Victim Witness Assistant Jobs in Silver Spring, MD

Who We Are 

The Commonwealth's Attorney's Office for Arlington County and the City of Falls Church is committed to transformative justice in the promotion of effective and evidence-based diversion programs, racial justice, and victim services.  

We are dedicated to pursuing justice and protecting the rights and safety of citizens of the County and its visitors. As part of that mission, we work to enhance public safety and welfare through the vigorous enforcement of criminal laws in a fair, compassionate, ethical and just manner. We maintain a pro-active role in our community by working to prevent crime in addition to its mandate to prosecute with integrity, equality and excellence. We serve Arlington County, the City of Falls Church, and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.  

We are looking for two grant-funded Victim Witness Program Assistants to provide administrative support to the Victim Witness Program staff and informational support and guidance to victims of crime, some who speak Spanish and may have difficulty communicating in English. 
 

What You Will Do 

As a member of our diverse and committed team, you will be:  

• Providing direct support to victims of crimes including contacting victims to explain legal and courtroom procedures, accompanying victims to court, assisting in filing claims with the Virginia Victims Fund, and providing pertinent information on social service agencies and programs; 
• Serving as liaison with victims, prosecution, law enforcement, court officials and allied professionals; 
• Providing crisis intervention and referrals for supportive counseling to minimize the traumatic impact of crime and the criminal justice process; 
• Using the police department's database to obtain and review police reports to assist with preparing cases for trial;   
• Compiling information relevant to cases; 
• Assisting victims and providing information on their rights and on the court process; 
• Representing the Victim/Witness Program in community events and/or providing training on victim services; 
• Tracking cases and services provided to victims using the Client Information Management System (CIMS) and Prosecutor by Karpel (PBK) case management system; and 
• Performing administrative functions such as preparing court dockets, composing letters and narrative reports, filing, faxing, answering phones and ordering program supplies. 

These are a sampling of the many duties you will be called to perform as Victim Witness Program Assistant. 

Who You Are 

At a minimum, you are someone who possesses strong organizational, time management and communication skills (oral and written) and have the ability to work with a diverse population. 

• High school diploma or GED plus at least one year of experience providing direct client informational support in a criminal justice or court system environment and completion of a paralegal certificate program recognized by the American Bar Association. 

OR  

• Substitution: Additional experience in a legal office performing paralegal tasks may be substituted for the paralegal certificate program requirement. 

Preferably, we would like you to have experience: 

• Working in a restorative justice system; 
• Working in a fast-paced professional environment;  
• Using a case and docket management system 
• Using Prosecutor by Karpel (PBK) or a similar case management software  
• Using Microsoft Office Word and Outlook  
• Bilingual ability in English/Spanish. 

Special Requirements 

A pre-hire background check will be made on all candidates who are selected for employment. It may include checks of the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit history. You maywill be required to sign a release authorizing the County to obtain your background information. 
Applicant must possess, or obtain by time of appointment, a valid motor vehicle operator's license from the applicant's place of residence or willingness to use alternative modes of transportation. The applicant must authorize Arlington County to obtain, or the applicant must provide a copy of the applicant's official state/district driving record. An offer of employment may be contingent upon a favorable review of the applicant's driving record. 
Covid-19 Vaccination: Arlington County Government is committed to the health, safety, and wellness for all staff.  In support of that commitment, all current and newly hired employees are required to provide proof of Covid-19 vaccination. For those qualified employees with a disability or sincerely held religious belief which prohibits them from receiving a vaccine, you will be able to contact the Office of Human Rights to request a reasonable accommodation. Adherence to this policy is a condition of employment.  

Work hours: Full-time, Monday through Friday with flexibility for occasional evening and weekend hours as needed. Limited telework is available. 

THE OFFICE OF THE COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER THAT IS COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN THE WORKPLACE. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our agency. We encourage all to apply and make hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time. 

Benefits 

Arlington County Government employee benefits depend on whether a position is permanent, the number of hours worked, and the number of months the position is scheduled. 
Specific information on benefits and conditions of employment can be found on the Arlington County Human Resources Department website: https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Careers/2-Employee-Benefits. 
Permanent, Full-Time Appointments 
All jobs are permanent, full-time appointments unless otherwise stated in the announcement. The following benefits are available: 
Paid Leave: Vacation leave is earned at the rate of five hours biweekly. Leave accrual increases every three years until eight hours of leave are earned biweekly for twelve or more years of service. Sick leave is earned at the rate of four hours biweekly. There are eleven County-paid holidays in addiiton to four Non-County-paid holidays each year. . 
Health and Dental Insurance: Three group health insurance plans are offered - a network open access plan, a point-of-service plan, and a health maintenance organization. A group dental insurance plan is also offered. The County pays a significant portion of the premium for these plans for employees and their dependents. A discount vision plan is provided for eye care needs. 
Life Insurance: A group term policy of basic life insurance is provided at no cost to employees. The benefit is one times annual salary. Additional life insurance is available with rates based on the employee's age and smoker/non-smoker status. 
Retirement: The County offers three vehicles to help you prepare for retirement:  a defined benefit plan, a defined contribution plan (401(a)), and a deferred compensation plan (457).  The defined benefit plan provides a monthly retirement benefit based on your final average salary and years of service with the County.  You contribute a portion of your salary on a pre-tax basis to this plan.  General employees contribute 4% of pay; uniformed public safety employees contribute 7.5% of pay. Employees become vested in the plan at five years of service. The County also contributes to this plan.  
For general employees, the County also contributes 4.2% of pay to a defined contribution plan (401(a)) . The County also matches your 457 contribution, up to $20 per pay period, in this plan.  The 457 deferred compensation plan allows you to set aside money on either a pre-tax (457b) or post-tax (457 Roth) basis up to the IRS annual limit.  New employees are automatically enrolled with a pre-tax contribution equal to 2% of your base pay. 
Other Benefits: The County also offers health, dependent care, and parking flexible spending accounts; long-term care insurance; tuition assistance; transit and walk/bike to work subsidies; a college savings plan; wellness programs; training opportunities; and a variety of other employee benefits. 
Permanent, Part-Time Appointments: 
Part time employees who work ten or more hours per week receive paid leave and benefits in proportion to the number of hours worked per week. 
Limited Term Appointments: 
Benefits are the same as permanent appointments except that the employees do not achieve permanent status. 
Temporary Regular Appointments: 
Temporary regular employees who work 30 hours or more per week are eligible for health, dental, and basic life insurance as described above.  They are also eligible for vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays. 

Temporary Seasonal and Occasional Appointments:  
Temporary employees who work on a seasonal basis or variable hours receive sick leave, but do not normally receive other paid leave or benefits. Exceptions are noted in individual announcements.