Victim Witness Case Manager (Bilingual - Spanish)

The Dane County District Attorney's Office in Madison, Wisconsin, is recruiting for a full-time (1.0 FTE) Victim Witness Case Manager (Bilingual - Spanish) position. This position is designated as bilingual and candidates will be tested in Spanish and English during the recruitment process. Employees who work in bilingual designated positions receive an additional $2.00 per hour (not reflected in the above hourly rate).

The Eligibility List created may be used to fill future vacancies over the next six (6) months.

COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND INCLUSION

As an employer, we strive to provide a work environment where diversity and differing opinions are valued, creativity is encouraged, continuous learning and improvement are fostered, teamwork and open/honest communication are encouraged, and meeting customer needs through quality service is a shared goal. All employees must be able to demonstrate multicultural competence – the awareness, knowledge, and skills needed to work with others who are culturally different from self in meaningful, relevant, and productive ways. Applicants from traditionally underrepresented populations including women, racial and ethnic minorities, and persons with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.

DEFINITION

Under general direction in the District Attorney's Victim/Witness Unit, this classification provides direct services to crime victims and witnesses in both the juvenile and adult criminal court systems consistent with victim’s rights as defined in the Wisconsin Constitution and State Statutes. Some positions may provide victim-centered, healing restorative justice (RJ) services to victims, witnesses and defendants.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

This section lists several duties, but not all Victim/Witness Case Managers perform all the duties that are listed nor do they work in all crime categories. Duties and specialization are dependent upon work assignment.

Deliver trauma-informed services to crime victims and witnesses in a culturally respectful, compassionate and multidisciplinary matter. Notify and educate crime victims and witnesses of their legal rights. Provide advocacy for crime victims and witnesses. Consult and safety plan with victims’ pre-charge. Notify crime victims of court hearings and the purpose of each hearing. Confer with victims about case declines and continuances, their desired protection orders and case outcomes. Assist victims with requesting restitution and filing Crime Victim Compensation applications and victim impact statements. Prepare crime victims and witnesses to testify. Court accompaniment. Refer to community services and resources. Notify victims of case disposition and post-conviction victim rights and services. Consult with prosecutors regarding victim behaviors and secondary trauma, charging decisions, trial strategy and desired outcomes. Assist prosecutors with trial preparation and organization of witnesses. Facilitate restorative justice (RJ) outcomes including but not limited to victim offender dialogs. Serve as a RJ resource to prosecutors. Attend forensic interviews of child victims and witnesses and participate in child abuse case reviews. Attend community meetings and professional trainings that address current issues and challenges crime victims’ experience. Conduct professional and community trainings. Maintain excellent and diligent paperless documentation of services provided.

Education, Training and Experience:

Must possess a Bachelor’s degree in social work, human services, criminal justice, or a closely related field. Individuals with a Bachelor’s degree must also possess at least two (2) years of professional experience working with crime victims. OR: Individuals with a Master’s Degree in social work, human services, criminal justice, or a closely related field must also possess at least six (6) months of professional experience working with crime victims.

Must have a valid driver’s license, or access to reliable personal transportation, or equivalent. Must be able to work irregular hours, beyond 40 hours per week if needed. Also refer to the “Physical and Environmental Work Requirements” section below.

Background Check Statement: Some positions may require a criminal background check which can include fingerprinting due to the nature of the job’s responsibilities. Wisconsin’s Fair Employment Law, s. 111.31 – 111.395, Wis. Stats., prohibits discrimination because of an arrest or conviction record.  However, Dane County may disqualify an applicant if the position’s responsibilities are substantially related to the applicant’s criminal history (e.g., the nature of the crime and its relationship to the position, whether hiring, transferring or promoting an applicant would pose an unreasonable risk to the business, its employees, customers and vendors, etc.) Management reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

For Bilingual Positions:

1. Provide services in both English and the required foreign language (e.g., Spanish, Arabic, Hmong, etc.).
2. Applicants being considered for bilingual positions will be tested during the recruitment process prior to employment. This will primarily consist of passing an oral language proficiency assessment from English to foreign language and foreign language to English, but may require additional language testing, such as written translation, if it is an essential function of the job.

*If applicable, individuals may confirm with the Employee Relations Division whether results of bilingual language certifications/examinations they currently hold qualify them for the position’s bilingual designation.

Physical and Environmental Work Requirements:

Ability to use hand and wrist motions; see and hear within normal ranges with or without adaptive devices; sit at a desk or in court for long periods; and physically navigate to a number of courts and court floors. Ability to work in an environment that utilizes a facility dog. The environment is a highly collaborative, high energy and fast-paced law office employing approximately 100 professional employees.

Knowledge of the special needs and challenges of crime victims. Knowledge of, or demonstrated interest in, the criminal justice and juvenile justice systems. Knowledge of community resources. Ability to perform duties in a multidisciplinary environment with trauma-informed approaches and respect for cultural diversity. Ability to work independently and in multidisciplinary teams. Ability to maintain accurate records and effectively communicate with others orally and in writing. Ability to triage a high caseload and endure sensitive, tragic and sometimes violent and graphic case details. Ability to work with trauma and grief. Ability to work with sensitive crimes including, homicide, serious injury, violent assaults, child sexual assault and abuse. Ability to separate personal trauma from work performance.