Victim Witness Specialist

Job Summary

To provide direct services to victims and witnesses of crime as set forth in Chapter 950 of the Wisconsin State Statutes.

Key Responsibilities

• Notify victims and witnesses of their rights, assist victims and witnesses with exercising their rights, provide requested services in compliance with office policy and explain the criminal justice process.
• Act as advocate and liaison with various court, law enforcement and community agencies.
• Maintain communication with prosecutors regarding witness concerns and problems.
• Accompany victims and witnesses to court.
• Offer emotional support, empathetic listening, informational and referral and personal advocacy.
• Provide in-service training sessions and/or presentations to law enforcement and local service groups.
• Maintain accurate and complete case files.
• Perform all other related duties and functions as assigned by the Victim Witness Coordinator.
• Other duties as assigned.

Supervision Received
Receives general supervision from the Victim Witness Coordinator.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited school in Social Work, Criminal Justice, Psychology or related Human Service field.
• Two (2) years case management and direct service experience preferred.
• Recent technical training or work experience with Microsoft Word and Access or a comparable word processing or database software.
• Valid Wisconsin driver's license and adequate transportation. Personal automobile, if used for work-related travel, must be covered by an automobile liability insurance policy.
• Prompt and regular attendance.

Knowledge Skills & Abilities

• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with other employees and the general public.
• Bilingual in Spanish is preferred.
• Thorough knowledge of community resources and the criminal justice system.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions effectively.
• Ability to do a considerable amount of walking and ability to lift stored case files.

• Continuous (67-100% of workday) sitting, hearing, use of far or near vision, and light intensity of handling and fingering.
• Frequent (34-66% of workday) talking.
• Occasionally (1-33% of workday) standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and carrying objects weighing 1 – 10 pounds.

• Continuous (67-100% of workday) inside work.

Equipment Used

• Basic office equipment such as typewriter, calculator, copy machine, computer terminal, fax machine and printing equipment.

This description has been prepared to assist in properly evaluating various classes of responsibilities, skills, working conditions, etc., present in the classification. It is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and characteristic levels of work difficulty that will be required of positions that will be given this title. It is not intended as a complete list of specific duties and responsibilities; nor, is it intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct and control the work of employees under his/her supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that re of a similar kind and level of difficulty.