Victim/Witness Specialist

This position provides assistance to victims of and witnesses to misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor crimes prosecuted by the City Attorney's Office. The Victim Witness Specialist will assist the office in fulfilling its duties to crime victims under the Minnesota Victim's Rights Act. This position requires frequent appearances in the Hennepin County Government Center and Public Safety Facility.

In your application or resume, please provide detailed descriptions of any related experience you have in social work, counseling, advocacy services, etc. Be sure to fully describe the duties you performed, your level of responsibility, and (if applicable) your proficiency level in Spanish / Somali, etc.
Resumes and cover letters are not required, but strongly encouraged

Work Location
This position may be eligible for flexible work arrangements, including hybrid work with some days working remotely and some days working in the office.

Salary Range:
Anticipated starting salary range $30.57-$42.41 Hourly, dependent upon qualifications.

The City of Minneapolis does not sponsor applicants for work visas

• Initiate and maintain contact with victims and non-law enforcement witnesses of crimes prosecuted by the City Attorney's Office.
• Attend court hearings as required.
• Obtain statements and physical evidence from victims and non-law enforcement witnesses.
• Accompany victims and non-law enforcement witnesses to court proceedings.
• Assist staff attorneys with prosecution throughout the court process
• Compile and record statistics as requested by the office.
• Provide victims and non-law enforcement witnesses referrals to appropriate community-based services when appropriate.
• Educate victims and non-law enforcement witnesses about the legal processes and procedures in criminal court cases.
• Obtain restitution information and documentation from victims for court proceedings.
• Fulfilling other duties as required to assist the office in meeting the requirements under the Minnesota Victim's Rights Act.

Working Conditions
Normal office setting - with some outside appearances in court and at other locations.

Minimum Qualifications
College Course Work in Social Work, Psychology, Sociology or equivalent related social sciences degrees. Bachelor's Degree Preferred.

Minimum Experience
Two (2) years of experience in the criminal justice or victim service field. Experience working with crime victims is preferred.

Equivalency
An equivalent combination of education and experience closely related to the duties of the position MAY be considered.

Desirable Qualifications -- Language
Bilingual skills in Spanish, Somali, Amharic, Oromo, Hmong, Vietnamese and/or Lao.

Desirable Qualifications - Cultural competency
Ability to relate and work effectively with people from diverse cultural, economic and ethnic backgrounds.

Selection Process
The selection process will consist of one or more of the following steps: a rating of relevant education and experience and/or an oral examination (100%). It is important that your application show all the relevant education and experience you possess. This information will be used to determine which candidates will proceed in the selection process. A submitted application is also used to verify the answers to any supplemental questions. Only those candidates who attain a passing score (70%) on each step in the selection process will be placed on the eligible list. The City of Minneapolis Human Resources Department reserves the right to limit the number in any phase of the selection process.

Background Check
The City has determined that a criminal background check and/or qualifications check may be necessary for certain positions with this job title. Applicants may be required to sign an informed consent form allowing the City to obtain their criminal history and/or verify their qualifications in connection with the position sought. Applicants who do not sign the informed consent form will not be further considered for the position.

Background Check (Police)
The City has determined that a thorough Minneapolis Police Department criminal background check is necessary for positions with this job title. Applicants must sign an informed consent allowing the City to obtain their criminal history information in connection with the position sought. Applicants who do not sign the informed consent form will not be considered for the position.

Union Representation
This position is represented by a collective bargaining agreement between the City of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Professional Employees Association. For more information on the terms and conditions of this agreement please visit: MPEA

Eligible List Statement
The names of applicants who meet minimum qualification and who pass the screening process shall be placed on the eligible list for employment consideration. This list will be certified to the hiring manager who may use the list to fill a vacancy of the same job title. This eligible list will expire two months after it has been established.

Interview Selection
The hiring authority reserves the right to determine the maximum number of candidates to interview from the established eligible list. If the hiring authority decides to interview other than by exam score order, they may select additional people to interview based on a candidate's education or experience related to the field, work history, or skills uniquely related to the operational needs of the position.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to perform productive witness interviews.
• Knowledge of social service agencies and contacts.
• Considerable knowledge of the criminal justice system.
• Ability to work under time deadlines and time constraints.
• Ability to work with difficult or uncooperative individuals.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of simple statistical analysis.

As the largest and most vibrant city in the state, Minneapolis depends on purposeful, dedicated and innovative employees. Minneapolis has a large variety of careers for people of all experiences and backgrounds who come together for a singular purpose-serving the residents, businesses and visitors of Minneapolis.

The City of Minneapolis is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer.

Employer

City of Minneapolis

Address

350 South 5th Street
Room 1
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55415

Phone

(612) 673-2282

Website

http://www.minneapolismn.gov/jobs

As the largest and most vibrant city in the state, Minneapolis depends on purposeful, dedicated and innovative employees. Minneapolis has a large variety of careers for people of all experiences and backgrounds who come together for a singular purpose-serving the residents, businesses and visitors of Minneapolis.

The City of Minneapolis is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer.