Personnel Department
VICTIM/WITNESS ASSISTANT
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: Work involves responsibility for aiding crime victims and witnesses in coping with the criminal justice system. Work is performed under direct supervision of the District Attorney or an Assistant District Attorney. Supervision is not a responsibility of this class. Performs related work as required.
TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES: (Illustrative only)
- Accompanies victims/witnesses to court, grand jury, police departments, and other locations related to the criminal action;
- Makes home and hospital visits to victims;
- Contacts victims to ascertain such things as extent of injury, amount of damages, medical treatment received, restitution, property returned, etc.;
- Provides assistance for victims in completing compensation claims and Crime Victims Board (CVB) affidavits;
- Confirms with complainants and victims court appearance dates and times, postponements or cancellations and status of cases;
- Obtains information for victims/witnesses such as prior criminal records, statements, medical reports, complainants’ depositions, and defendant’s dispositions;
- Advises victims of the release of defendants and assists victim with registration for VINE program, NYS Division of Parole, and Department of Corrections Services for notification to victim of defendant’s release;
- Responds to routine telephone inquiries from police agencies, Child Protective Services, Child Advocacy Center, Department of Social Services, etc., relating to pending or disposed of criminal matters;
- Responds to routine requests from other agencies such as Probation, Courts, District Attorney offices and the public concerning jurisdiction and court information;
- Performs a variety of related activities as required.
Typical Work Activities are intended only as illustrations of possible types of work that might be appropriately assigned to an incumbent of this title. Work activities that do not appear above are not excluded as appropriate work assignments, as long as they can be reasonably understood to be within the logical limits of the job.
FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: Familiarity with the criminal justice system; ability to relate to victims and witnesses with regard to negotiating the criminal justice system; good judgment; tact and courtesy.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Graduation from high school or possession of a comparable diploma, and two (2) years of paid work experience.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENT: Possession of a valid, unrestricted, appropriate level driver’s license, and acceptable driving record are required at time of appointment and must be maintained throughout employment.
9/99; 10/02; 10/04; 1/09; 10/24
Non-Competitive Class
[District Attorney’s Office]
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Mission Statement
Our mission is to administer, in a fair and equitable manner, the provisions of New York State Civil Service Law and Putnam County Civil Service Rules with respect to the offices and employments in the classified service of Putnam County and the civil divisions therein, which include the towns, villages, school districts, libraries and special districts.
It is Putnam County Personnel Department’s responsibility to ensure Putnam County taxpayers of a public workforce qualified for their jobs pursuant to the principles of selection according to merit and fitness as set forth in Article 5, §6 of the New York State Constitution.
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Paul Eldridge
Personnel Officer