Victim Witness Advocate
Job Description
Victim Witness Advocates are primarily responsible for providing information, support, and advocacy services to victims, witnesses and their families throughout the criminal justice process. The primary goal of the Victim Witness Bureau is to reduce the level of secondary injury associated with the aftermath of crime and to aid in the prosecution of criminal cases by ensuring that crime victims and witnesses are provided with the entitlements and services mandated by the Massachusetts Victim Bill of Rights (M.G.L. c. 258B), and those additional services provided as a policy of the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office's Victim Witness Service Bureau within the office of the Middlesex District Attorney.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Orient and explain to victims, witnesses, and family members the court process and their rights throughout that process
- Court accompaniment for victims, witnesses and family members
- Crisis intervention for victims, witnesses, and family members who are in need as a result of their victimization
- Provide written and verbal notification to victims and witnesses regarding arrests, arraignments, pre-trial conferences, motions, hearings, grand jury appearances, trials, defaults, dispositions, restitution hearings, sentencing and appellate proceedings
- Assess and evaluate victim needs and assist with referrals for appropriate services such as: shelter, mental health counseling, peer support groups, emergency financial assistance, protection, and relocation
- Provide formal and informal education and training to criminal justice and community agencies regarding victim rights and victim witness services
- Participate/ facilitate in community round tables
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in related field and experience in social services or criminal justice
- Outstanding interpersonal skills and workplace etiquette
- Ability to work well in a high pressure environment with multiple deadlines while maintaining a high level of quality
- A sincere interest in the public sector, the work of the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, an overall understanding of the Criminal Justice System
- The sensitive and confidential nature of our work requires strong personal character, integrity, judgment and maturity
- A general knowledge of office practices and legal principles
- A valid Massachusetts driver’s license preferred, as limited travel within the Greater Boston area and across Middlesex County may be required from time to time
- A background check is required
October 2018