VICTIM ASSISTANCE SPECIALIST
What you'd do
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.
Major duties
The Victim Assistance Specialist will provide a variety of services to victims. Duties include: Assessing victims' immediate needs for assistance. Identifying resources that are available and provides referrals to crime victims and their families. Assisting AUSAs in locating victims and assessing their ability to testify in court proceedings. Providing attorneys with information regarding victims. Making recommendations to AUSAs about potential challenges to successful court appearances by victims. Providing in-court support to victims during and prior to hearings and trials, including courtroom orientation prior to testimony, facilitating opportunities for victims to consult with AUSAs prosecuting the case and locating a safe, separate waiting area apart from defendants and their counsel. Coordinating with Federal, state, and local law enforcement and victim service providers in establishing comprehensive assistance plans to support victims. Sharing information regarding new victim assistance programs and services. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.
What you need to qualify
GS-9: To be eligible at the GS-09 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-07 level in Federal service. Specialized Experience is defined as working directly with individuals who have experienced victimization - to include intimate partner/domestic violence, child exploitation (including cases involving sexual violence and child abuse imagery) and human trafficking; advocating on behalf of crime victims; providing information to victims regarding status of their cases and results of trials; providing in court support during hearings; obtaining services and assistance for victims. OR Education: One of the following types of education in a related field (e.g., Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Victimology, Criminal Justice): a Masters or equivalent graduate degree; OR 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; OR LL.B. or J.D., if related. Education at the graduate level must be in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position. OR 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. 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/.
Before you apply
Federal applications are different: your resume should be 3–5 pages and mirror the language of this announcement. Read our federal resume guide first — it's the #1 reason qualified people get screened out.
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