Victim Witness Program Assistant

The Commonwealth's Attorney's Office for Arlington County and the City of Falls Church is committed to transformative justice in the promotion of effective and evidence-based diversion programs, racial justice, and victim services.

We are dedicated to pursuing justice and protecting the rights and safety of citizens of the County and its visitors. As part of that mission, we work to enhance public safety and welfare through the vigorous enforcement of criminal laws in a fair, compassionate, ethical and just manner. We maintain a pro‑active role in our community by working to prevent crime in addition to our mandate to prosecute with integrity, equality and excellence.

We serve Arlington County, the City of Falls Church, and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

We are looking for two grant‑funded Victim Witness Program Assistants to provide administrative support to the Victim Witness Program staff and informational support and guidance to victims of crime, some who speak Spanish and may have difficulty communicating in English.

What You Will Do

As a member of our diverse and committed team, you will be:

• Providing direct support to victims of crimes including contacting victims to explain legal and courtroom procedures, accompanying victims to court, assisting in filing claims with the Virginia Victims Fund, and providing pertinent information on social service agencies and programs;
• Serving as liaison with victims, prosecution, law enforcement, court officials and allied professionals;
• Providing crisis intervention and referrals for supportive counseling to minimize the traumatic impact of crime and the criminal justice process;
• Using the police department's database to obtain and review police reports to assist with preparing cases for trial;
• Compiling information relevant to cases;
• Assisting victims and providing information on their rights and on the court process;
• Representing the Victim/Witness Program in community events and/or providing training on victim services;
• Tracking cases and services provided to victims using the Client Information Management System (CIMS) and Prosecutor by Karpel (PBK) case management system; and
• Performing administrative functions such as preparing court dockets, composing letters and narrative reports, filing, faxing, answering phones and ordering program supplies.

These are a sampling of the many duties you will be called to perform as Victim Witness Program Assistant.

Who You Are

At a minimum, you are someone who possesses strong organizational, time management and communication skills (oral and written) and the ability to work with a diverse population.

• High school diploma or GED plus at least one year of experience providing direct client informational support in a criminal justice or court system environment and completion of a paralegal certificate program recognized by the American Bar Association.

OR

• Substitution:
  Additional experience in a legal office performing paralegal tasks may be substituted for the paralegal certificate program requirement.

Preferably, we would like you to have experience:

• Working in a restorative justice system;
• Working in a fast‑paced professional environment;
• Using a case and docket management system;
• Using Prosecutor by Karpel (PBK) or a similar case management software;
• Using Microsoft Office Word and Outlook;
• Bilingual ability in English/Spanish.

Special Requirements

A pre‑hire background check will be made on all candidates who are selected for employment. It may include checks of criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit history. Candidates may be required to sign a release authorizing the County to obtain background information.

Applicant must possess, or obtain by time of appointment, a valid motor vehicle operator's license from the applicant's place of residence or willingness to use alternative modes of transportation. The applicant must authorize Arlington County to obtain, or provide a copy of the official state/district driving record. An offer of employment may be contingent upon a favorable review of the driving record.

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