Victim/Witness Assistant

Montgomery County PA; Norristown (Montgomery County); On-site; USD 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Montgomery County PA DA's Office is hiring a Victim/Witness Assistant to provide direct services to crime victims and witnesses. The role focuses on post-trial notifications, advocacy in prosecutions, and assisting with services and court matters.

The assistant maintains victim data, supports coordination with the Restitution and Parole processes, and may cover coordinator duties when needed. Qualifications include knowledge of the criminal justice system, victim/witness laws, strong

Qualifications

• Knowledge of Criminal Justice System.
• Victim/Witness Legislation.
• Office organization skills.
• Computer skills.
• Good oral and written communication skills.
• Compassion, empathy and understanding to victims.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Maintains confidentiality.
• Act 33 clearance.
• Act 34 clearance (Criminal background).

Responsibilities

• Notify victims of case dispositions, parole, and restitution where applicable.
• Advocate for victims during prosecution and court proceedings.
• Provide information on services for victims' needs.
• Accompany victims to court when required.
• Maintain computerized victim database for notifications.
• Attend to duties of Victim/Witness Coordinator as needed.
• Participate in required orientations and trainings.

Skills

Criminal justice knowledge

Victim/witness law

Office organization

Computer skills

Communication skills

Compassion & empathy

Stress tolerance

Confidentiality

Act 33 clearance

Act 34 clearance

Tools

PMS database

Job description

This position was created to meet the requirements of ACT 96 and all subsequent victim/witness legislation contacting mandates for the District Attorney’s Office to provide direct services only to victims and witnesses of crime by adult offenders. This person is primarily responsible for providing victims with post-trial notifications such as case dispositions, parole release, and awarded restitution amounts, if applicable. This person also advocates on behalf of the victim regarding any issues they may have during the prosecution of a case. The Victim/Witness Assistant shall assist the victim with information on services available to address their needs. Victims of personal injury and burglary crimes will be afforded the right to be accompanied to any court proceeding by the Victim/Witness Assistant. This person also maintains a computerized victim database through which victims are contacted and notified of significant aspects of their case specifically as it relates to post-sentencing. This person also performs all other RASA related duties as assigned by the Victim/Witness Coordinator. In addition, the Victim/Witness Assistant must be able to pick up the responsibilities and job duties of the Victim/Witness Coordinator at any given time. The Victim /Witness Assistant must attend PCCD’s Orientation for New Victim Service Providers within the first six months of the hire and must attend 10 hours of training annually as required by the Grant.

• Notifies victims of the details surrounding the terms and conditions of an offenders sentence.
• Processes pre-release and parole considerations notices from PA Board of Probation and Parole.
• Attend Parole Hearings when Victim/Witness Coordinator is unable.
• Provides advocacy and/or education inside and outside of the courtroom when a victim or their family attends a court matter.
• Receives incoming calls from victims/witnesses and provides appropriate information.
• Assist with property return for seized property for prosecution.
• Tracks statistics in compliance with RASA requirements.
• Updates victim/witness contact information in PMS database.
• Process Restitution forms if Restitution Coordinator is unable.
• Process Incoming Mail.
• File all sentencing notifications.
• Performs other duties as may be assigned by Victim Witness Coordinator.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.

• Knowledge of Criminal Justice System.
• Victim/Witness Legislation.
• Office organization skills.
• Computer skills.
• Good oral and written communication skills.
• Compassion, empathy and understanding to victims.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Maintains confidentiality.
• Act 33 clearance.
• Act 34 clearance (Criminal background).

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands or arms; and stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision and depth perception.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristic described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential function of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.