Crime Victims’ Advocates provide crisis intervention and assistance for victims of crime to protect victims’ rights and prevent further injury or escalation. They strive to reduce or alleviate trauma and victimization, as well as provide long-term solutions to complex problems. Crime victims’ advocates also help the victim coordinate services by utilizing existing resources and providing administrative support to navigate through the criminal justice system. The goal is to effectively reduce recidivism and guide victims through the recovery process.

• Act as the Department’s crime victim liaison as required by law.
• Provide and coordinate public education for community groups and in-service training for police department employees regarding social issues, services, and programs.
• Actively assist in the identi?cation of at-risk juveniles and families, then provide information and referrals regarding social services and programs.
• Interview juveniles and families following adjudication of criminal cases to develop long-term intervention strategies.
• Maintain a working knowledge of available public and private social services.
• Prepare progress and activity reports as requested.
• Maintain and update hard copy and computer ?les as needed.
• Provide supportive counseling, case management, crisis intervention, crisis management, grief/bereavement/loss counseling, death noti?cations and resource material.
• Make referrals to support agencies as necessary.
• Help coordinate emergency transportation (Hospital, Women's Center, social services agencies etc.)
• Assist in ?ling crime victims’ compensation claims.
• Assist in obtaining protective orders.
• Assist victims by phone or in person to: .
  • Liaison with Detectives or Police Officers.
  • Seek information concerning the status of their case.
  • Navigate through the criminal justice system as requested.
• Provide crisis intervention to the homeless, drug and alcohol offenders, and those with mental health disorders.

• Bachelor’s Degree in a mental health field.
• Valid Texas driver’s license.

Preferred:

• Licensed Social Worker, Licensed Professional Counselor, or Licensed Family Therapist.
• Experience in crisis intervention and/or psychotherapy; or experience working with survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and/or those with mental health disorders.
• Experience in the criminal justice field.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish.

• Skill in providing and coordinating public education for community groups.
• Skill in providing social services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, runaways and their families, at-risk youth, families in crisis, suicidal persons, surviving family members of suicides, and making death noti?cations.
• Skilled in providing short term (up to six sessions) individual, marital, family counseling, crisis intervention, bereavement counseling, and supportive guidance services for individuals and families in the community.
• Availability to work in an on-call capacity to provide 24/7 emergency assistance
• Ability to serve as victims’ liaison as required by law.
• Skill in providing in-service training for police o?cers and employees regarding social issues, services, and programs.
• Skill in providing critical incident stress debrie?ng for police, ?re o?cials, and their families.
• Ability to identify and interview at-risk juveniles and families following adjudication of criminal cases and develop intervention strategies to prevent recidivism.
• Skill in assisting elderly family members who are the victims of abuse.
• Skilled in working with local universities by coordinating and supervising social work interns and practicum students.
• Ability to develop counseling programs for couples in con?ict/distress. Skilled in developing partnerships with social service providers and governmental agencies to develop and implement programs for citizens in the community.
• Ability to provide mutual aid assistance to surrounding law enforcement agencies when requested.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Constantly -2/3 or more of the time
• Sitting, hearing, talking, and vision
• Frequently – 1/3 to 2/3 of the time
• Fine dexterity, walking, carrying, reaching, handling, foot controls and twisting
• Occasionally – Up to 1/3 of the time
• Standing and lifting
• Rarely – Less than 1 hour per week
• Crawling, kneeling, pushing/pulling, climbing, balancing and crouching