JOB TITLE: VICTIM ASSISTANCE COORDINATOR

JOB CODE: 44651

SERIES NATURE OF WORK: The Victim Assistance job series describes advocacy work in providing a variety of support services to crime victims.

DEFINITION: This is professional social service and public advisory work in the implementation and delivery of victim advocacy and notification services in the Department of Corrections (DOC) and/or PA Board of Probation and Parole (PBPP).

An employee in this job is responsible for performing victim advisory work in accordance with crime victims’ rights laws in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (COPA) and regulations of the Office of Victim Advocate (OVA), which mandates the registration, notification, and advocacy for crime victims, victims’ families, and victim care providers. Work involves crisis intervention; registration of crime victims with the OVA; notifying crime victims of offenders who are pending pre-release, have escaped or been recaptured, and execution dates; soliciting and reviewing comments of crime victims for inclusion in the decision-making process; providing information and assistance to crime victims during the post-sentencing process; preparing petitions by the Commonwealth’s Victim Advocate on behalf of the crime victims to deny parole or set conditions of parole for presentation to the PBPP; providing assistance to crime victims through referrals to support and assistance programs available to them; and assisting with the development of crime victim policies and procedures. Work involves contact with crime victims, victims’ families, state and local victim service agencies and organizations, law enforcement, DOC, and PBPP staff. Work is performed with considerable independence and is reviewed by an administrative supervisor through conferences, reports, and discussions with crime victims.

EXAMPLES OF WORK (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.):

• Performs crime victim notification and identification in accordance with Act 2 of 1995, Act 8 of 1995 Special Session, and Act 155 of 1992.

• Registers crime victims in the OVA database to include victim statements and requests for protective notification.

• Advises crime victims of their rights and provides advice and assistance regarding their role in the offender parole decision-making processes.

• Provides direct accompaniment, preparation, and support to crime victims through the In-Person Victim testimony process.

• Ensures that crime victims are informed of pending parole hearings for inmates incarcerated in state or county correctional facilities and decisions involving offender programs, such as State Intermediate Punishment (SIP) or boot camp.

• Provides notification to crime victims, victims’ families, or victim care providers as identified by law, policy, or procedure.

• Assists crime victims’ preparation of their statements to the DOC and PBPP.

• Provides outreach to crime victims as directed by the Commonwealth’s Victim Advocate or Victim Assistance Director.

• Represents the interests of crime victims within the COPA through the development of agency policies and procedures.

• Assists in the coordination of training and training materials for victim witness coordinators in county District Attorney’s offices on the operation and procedures of the OVA and victim rights and services in the post-sentencing process.

• Provides support and assistance to crime victims who elect to witness an execution to include notification of execution date, pre-execution briefing, crisis intervention and support, and post-execution debriefing.

• Assists the Victim Assistance Director and/or Victim Assistance Supervisor in the development and implementation of training for DOC and PBPP staff on victim issues.

• Assists the Victim Assistance Director and/or Victim Assistance Supervisor in the development and implementation of a victim offender dialogue program to include providing support and information to crime victims interested in a dialogue with the offender, conducting facilitator training, and maintaining referral lists.

• Provides on-call services for escape and recapture notifications to registered crime victims 24 hours a day.

• Assists with oversight and management of the Impact of Crime Class (ICC) for inmates in all state correctional facilities to include maintaining the curriculum, providing assistance to crime victims who agree to participate in the program, and providing support and information to correctional staff involved in the program.

• Attends coalition meetings and other victim service agency meetings as directed by the Commonwealth’s Victim Advocate or Victim Assistance Director.

• Performs the full range of supervisory duties.

• Employees in this job may participate in the performance of subordinates’ work consistent with operational or organizational requirements.

• Performs related work as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of the criminal justice system related to court sentencing, prisons, and parole processes.

• Knowledge of state and federal legislation related to crime victims’ rights and governmental responsibilities.

• Knowledge of crime victims’ support programs, strategies, techniques, and methods.

• Knowledge of crisis intervention techniques and methods.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of victim advocacy.

• Ability to analyze and interpret rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES (NOTE: These are expected of an employee performing the work of this job at the full performance level. These may not be evaluated by the State Civil Service Commission or used for Civil Service examination purposes and are not position-specific performance standards.):

• Knowledge of Act 2 of 1995, Act 8 of 1995 Special Session, and Act 155 of 1992 related to crime victims’ rights and governmental responsibilities.

• Knowledge of OVA roles and responsibilities by law and familiarity with agency policies and procedures.

• Ability to read and comprehend policies, rules, and procedures of the OVA and apply them in emotionally charged situations.

• Ability to prepare and present training to staff members on victims’ rights issues.

• Ability to travel extensively throughout the Commonwealth to accompany crime victims to various events in and out of a state correctional facility and maintain coordination with agencies involved with crime victims’ services.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING (NOTE: Based on the Entry Level Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities):

• Two years of professional social service, counseling, or crisis intervention experience involving crime victim services, one of which must include direct services to crime victims, and a bachelor’s degree in sociology, counseling, psychology, or a related area;

or

• An equivalent combination of experience and training which includes two years of professional social service, counseling, or crisis intervention experience involving crime victim services, one of which must include direct services to crime victims.