Summary For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/. Responsibilities If selected for this position, you will join a well-respected team to serve as a Victim Witness Specialist for the United States Attorney's Office (USAO) for the Northern District of New York (NDNY) providing direct assistance and liaison services to crime victims and witnesses to facilitate prosecutions. Typical work assignments will include: Victim and Witness Assistance - Assessing the need for assistance, identifying resources, and providing referrals to crime victims, their families, and witnesses that may include crisis intervention, medical treatment, legal rights, emergency housing, employment services, and transportation assistance. Assisting United States Assistant Attorneys (AUSAs) in locating victims and witnesses, assessing their ability to testify in court proceedings, and making recommendations about potential challenges to successful court appearances. Assisting victims and witnesses to deliver testimony and prepare victim impact statements. Providing in-court support to victims and witnesses during and prior to hearings and trials, including courtroom orientation prior to testimony, facilitating consultations with AUSAs, and assessing safety concerns. Providing victims and witnesses with information about the criminal justice process and court proceedings, facilitating their understanding and expectations of the criminal process. Informing victims and witnesses of their rights under Federal law and assists victims with exercising those rights throughout the prosecution and of significant case events, such as charged offenses, trial, verdict, sentence, and probable date of release if the offender is convicted and confined. Informing victims of the various means to seek financial restitution and assisting them in completing required documents to access victim assistance funding or needed services. Collaboration with Law Enforcement, Victim Specialists, and Social Service Providers - Developing and maintaining relationships with law enforcement, victim specialists, and social service organizations at the local, state, and federal level to increase resources and services to serve crime victims and witnesses. Researching and developing partnerships that provide medical, psychological, legal, financial, shelter, childcare, and employment services. Coordinating with law enforcement and victim service providers to establish new victim assistance plans and share information on programs and services. Serving as a district representative on local, state, and national task forces, committees, and working groups for victim issues. Community Outreach - Conducting victim assistance workshops, seminars, presentations, and meetings with law enforcement personnel, Federal investigative agency victim specialists, state and local officials, and members of community organizations. Developing presentations tailored to different audiences based on specific communication needs and appropriate communication approaches, informational materials, and program literature. Speaking to public, civic, industry, and special interest groups about victim issues to develop and improve assistance programs. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications To be qualified at the GS-11 level, you must meet at least ONE of the following conditions, as defined below: Specialized Experience; Education; OR a Combination of Specialized Experience and Education. Specialized Experience: One (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least work at the GS-09 level in Federal service, which has equipped you with the competencies to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience is defined as experience performing following @types of duties: communicating with victims and witnesses to assess their needs; providing routine resource referrals to crime victims, their families, and witnesses; assisting victims by serving as a liaison with prosecutors; and supporting outreach and collaboration efforts with local, state, and Federal law enforcement, Federal investigative victim specialists, community organizations, and social service agencies. OR Education: One of the following @types of education in a related field (e.g., Criminal Justice; Criminology; Law; or Social Work): a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; OR three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; OR LL.M. 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 Combination of Specialized Experience and Education: A combination of specialized experience and successfully completed graduate education as described above may be used to meet total qualification requirements. In order to qualify based on a combination, graduate education must be in excess of two full years. 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/. Education All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see http://www.ed.gov OR Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to timely provide such evidence by submitting proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency with your application materials. More information may be found at http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation. Additional Information Payment of relocation expenses will not be authorized. The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; telework; life insurance; health benefits; and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See http://www.sss.gov/. Reasonable Accommodation Statement: Federal Agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities, where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. EEO Statement: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. Political Appointees (Current or Former): The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.
