Victim Witness Specialist

About us

The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for diverse public safety roles. From wildland firefighting, to operating the jail, to search and rescue, and community patrols, our public safety agency is ripe with opportunities for those seeking a fast-paced career with plenty of growth potential.

If you are called to serve, and rank public safety as your top career goal, you’ve come to the right place. Contact us to learn more about the immense ways our Sheriff’s Office contributes to public safety and community pride, within a family-oriented work environment. Sheriff John Feyen and his leadership team are excited to work with new recruits to ensure a seamless transition and achieve your law enforcement career goals.

Larimer County is located just north of Denver and is home to the Rocky Mountain foothills, national forests, roaring rivers, vibrant towns and cities, and prairies brimming with wildlife and the open blue sky. With the number of sunny days being higher than the national average, you'll find outdoors-loving locals enjoying hikes, rafting, fishing, cycling, mountain biking, camping, water sports, skiing, and snowshoeing.

Home to ranches, local breweries, and a nationally ranked research university, Larimer County attracts people for its quality of life and myriad recreational activities. Fort Collins, the County seat and largest urban area, was named #1 on Livability's 2020 Top 100 Places to Live. With good infrastructure and plenty of green space, Fort Collins is family-oriented and bike- and pedestrian-friendly.

One Agency, One Mission: Public Safety.

The Larimer County Sheriff's Office is seeking a compassionate advocate with strong communication skills to join our Victim Response Team as a Victim Witness Specialist.

Victim Witness Specialists provide state constitutional mandated services to victims and witnesses including critical event notification, referral for crisis intervention, and other related services. They act as a liaison between victims/witnesses and the criminal justice system.

**Preference may be given to Larimer County Sheriff's Office employees**

Responsibilities

The following statements are illustrative of the duties and responsibilities of the job. The organization retains the right to modify or change the duties and responsibilities of the job at any time.

Essential Functions

• Provides advocacy and immediate crisis intervention for victims of crime.
• Assesses immediate victim needs and provides referrals and follow-up services to victims, witnesses and their families.
• Ensures victims are aware of their rights under the Colorado Crime Compensation Act and the Colorado Law. May inform victims of rights to notifications post sentence.
• Informs victims on procedures for obtaining compensation for financial loss through restitution or Victim Compensation.
• Provides information on the civil process. May provide information to the victim on the types of supervision provided and services of the potential sentencing options being considered.
• Responds to requests of other Victim Specialists, attorneys and/or investigators; sets up and participates in meetings with victims as requested, provides transportation if needed, and attends, if needed, any or all stages of the criminal justice process with the victim/witness. May be responsible for the coordination of victims and witnesses at trial as well as assisting in tracking receipt of subpoenas.
• Advises victims of the policies and procedures pertaining to criminal protection orders and may advise victims of post sentencing notification rights; provides copies of orders to victim and collateral agencies.
• Refers victims to collateral agencies including community resources, law enforcement agencies, and legal resources as needed.
• Provides victims of crimes with victim impact statements and advises victims of their right to be heard at court proceedings, sentence hearings, and plea agreement acceptances; composes comprehensive memos that contain victims' recommendations and input.
• Maintains, composes, and compiles statistical records, verifies accuracy of records, and makes recommendations as needed; coordinates the processing of appropriate paperwork.
• Provides victim contact information or verification to employers, collateral agencies, or schools of victim and witness' involvement in a criminal case, when needed. May notify victims post sentence of status changes as defined by state law.
• May consult with victims regarding the charges filed, reduction of charges, negotiated pleas, dismissal of charges, or any other dispositions.
• Performs clerical functions in a criminal justice environment; may type case reports which may include profane language, distasteful or graphic portrayals, and in-depth descriptions of criminal conduct.
• Evaluates effectiveness of program; assesses the needs of the community and provides recommendations to meet those needs; assists in the development of new programs and procedures.
• May attend seminars, conferences, workshops, classes, lectures, etc., as appropriate, to enhance and maintain knowledge of trends and developments in field; reviews professional journals, may attend association and professional meetings, and otherwise maintains contacts with professionals to facilitate exchange of information.
• Assists in training for professionals in the criminal justice system volunteer advocates, peer educators, and the community at large.
• Provides on call coverage as needed. May be required to work shifts.
• Provides notification of changes in supervision status
• Obtains victims statements regarding sentencing and or disposition of the case to be presented to the courts
• Provides victims advocacy.
• May oversee volunteers and interns including recruitment, placement, and evaluation of volunteers for a department or division.

Nonessential Functions

• When a local declaration of emergency or disaster is declared by the Board of Commissioners, all Larimer County employees may be required to work as a Disaster Service Worker.
• Performs other duties as appropriate or necessary for performance of the job.

Qualifications

• Two (2) years of experience in a directly related field or in the performance of similar duties and responsibilities; public service experience, and experience working with victims and/or witnesses preferred.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Psychology, Sociology, Human Services, or a related field. Related education or experience may be substituted on a year for year basis.
• Possession of a valid Driver's License by date of hire required.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) skills preferred.

Benefits

Larimer County offers the following for all Regular/Limited Term positions:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Benefits.
• Flexible Spending Accounts / Health Savings Account
• Short and Long Term Disability.
• Employee Assistance Program
• Basic Life/Accidental Death & Dismemberment
• Accident Insurance
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Retirement Plan 401(a) with employer match.
• 457(b) Deferred Compensation.
• Paid time off including vacation, sick and holidays.

Schedule

32 hours per week with full benefits.

On call shifts are required - daytime and evening shifts, including weekends.

Hiring Process

• Complete the Online Application
• Pre-Employment Questionnaire
• Assessment Testing
• Oral Board Interview
• In-depth Background Investigation
• Polygraph Examination
• Captain's Interview
• Pre-Employment Medical and Drug Screen

An offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen and background check. As marijuana is an illegal substance under federal law, testing positive for marijuana (medical or otherwise) or any other substance for which the county tests will result in the contingent offer of employment being revoked. Successful completion of the drug screen is defined as obtaining a negative result.

Applicants must meet all of the following:

• Be legally authorized to work in the United States
• Cannot have a felony conviction
• No convictions involving domestic violence
• No use of illegal drugs within the past five years
• No use of marijuana in any form within the past two years

Recruitment Contact

If you have any questions, email Renee at coltonrg@larimer.gov or call 970-498-5127.

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Larimer County is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and prohibits discrimination and harassment in all employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity or expression, and sexual orientation), national origin, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, military status, or any other characteristic protected by law or regulation.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $25.07 - $30.08 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Evening shift
• Night shift
• On call
• Weekend availability

Work Location: In person

Salary : $25 - $30