DETENTION CENTER - Victim's Advocate

To assist primary and secondary victims, as well as witnesses of crimes that occur in Horry County.

• Provides appropriate personnel with the name of the victim advocate who will be available for callout each day/weekend. • Provides assistance to victims in which there is a death, serious injury or serious emotional trauma to the victim or the victim's family. • Provides immediate and temporary crisis counseling to primary, and if necessary, secondary victims and witnesses. • Assists the immediate needs of the victim. • Refers to appropriate community service organizations and agencies. • Assists community agencies and organizations in working with victim/witnesses. • Assists victim/witnesses through the criminal justice system. • Assists officers and detectives to provide assistance and information on cases. • Assists victims in filing for compensation from the State Bureau of Crimes Compensation and Victim/Witness Services. • Serves as a liaison for the victim within the Department. • Submits supplemental reports on cases when appropriate. • Maintains a log of all cases in which involved. • At no time will confidential information pertaining to a victim or a victim's case be presented to or discussed with anyone not officially involved in the case. • Transports victim/witnesses when necessary and the case load permits. • Provides appropriate assistance to victim/witnesses who have been threatened or who, in the judgment of the agency, express specific, credible reasons for fearing intimidation or further victimization. • Contacts victim/witness on a periodic basis if it appears that the impact of the crime has been unusually severe. • Acts as a liaison with other criminal justice agencies and institutions concerned with victim/witness needs. • Trains sworn and non-sworn personnel about the existence and function of the program at least once every two (2) years. • Trains sworn and non-sworn personnel who have contact with victim/witnesses about the rights and needs of victim/witnesses under current policies. • Assures victim/witnesses are advised of the status of their cases, including the arrests and release of suspects, as possible. • Assists in the notification of the family when an employee is killed or seriously injured in the line-of-duty and all Class I, II, III procedures, consistent with written directives. • Assists the family at the hospital, funeral and/or with legal and benefit matters. • Maintains a long-term contact with the family to assist in any way. • The intent of this class description is to provide a representative summary of the types of duties and responsibilities that would be required of classifications given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Incumbent may be required to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this job description. Knowledge of: • Laws and regulations related to victim/witness' rights, the criminal justice system; Superior, District and Juvenile Courts procedures; local support and health services; principles and practices of victim advocacy services and accessing resources including crisis intervention services. • Relevant court mandates, laws, rules and regulations pertaining to confinement in a juvenile detention center and as applied to juvenile detainee rights. • Department policies, rules, regulations, procedures and division functions. • Principles, practices, methods, techniques, and equipment used in juvenile detention facilities. • Human behavior as it relates to juveniles, including various social, economic and cultural backgrounds. • Search, transportation and restraint procedures. • Principles and practices of leadership, supervision and training. • Methods of providing counseling to juveniles. • Law enforcement and public relations activities. • Legal and juvenile court procedures. Ability to: • Deal with victims/witnesses in a compassionate and non-judgmental manner. • Maintain high level of confidentiality. • Establish and maintain effective working relationships with other City employees. • Maintain liaison with other criminal justice agencies and institutions concerned with victim/witness needs. • Be on call 24 hours a day, seven (7) days a week and to be available for a call to any crisis in which an officer or detective needs assistance with the victim or a victim's family.