visit the County of Monterey website: Victim Assistance Advocate

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE

Will have a proven track record demonstrating the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

Working Knowledge of:

• The laws, procedures, and legal terminology used in the criminal justice system pertaining to victim assistance programs.
• The various community agencies, organizations and individuals who provide assistance to victims of crime.
• The principles and techniques of interviewing in order to gather factual information.
• State and federal agencies and programs that provide reimbursement and assistance to victims of crime.

Some Knowledge of:

• Standard office procedures and record keeping practices.
• Techniques used to counsel individuals under emotional stress.

Skill and Ability to:

• Gather and analyze data to draw logical conclusions and/or recommend an effective course of action.
• Communicate orally for the purpose of gathering sensitive, factual information from victims of crime and for speaking before groups.
• Recognize the symptoms of emotional stress and trauma of victims of crime and obtain the appropriate assistance.
• Exhibit tact, sensitivity, and a supportive attitude when dealing with victims of crime from a wide variety of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
• Gain the confidence and cooperation of victims of crime.
• Write clearly and concisely.
• Work under minimal daily supervision within a framework of policies and procedures and independently organize and prioritize work.
• Work under pressure of deadlines.
• Provide excellent and courteous customer service and establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Any combination of training, education and/or experience which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities and required conditions of employment is qualifying. An example of a way these requirements might be acquired is:

Experience: 

Approximately two years of clerical or paraprofessional experience within the criminal justice system. 

AND

Education: 

Coursework in a behavioral science such as psychology, sociology, or a related field.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The required conditions of employment include, but are not limited to the following:

• Possess a valid California Class C driver license at the time of appointment and possess and maintain a satisfactory driving record or provide evidence of suitable transportation which is approved by the appointing authority. 
• Be available to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and during times of disaster and/or emergency; travel out of County to attend meetings.
• Successfully complete a background investigation that includes a fingerprint and DMV check.
• Possess oral and written Spanish language proficiency.

BENEFITS:

The County of Monterey offers an excellent benefits package. Please visit our website to view the Unit J Benefit Summary Sheet. This information is not legally binding, nor does it serve as a contract. The benefits listed in the Monterey County Personnel Policies and Practices Resolution or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) prevail over this listing.

NOTES:

As a condition of employment, prospective employees may be required to submit to a background review which may include a review of information concerning present and/or prior employment, driving record, and record of any criminal convictions. Employment is contingent upon acceptable documentation verifying identity and authorization for employment in the U.S.; a list of acceptable documents is available on the USCIS Form I-9. If you are hired into this classification in a temporary position, your rate of pay will be hourly, and you will not be eligible for the benefits listed in the summary. 

Application and Selection Procedures

Apply On-Line at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/montereycounty, 

by Sunday, January 26, 2025, 11:59 PM(PST)

or

Hard copy applications may be obtained from and submitted during normal business hours,

Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM by contacting:

County of Monterey 

Attn: Stephanie Ahumada, Human Resources Analyst II 

168 W. Alisal Street, 3rd Floor

Salinas, CA 93901

Phone: (831) 755-5238  Fax: (831) 757-5792

The selection process is tentative, and applicants will be notified if changes are made. To assess applicants' possession of required qualifications, the examination process may include an oral examination, pre-examination exercises, performance examination, and/or written examination. The competitive examination process includes submittal of required application materials. A complete application package will include:

• Responses to the Supplemental Questions

Applicants who fail to provide all required materials by the final filing deadline will not be considered. Resumes, cover letters, letters of interest, and other correspondence will not be accepted as a substitute for required application materials. All required application materials will be competitively evaluated. Those applicants that are determined to be the most appropriately qualified will be invited to participate further in the selection process.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

Monterey County is a drug-free workplace and an equal opportunity employer. The County seeks candidates who can make contributions in an environment of cultural and ethnic diversity. Monterey County is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, contact Stephanie Ahumada, Human Resources Analyst II, at (831) 755-5238, or ahumadas@countyofmonterey.gov.

Salary : $4,842 - $6,612