VICTIM ADVOCATE chez Seminole County Sheriff's Office, FL

About the Department

Position Duties

Reviews incident and arrest reports to identify victims of crime.

Provides crisis intervention services to crime victims.  Maintains on-call status and responds to crime scenes as needed.  Provides follow-up contact with victims and provides assistance in completing Victims Crime Compensation Applications.

Provides victim advocate support services to other law enforcement agencies in Seminole County as needed.

Assists in recruiting, training and coordination of volunteers used in providing support and assistance to the victims of crimes. Develops written information regarding program components. Maintains accurate and complete records of individual statistics.

Assists in the development and presentation of community programs to the public for the purpose of identifying victims of crime.  Maintains and develops coordination between the Sheriff's Office and community-based organizations which provide services to victims of crime.

Provides criminal justice support and advocacy as well as information and referral services to victims of crime.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice, Social Work or a closely related field
• Consideration may be given to equivalent combination of related training, education and experience
• Internal applicants must have completed the Seminole County Sheriff's Office one (1) year probationary period
• Must possess and maintain a valid Florida Driver's License

Other Qualifications

Regular and prompt attendance is mandatory in the performance of an employee's duties for this position, to include scheduled work hours, and required training activities, calls for mandatory overtime needs and calls for service during times of an emergency. 

Knowledge of County geography.  Knowledge of Florida Statutes in reference to victim/witness assistance. Knowledge of community resources to assist victims. Ability to demonstrate ethical and professional behavior; analyze information or situations; synthesize information and/or circumstances; and solve problems.  Ability to recall facts and/or information; describe persons, things, and/or events.  Ability to read and comprehend.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The work environment is an office atmosphere although the incumbent is frequently required to meet with victims at crime scenes or at a hospital/medical facility.

PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES REQUIREMENTS 

Mobility-Frequent sedentary work; constant use of a computer

Visual-Constant overall vision; constant color perception, constant eye-hand coordination; constant depth perception; frequent reading/close-up work; constant field of vision/peripheral

Dexterity-Frequent repetitive motion and reaching; Foot and hand coordination

Hearing/Talking-Constant requirement to hear normal speech; constant hearing on telephone and radio; ability to hear faint sounds; constant talking on telephone/radio

Emotional/Psychological- Potential contact with hostile individuals; exposure to emergency situations; may be exposed to trauma, grief and death; frequent public contact; decision-making and concentration

Special Requirements-Ability to behave respectably and with utmost integrity even when off duty. Work may including working weekends, nights, holidays, and/or overtime; May be required to respond for any critical incident, manmade or natural