The City of Takoma Park Police Departmentincludesapproximately40 sworn officers and 30 civilians, thatare as diverse as the community we serve.We strive each day to provide excellent service and a high level of responsiveness to our residents and everyone with whom we work. We arecurrently seeking a a full-time Victim Witness Coordinator to provide timely support, advocacy, accompaniment, information and referral to crime victims and witnesses so that they understand the criminal justice system and are aware of services. Successful performance contributes to the efficient and effective delivery of services to the victim of crimes and helps with investigation and prosecution.

Typical Duties include:

• Contacting victims via phone, mail, email or in person as soon as possible after an incident in order to ascertain immediate needs, providingcrisis intervention if necessary, providingsupport and information related to their rights and police and investigative procedures, coordinatingreferrals to other agencies for additional services as needed;
• ProvidingSpanish written and verbal translation services for victims and witnesses and for officers, detectives, and other employees;
• Conferringwith detectives and officers in order to provide information to victims regarding ongoing investigations;
• Accompanyingvictims to court proceedings;
• Advocatingon behalf of victims with department personnel, state and county agencies, and criminal justice agencies;
• Collectingevidence from officers in domestic violence cases for the State's Attorney's Office;
• Trainingand updatingpersonnel on victim-related issues;
• Respondingto crime scenes to assist with translation or to provide support to victims, witnesses or family members; assistingdetectives with victim interviews;
• Drafting,updating,and translatingcorrespondence and victim-related brochures and fact sheets;
• Assistingwith organization and staffing of informational tables at community events;
• Orderingoffice and evidence collection supplies for the Criminal Investigation Division;
• Maintaininga court subpoena calendar for officers;
• Relayinginformation to the State's Attorney's Office when a conflict or issue(s) exist in a case;
• Performing related duties.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Any combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job;
• Valid driver's license.

Preferred candidates may possess the following:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Criminal Justice, Social Work, Psychology or a related field;
• Two to three years of progressively responsible related experience;
• Victim Assistant Certification is a plus.
• Bilingual Capabilities - Highly competitive candidates will be proficient in verbal and written Spanish.
  

The salary for this position is gradedbetween $28.38 and $33.43 per hour,and will be offered at a level consistent with the experience and qualifications of the candidate.

We offer a highly competitive benefits package, including 100% paid premiums of medical, dental, and vision insurance for employee only coverage, and 80% paid premiums for dependent benefit coverage.

A first review of resumes is expected to begin on April 20, 2022, butthe position will remain open until filled.

Please note thatfor all City staff, and will be confirmed with other pre-employment screenings once an offer has been extended.

The City of Takoma Park is a small jurisdiction in Montgomery County, Maryland bordering the District of Columbia and Prince George's County. Inhabited by a diverse and politically active population of 17,000 residents, Takoma Park is known for its progressive policies, historic tree-lined neighborhoods, and independent businesses. We are proud to be a workforce of almost 200 full-time and part-time employees that are as diverse as the community we serve. We strive to maintain excellent customer service and responsiveness to our residents and everyone we work with. It is with this in mind that we seek to improve by championing quality and efficiency through a dedicated workforce and cooperative spirit.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We strive to be a diverse workforce that is representative of the residents we serve and the area in which we live. We are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment where employees of diverse backgrounds can thrive and make a positive impact in the services we provide.