Violent Crime Victim Advocate (Internal Applicants Only)

Supervisor: Wendy Ross

Salary:  Range 50 -- $37.47 (Step One) - $47.50 (Step Ten)*

Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, our core business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

Work Location: In-person /telecommute (hybrid)-Maleng Regional Justice Center and King County Courthouse, Seattle. 

The Most Dangerous Offender Program (MDOP) Victim Advocate will provide comprehensive victim advocacy to the surviving family members of homicide.   The advocate will primarily be responsible to communicate with crime victims and immediate family members, assess and triage urgent needs, deploy crisis intervention techniques, and engage in resource and referral linkages. The advocate will notify and engage with victims and family members upon filing and through disposition. The MDOP Victim Advocate will provide critical case updates and facilitate crime victim engagement during critical stages and decision points within the case. Additionally, the advocate will need to establish referral and linkage pathways with community service providers to meet crime victim needs and will work as a liaison with those agencies to assure referrals have been successful.  The advocate will provide independent support, uphold victim’s rights, and give a voice to crime victims by providing relevant information related to the victim’s safety concerns and wishes to the prosecutor and will act as a liaison with prosecutor to facilitate stronger victim engagement. 

• Provide advocacy to immediate family members of homicide victims and immediate family members to help address their emotional, physical and financial needs to reduce the impacts of trauma and victimization.
• Communicate legal rights and case updates to victim/survivors and appropriate immediate family members; engage in victim rights enforcement.
• Notify and engage with victims and family members upon filing through disposition; provide critical case updates and facilitate crime victim engagement during critical stages and decision points within the case.
• Assess eligibility and assist filing Crime Victim Compensation claims on behalf of crime victims and survivors.
• Deploy advocacy skills, crisis and case management, and de-escalation techniques as needed.
• Assess impacts and needs resulting from crime victimization and trauma, connect victims with community resources and service providers to address identified needs.
• Assist in developing coordinated safety plans with crime victims as appropriate.
• Utilize PAO facility dogs in accordance with PAO policy in support of victims, survivors and immediate family members associated with caseload.
• Develop strong and effective working relationships with DPA’s, Case Development Specialists, Paralegals, Law Enforcement, and other system entities to empower, support and educate families and victims throughout the Criminal Justice System process.
• When needed, assist crime victims filing for civil protection orders, including drafting orders, completing declarations, and other legal documents for court hearings.
• Attend trials and hearings as necessary, advocate and speak on behalf of victims and their families in and out of court; prepare victims for court testimony.
• Make appropriate warm handoff and referrals to community-based organizations and agencies to address relevant social service needs associated with their victimization.
• Coordinate outreach efforts to build and foster necessary community partnerships with community organizations to address the identified needs outlined by crime survivors.
• Conduct and produce trainings and participate in outreach events related to caseload and impacts of victimization.
• Engage equity and social justice principles in regular job duties and decision making.
• Additional responsibilities and/or tasks may be incorporated, or existing ones modified as business needs evolve.

• Demonstrated expertise in the areas of violent crime and criminal justice and court-based advocacy. 
• Experience responding to victims of physical assault, and co-victims of homicide. 
• Demonstrated ability to work with people in crisis.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written; ability to communicate professionally and effectively with individuals, groups and in the courtroom. 
• Considerable knowledge of local related community resources.
• Demonstrated ability to work within and across systems including law enforcement, courts, prosecutors, community partners and the public.
• Skill in working with diverse populations.
• Ability to exercise independent initiative and judgment and also function as a team player.
• Ability to problem-solve and identify needed procedural and policy changes.
• Demonstrated ability to manage voluminous and sensitive caseloads.
• Any combination of experience/education/training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the work.
• Ability to establish and maintain positive and effective working relationships with co-workers, management, attorneys, court personnel, law enforcement, community partners and the general public.
• Actively participate in PAO equity work, attending equity trainings and discussion. 
• Provide support for the Race, Equity and Social Justice policy and principles, work with PAO colleagues and management to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Candidates with experience serving diverse survivors are strongly encouraged to apply.

Salary : $37 - $48