Victim Assistance Coordinator - Police

City of Burlington, NC; Burlington (NC); On-site; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation

Sick leave

Paid holidays

State retirement

Health/dental coverage

Empower 401k

Flexible spending

Life insurance

Long-term insurance

Job summary

City of Burlington, NC invites applications for a Victim Services Specialist who will support victims and witnesses in collaboration with detectives, courts, and community partners. This role requires compassion, sound judgment, and the ability to respond to crises both in the field and in the office.

The position emphasizes trauma‑informed support, case management, and coordination of services, including court accompaniment, transportation, translations, and referrals to community resources.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED; minimum five years in direct public service or related field.
• Experience with victims, crisis response, or related community services.
• Valid NC Driver's License.

Responsibilities

• Provide immediate support and resources to victims and families.
• Meet victims in the community, at the Police Department, courts, hospitals, or other locations.
• Work closely with detectives and other law enforcement throughout investigations.
• Build partnerships with courts, prosecutors, attorneys, advocacy organizations, social service agencies, shelters, healthcare providers.
• Provide trauma-informed support while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Contacts victims and witnesses to assess needs and offer referrals.
• Assists victims with court accompaniment, transportation, translation, compensation filings, and follow-up.
• Makes follow-up calls regarding court notifications and related documentation.

Skills

Victim & Crisis Support

Criminal Justice Knowledge

Community Resource Knowledge

Professional Collaboration

Sound Judgment & Discretion

Relationship Building

Effective Communication

Adaptability & Responsiveness

Case Management & Documentation

Technology & Administrative Skills

Education

High School Diploma or GED

5 years direct public service experience

Valid NC Driver's License

Job description

Job Description

Are you an experienced professional who knows how to support people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives? We’re looking for someone who can build trust with victims, work confidently alongside law enforcement and community partners, and provide compassionate, practical support when it matters most. If you have experience serving people in crisis and want to make a meaningful difference in your community, we want to hear from you.

About Us

The Burlington Police Department is a nationally accredited law enforcement agency that is committed to quality, fair, and professional police services. The agency is made up of more than 150 sworn officers and 50 professional staff members serving the City of Burlington, North Carolina. Voted the #1 Police Agency in NC in 2024, we serve a growing city of approximately 60,000 residents.

What You Will Do

You will serve as a direct point of support for victims and witnesses while working closely with detectives, patrol officers, courts, attorneys, and community organizations throughout the life of a case. This is a hands‑on, community‑facing role that requires compassion, sound judgment, and the ability to respond effectively to people experiencing crisis or trauma. While much of the work occurs during normal business hours, you must be prepared to work in the community and respond outside of regular hours when major or serious incidents require victim assistance. The ideal candidate brings several years of experience working directly with victims, individuals in crisis, or community members in need and is comfortable working alongside law enforcement, courts, attorneys, and community partners. They are compassionate, adaptable, and prepared to work in the community and respond when serious or major incidents require victim support. This position reports directly to the Criminal Investigations Division Lieutenant or their representative.

Policing With a Purpose

• Preserving the Sanctity of ALL Life
• Nurture and Protect Democracy
• Ensure Procedural Justice and Fundamental Fairness
• Spirit of Service
• Protect the Community from Harm
• Treat all individuals with Dignity and Respect-the ethical foundation of policing

Victim Services & Case Support

• Respond to major or serious incidents when requested to provide immediate support, information, resources, and assistance to victims and families.
• Meet with victims and families in the community, at the Police Department, courts, hospitals, or other appropriate locations based on individual needs.
• Work closely with detectives and other law enforcement personnel throughout investigations to identify victim needs, provide updates, and coordinate services.
• Build and maintain working partnerships with courts, prosecutors, attorneys, advocacy organizations, social service agencies, shelters, healthcare providers, and other community resources.
• Provide trauma‑informed support to individuals experiencing crisis, grief, violence, or other difficult circumstances while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
• Contacts victims and witnesses to assess needs, provide updates on case status, and offer available services and community referrals.
• Assists victims with court accompaniment, transportation, translation services, victim compensation filings, and follow‑up on active and closed cases.
• Makes follow‑up phone calls regarding court notifications, warrants served, and related documentation.

Case Management & Documentation

• Reviews crime reports and domestic violence histories, drafts reports, assigns cases, and maintains related records and data systems.
• Prints, sorts, scans, mails, and distributes reports and documents to the District Attorney’s Office, NCDPS, and other appropriate agencies.
• Maintains Criminal Investigation Log Software and documents follow‑up information in RMS supplements.
• Checks and reviews data for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with established standards.

Training, Outreach & Administrative Support

• Attends trainings, community meetings, police events, and partner agency meetings.
• Prepares training materials and provides victim assistance and log management training to staff, volunteers, and new personnel.
• Assists with accreditation reporting and dissemination of department or program information, including confidential information when appropriate.
• Operates standard office and computer equipment and performs related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Victim & Crisis Support: Ability to communicate compassionately and effectively with victims, witnesses, families, and individuals experiencing crisis or trauma.
• Criminal Justice Knowledge: Working knowledge of the criminal justice process, victim rights, court procedures, and available victim services.
• Community Resource Knowledge: Knowledge of community‑based resources and the ability to connect individuals with appropriate services based on their circumstances.
• Professional Collaboration: Ability to work effectively with detectives, patrol officers, prosecutors, attorneys, courts, advocacy organizations, social service providers, and other community partners.
• Sound Judgment & Discretion: Ability to independently handle sensitive situations, confidential information, and emotionally challenging interactions using sound professional judgment.
• Relationship Building: Ability to establish trust and maintain productive relationships with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and circumstances.
• Effective Communication: Strong listening, verbal, and written communication skills, including the ability to explain complex processes in an understandable and supportive manner.
• Adaptability & Responsiveness: Ability and willingness to work in office, court, and community settings and respond outside normal working hours when serious incidents require victim assistance.
• Case Management & Documentation: Ability to manage multiple cases, maintain accurate documentation, track follow‑up needs and protect confidential information.
• Technology & Administrative Skills: Ability to effectively use computers, records systems, office software, and other technology necessary to document and coordinate services.

Education And Experience

• High School Diploma or GED equivalency
• Minimum of five years of experience involving direct public service, victim assistance, crisis response, law enforcement, emergency communications, social work, advocacy, community services, or a closely related field. (Experience should include regular interaction with individuals experiencing crisis, trauma, victimization, or other significant needs and require the use of sound judgment, discretion, and effective interpersonal communication.)
• An equivalent combination of relevant education, training, and experience may be considered.
• Valid NC Driver's License

Supplemental Information

Physical Requirements And Working Conditions

• Work in this position is generally sedentary work exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.
• Work typically involves the ability to physically perform the basic life operational functions of walking, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing and repetitive motions.
• Work necessitates visual acuity to determine the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of work assigned in preparing and analyzing figures, accounting, transcription, computer terminal viewing and extensive reading.
• Working conditions include inside environmental conditions.

Inclement Weather Classification: Non-Essential

FLSA Classification: Non-Exempt

It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.*

This job description in no way implies that the duties listed are the only ones the employee may be required to perform. The employee is expected to perform other tasks, duties, and training as requested by their supervisors.

Benefits for full-time employees of the City of Burlington (with the exception of full-time sworn police officers) are as follows:

• Paid vacation and sick leave
• Ability to transfer North Carolina local government earned sick leave.
• Paid holidays for New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Good Friday, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas
• Enrollment in the Local Government branch of the North Carolina State Retirement System
• Enrollment in Empower 401k
• Health and dental insurance coverage for employee and children; spouses may be added to the policy if they are not offered coverage at their own place of employment
• Voluntary enrollment in a Flexible Spending Plan
• Life insurance
• Long-term insurance
• Other voluntary insurances and deferred compensation plans