Victim Witness Specialist

Summary

For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/. As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement. Salary contains multiple steps. In most cases, the salary is set at the minimum salary for the grade applicant(s) is selected. This position is also being announced to applicants eligible to apply through Merit Staffing procedures under 27-CAE-13081466-MS.

Duties

As a Victim Witness Specialist, you will provide a variety of services related to the victim witness program. You will receive formal and/or on-the-job training as needed. Duties include: Identifying resources and providing referrals to crime victims, their families, and witnesses. Providing information to victims on schedule changes, status of defendant's pleas, and results of trial. Providing in-court support to victims and witnesses during and prior to hearings and trials. Speaking to public, civic, industry and special interest groups on victim's issues. Collaborating with law enforcement personnel, Federal investigative agency victim specialists and social service providers. Responding to victim inquiries, assessing concerns, and determining program eligibility for victim-witness services. Assisting crime victims in completing applications and required documents to access victim assistance funding or needed services; Coordinating and managing victim notifications, restitution claims, and other pertinent case information; Conducting victim assistance workshops, seminars, and presentations. Reviewing literature on victim witness issues. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.

Qualifications

Note: In order to be considered "qualified" for this position, your specialized experience must be described in your resume. Please be sure that your resume clearly defines any and all of the specialized experience that you may have. If your specialized experience is not clearly detailed in your resume, you may not be considered for this position. The USAO cannot assume what duties were/are accomplished based on a job title. GS-9: To be eligible at the GS-9 level, you must meet at least ONE of the following conditions, as defined below: Specialized Experience, Education, OR a combination of Education and Experience. Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level. Specialized experience is defined as experience assisting with ongoing victim-witness communication needs; supporting victim advocacy communication and/or legal advocacy programs; collaboration with law enforcement personnel and/or social service organizations; and conducting and/or or providing assistance with workshops, seminars, presentations, and/or meetings. Education: One of the following types of education in a closely related field (e.g., Criminal Justice, Social Work, Psychology, Sociology): a LL.B. or J.D., if related; OR Master's or equivalent graduate degree or higher; OR 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree. Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. In order to qualify based on a combination, graduate education must be in excess of 1 full year. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)- The ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in the announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide proof of eligibility to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)-The CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Education

All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see http://www.ed.gov OR Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to timely provide such evidence by submitting proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency with your application materials. More information may be found at http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.