Victim Advocate

Under the general supervision of the Victim Services & Restorative Justice Programs Manager, the Victim Advocate will provide victim advocacy and on-call support. This position works closely with victims and their families, witnesses, police officers, detectives and court personnel to provide victim assistance and advocacy services.  

The Victim Advocate will provide on-scene crisis intervention, follow up case management, individual and family support, information about the criminal justice system, information about Victim Rights, provide appropriate resources/referrals, and assists with program operations.  

The Town of Erie’s Police Department has a positive relationship with our community, and we are looking for someone who helps us uphold this reputation. We are looking for someone who has excellent communications skills, strong crisis intervention and de-escalation skills, and a deep passion for victim advocacy who can work autonomously with excellent judgment. 

Anticipated Work Schedule: Full-time; variable schedule 40-hour work week; may include overtime and remote work with supervisor approval.  

• Assumes on-call status including weeknights, weekends, and holidays. 

THIS POSTING WILL CLOSE 11:59PM ON MONDAY, 1/20/25. PLEASE ENSURE YOUR APPLICATION IS COMPLETE FOR CONSIDERATION. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  

Administrative 

• Provides victim assistance and advocacy services in the Town of Erie.  
• Provides initial and follow up contact with victims, victim’s family members and/or witnesses.  
• Reads and interprets police reports in order to identify the needs of the victims/witnesses involved.  
• Makes appropriate referrals to community-based resources/services to address any identified needs.  
• Assists victims and/or their families with victim compensation and financial assistance applications.  
• Explains criminal justice processes and procedures to victims; provides victims with updates to case status prior to filing.  
• Enters and maintains data for statistical and grant reporting; prepares reports documenting casework.  
• Researches and compiles lists of community resources available to victims; updates and maintains information provided to victims. 
• Provides training and guidance to volunteer victim advocates on policies, procedures, liability, and safety issues.  
• Assists with managing on-call schedules. 
• Attends meetings, workshops, and conferences as necessary for the maintenance of effective services.  
• Maintains confidentiality of information consistent with applicable federal, state, and city/county rules and regulations.  
• Performs other duties as assigned.  

Advocacy 

• On call is required. May be required to work overtime, weekends, and holidays.  
• Provides emergency support services, such as developing a safety plan or addressing immediate safety needs. 
• Assists victims in understanding and coping with their situations and contacting pertinent parties such as friends, family, health care professionals, law enforcement officers, attorneys, and service providers.  
• Ability to effectively use the Language Line when the primary language of the victim is not English. 
• Must be able to respond from time of call to location of incident within 30 minutes.  

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  

• Two (2) years experience in victim advocacy or related field  
• Associate’s degree in social work, criminal justice, psychology, or a related field, preferred 
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and proof of clean driving record 
• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite and ability to learn new database systems 
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills 
• Must adhere to agency guidelines and have a strong dedication to ethical standards at all times 
• Flexibility with scheduling: Must be able and willing to respond to crisis at any time 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, criminal justice, psychology, or a related field, preferred 
• Previous experience working with a police agency 
• Public speaking experience or ability to learn how to improve public speaking skills 
• Bilingual in Spanish 

A combination of education and experience may be considered. 

Interview Process will include: A Practical Role-Play Scenario, Oral Boards, and Interview with Chief. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES REQUIRED: 

Knowledge of: State of Colorado criminal justice system; State of Colorado Crime Victims’ Rights Act; knowledge of principles, practices, and techniques of crisis intervention; knowledge of community services available to crime victims and the ability to assist victims with appropriate resources.  

Skills in: Must have the ability to work on confidential tasks; ability to operate office equipment and various new technologies required; ability to intervene in crises, assessing victims’ needs and applying appropriate resources; ability to work effectively with the public and other employees; ability to work with a great deal of empathy, caring and tact; ability to understand and relate to diverse populations of people; ability to work a flexible, on-call schedule which may include evenings, weekends, and holidays; ability to work independently and as part of a team; ability to work with volunteers; self-motivated and able to work with very minimal supervision; strong relationship building, conflict resolution and mediation skills; excellent verbal communication skills, ability to be compassionate and non-judgmental with victims of crimes. 

Environmental Factors: 

Work is performed in a standard office environment with frequent traveling for meetings and on-scene call out responses. Special events may be in either indoor or outdoor settings. Frequent to constant use of a personal computer. Work will involve competing demands, performing multiple tasks, and working to deadlines. 

Physical Factors: 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, stand, and talk for extended periods and occasionally lift storage boxes of 20lbs or more. 

Town of Erie Benefits:  

The Town of Erie offers a comprehensive benefit package and pays a major portion of the employee premium to make these benefits more affordable for you. Coverage of these benefits begin the 1st of the month following date of hire for benefited employees regularly working an average of 30 hours per week. Each year you will have the option of changing your elections through open enrollment. Click here to learn more.  

Designated full time employees are eligible for the following benefits: 

• Robust Medical, Dental and Vision plans including spouse, domestic partner and family coverage options  
• Supplemental Accident, Critical Illness and Hospital Plans   
• Voluntary Life/AD&D  
• Employer paid Basic Life/AD&D  
• Employer paid Short- and Long-Term Disability  
• Employer paid Employee Assistance Program  
• Robust extended sick leave and family sick leave program  
• Up to 48 hours of Colorado Sick Leave preloaded on the 1st of every year (pro-rated if hired after the 1st of the year) 
• 3 ½ Weeks of Paid Time Off (PTO) per year (increases with years of service)  
• 40 hours of pre-loaded Paid Time Off (PTO) to each new employee upon hire  
• Fifteen (15) Paid Holidays  
• Twenty-Four (24) Hours of Paid Volunteer Leave  
• Up to 12 weeks of paid Parental Leave for bonding with a new child  
• Option to “sell back” PTO after two (2) years of continuous employment  
• 457 Retirement Plan, with a 5% employer match and immediate 100% vesting in your deferral contributions AND employer contributions  
• Education reimbursement up to $3,000 per year  
• Individual free membership to the Erie Community Center and steep discounts on couple or family memberships.   
• Employer sponsored wellness program, including employee-based fitness classes  
• Childcare benefits which includes 10% discount to any KinderCare location in Colorado 
• Half-off charging at town-owned EV charging stations  
• Pet Insurance  
• Employee Discount Program through Benefits Hub  
• Eligible for discount Dell Computer program   
• Onsite/virtual trainings for growth and development opportunities  

We are a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)-qualified employer!

EEOC Statement: 

The Town is dedicated to the principles of equal employment opportunity in any term, condition or privilege of employment. Applicants, employees and former employees are protected from employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age (40 or older), disability and genetic information (including family medical history), veteran status, marital status or any other status protected by federal, state or local law.  This prohibition includes unlawful harassment or discrimination based on any of these protected classes.  Unlawful harassment includes verbal or physical conduct, which has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual’s work performance or creating a severe, intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment. This provision applies to all employees, including directors, supervisors, co-workers, and non-employees such as residents, members of all boards and task force groups, contractors, vendors, consultants, etc.