What are the responsibilities and job description for the Victim Witness Coordinator position at Bonner County?
Department: Prosecutor
Supervisor: Director, Investigation & Victim Services
Supervision Exercised: None
Exempt Status: Hourly
Benefits Eligibility Status: Eligible
BOCC Approval: 06/04/2024
SUMMARY
Victim-Witness Coordinator helps victims, witnesses, and survivors of serious felony crimes.
They provide immediate crisis intervention and serve as an advocate for the victim and witness.
Victim-Witness Coordinator helps victims understand and navigate the criminal justice system,
facilitate their participation with the judicial process and accompany victims to court. They feel
strongly about preserving the dignity of victims and strive to treat them with compassion and
respect as they go through an often emotional or intense situation. Works with department
personnel, prosecutors, courts, community businesses, organizations, and others to provide a
variety of services to victims. Provides ongoing support for victims of domestic violence, crime,
or other related circumstances. Will be assigned cases within the Prosecutors office including
misdemeanor, juvenile and felony offenses, ensuring compliance with the Idaho Crime Victims’
Rights Statute, which will include, homicide, child sex crimes, rape, and higher impact cases to
the community.
This is a full-time position for 40 hours per week. On-call work is required sometimes causing
hours to increase.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The essential functions include, but are not limited to, the following duties and responsibilities
which are not listed in any order of priority and may be amended or added to by the County at
any time:
- Assists in identifying victim needs and provides recommendations to other BCPAO/CAC
Disciplinary Team of the Prosecutor’s Office providing information and guidance to
ensure the greatest advantage to the successful outcome of physical and sexual crimes
against children.
- Will work directly with prosecutors to obtain documents, recordings, records, reports
- Will be assigned all cases to include homicide, rape, child sex crimes and those with high
needs are met by facilitating conversations and meetings with the Prosecutor.
Bonner County
- Maintain and update entries into Karpel -Victim Services (Prosecution management
- Responsible for meeting with attorney staff and secretaries to ensure compliance with
of victim witness unit.
- Work with court personnel to ensure victim safety and comfort during criminal
- Assists and educates victims regarding courtroom procedure for CPO and criminal
- Coordinate with office manager to arrange travel and accommodations for out-of-town
- Communicate and facilitate local businesses and hotels for lodging, sheltering and other
SECONDARY FUNCTIONS
- Provides emergency intervention to adults and children who are victims to domestic
victims, families, and others at the scene, in the office, or in other locations to assess
personal needs and circumstances.
- Serves as an advocate in the courts for victims of crimes. Prepares documentation on
families, and others. Writes reports and collects all necessary information needed for
court appearances and trials. Works with victims to prepare for court appearances and
testimonies.
- Provides crisis intervention to victims and their families. In many cases, provides crisis
offering other support and options to assist victims and others affected by the criminal
activity.
- Performs various case management activities including developing case files for clients,
follow-up information obtained or needed. Develops proper documentation needed in
court or throughout the case management process. Provides appropriate copies of
documents to victims and officers of the court. Assists victims in filing appropriate
paperwork and documents needed for self-protection and security.
- As requested through dispatch, responds to the scene of domestic violence in
others present, and all other pertinent information that would be useful in managing
the case for the victim. May transport victims to safe locations as requested or deemed
necessary.
- Provides transportation of clients on a regular basis to and from shelters, medical
with law enforcement officials. May involve arranging for child and pet care for the
client, assisting in moving personal items from their homes, notification of relatives, etc.
- Connects clients with needed information and resources in the area or within other
Bonner County
resource agencies, educational opportunities, shelters, etc. May also involve making
arrangements for travel and medical services, assisting with applications, and
networking with relatives, community agencies, etc.
- Performs all other duties as assigned.
JOB SPECIFICATIONS
- Sufficient combination of knowledge, skills and abilities so as to competently perform
- Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, social work or other relevant field, with minimum
relevant experience in related position.
- Working knowledge of victims’ rights as they pertain to Idaho State Law. Good
- Good working knowledge of crisis intervention techniques, law enforcement and court
- Ability to provide effective crisis intervention to victims of crimes.
- Ability to de-escalate potentially violent situations, assess the needs of others (physical,
mental and emotional), and determine the best course of action to provide necessary
assistance to victims.
- Knowledge of and ability to use basic computer (PC) functions as needed for report
- Ability to work with victims and their families possessing a wide variety of personalities
accordingly to ensure appropriate safety and security of clients and the public.
- Ability to assess individual behavior to identify behavioral problems or inconsistencies.
security.
- Ability to maintain high levels of confidentiality as they pertain to clients or information
job.
- Knowledge of basic math skills sufficient to count and record monetary transactions.
- Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. Most communication is
writing and other paperwork. Advanced skill in conflict resolution and intervention
techniques.
- Ability to develop and maintain harmonious working relationships with others, both
PHYSICAL ABILITIES & WORKING CONDITIONS
Ability to perform those physical activities necessary to complete the essential functions of the
job, either with or without reasonable accommodation. Requires continual hearing, talking,
standing and routine, sedentary work; regular walking, occasional crouching, grasping,
stooping, and reaching. Frequent lifting, pushing, and pulling in weights of 40 pounds.
Bonner County
Incumbents are often subject to socially hostile environments involving high levels of tension
and stress. Frequent exposure to graphic and disturbing pictures, videos, reports, and accounts
of physical and sexual abuse of children and adults. May require working odd hours, long
hours, and extensive driving in the local area or throughout the County.
Disclaimer: This job description is not an employment agreement or contract, and management
reserves the right to modify it when necessary.
