Victim Advocate I/II - District Attorney's Office (Open and Promotional)
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Victim Advocate I/II - District Attorney's Office (Open and Promotional)
Salary
$74,339.20 - $109,657.60 Annually
Location
Redwood City, CA
Job Type
Regular
Job Number
G114J
Department
District Attorney's Office
Opening Date
02/18/2026
Closing Date
3/3/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Bargaining Unit
08
Description
Benefits
Questions
Description
Challenge yourself to make a positive impact on your community and support victims of crime!
The County of San Mateo District Attorney's office is looking for passionate individuals that value diversity to join their existing team of dedicated experts in providing support and advocacy to victims of crime. As a Victim Advocate working in the criminal justice system, you will have an exceptional opportunity to make a positive impact in the community.
The District Attorney's Office Victim Services Division assists victims of crimes and/or their families in dealing with the financial and emotional aftermath of crime. Under general supervision, the incumbent will:
Provide all mandatory and optional services per CA PC 13835.5, including assessing and coordinating the needs of crime victim/witnesses.
Inform, update, and support victims/witnesses throughout the criminal justice process.
Assist victims/witnesses with requesting criminal restitution; provide public presentations to a variety of audiences on victim related topics.
Perform related work as required.
To learn more about the District's Attorney's Office please visit: https://www.smcgov.org/da.
Victim Advocate I ($35.74-$44.64/hr.) is the first level classification in the series. Initially under close supervision, incumbents learn the duties associated with the position and the client population served. Incumbents receive on-the-job, State-mandated, and other victim advocacy trainings. As experience is gained, there is greater independence of action within established guidelines. This class is flexibly staffed with II-level and incumbents may advance to the higher level after meeting the qualifications of the higher-level class.
Victim Advocate II ($42.16-$52.72/hr.) is advanced journey-level classification and incumbents perform advanced victim/witness advocacy work. Employees in this class have completed the State-mandated course requirements for entry-level and have performed victim advocacy work for a total of three years.
In addition to possessing a bachelor's degree with a major in criminal justice, social welfare, behavioral science, or a related field, the ideal candidate for this position will have the following essential experience, demonstrated knowledge, skills, and/or abilities:
Criminal law, sentencing structure and restitution.
Victim's rights, crisis intervention techniques and trauma informed care principles.
Mandated reporting laws and confidentiality laws.
Basic principles and practices of case management.
Write clear, concise, and comprehensive case notes and reports.
Maintain accurate statistical data records.
Speak, read, and write fluently in Spanish. (Desired, but not required)
There are currently two vacancies in the District Attorney's Office Victim Services Division. As needed, Victim Advocates may be required to perform work offsite or in our branch offices in San Mateo and South San Francisco.
NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.
Examples Of Duties
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Respond to inquiries and requests from victims and witnesses of crime.
Conduct interviews with victims and witnesses of crime to assess needs and promptly take appropriate action.
Provide crisis intervention, follow-up counseling, and emotional support.
Arrange for emergency assistance.
Refer victims to counseling resources and other support groups.
Provide assistance to victims applying for victim compensation.
Provide information about the criminal justice processes.
Provide information to victims about the status or disposition of the criminal case in which they are involved.
Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with prosecuting attorneys, law enforcement, and other community-based agencies.
Provide court accompaniment and assist victims in the preparation of victim impact statements.
Provide assistance with the submission of documents for restitution and provide information regarding collecting restitution.
Maintain accurate daily statistics of activities and services.
Prepare correspondence and other reports as required.
Provide informational presentations to criminal justice agencies, victim services organizations, and the public on victim related topics.
May be called to respond in the field in the event of a community crisis.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Education and Experience:
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and skills is qualifying.
A typical way to qualify for:
District Attorney Victim Advocate I - A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in social welfare, behavioral science, or a related field and two years of experience in providing community services of an emergency, remedial, and/or educational nature to victimized and/or disadvantaged individuals.
District Attorney Victim Advocate II - Three years of experience as a victim/witness advocate in the District Attorney's Office is required.
License: This position requires possession of a class C California driver license or equivalent.
Application/Examination
Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, extra-help/limited term positions prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score
The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: Pass/Fail) based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification.
All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.
IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Responses to the supplemental questions on the online application must be provided. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before the final filing date.
TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Final Filing Date: March 3, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. PST
Application Screening: Week of March 9, 2026
Panel Interviews: Week of March 16, 2026, or Week of March 23, 2026
About the County
San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.
The County of San Mateo is committed to advancing equity to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.
The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer. We seek to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community.
HR Contact: Chet Overstreet (02182026) (District Attorney's Office Victim Advocate I/II - G111/G114)
We invite you to explore our Benefits-at-a-Glance (https://www.smcgov.org/sites/default/files/2025-05/Benefits%20at%20a%20Glance%204.29.25.pdf) page for a snapshot of the comprehensive and competitive benefits available to eligible employees of the County of San Mateo. From health and wellness to financial security, our benefits are designed to support you at every stage of your career. (Please note that benefits are subject to change.)
In addition to core benefits, the County is proud to offer a variety of wellness and professional development programs to help you grow both personally and professionally. Most of these enriching opportunities are available during work hours and come at no cost to you.
As a County employee, you'll also be covered by the federal Social Security system, earning valuable retirement benefits based on your salary and years of service.
01
IMPORTANT: Applicants for this position are required to submit responses to the supplemental questions below. Your responses will provide detailed information about your background and experience related to this position. This information will weigh heavily in the application screening by the subject matter experts and will also be used in the selection process. Answer the questions completely, paying attention to the multi-parts of the questions. While being thorough and detailed, also be concise. Your strategic use of language as well as neatness, clarity of expression, attention to detail, proper use of grammar and the ability to follow instructions will be considered in the evaluation process. A resume or reference to one will not be accepted as a substitute for your responses. I have read and understand this important information.
Yes
No
02
Describe how your background and experience qualify you for the Victim Advocate position. Be specific about your education, professional experience, and the skills you possess relevant to the position. Please do not use AI to generate your response.
03
Describe your experience interviewing clients, taking/managing case notes, and completing applications for services on behalf of clients. Be specific about your roles and responsibilities and where the experience was gained. Please do not use AI to generate your response.
04
This position will put you in contact with victims of crime, who are often in crisis. The clients may express feelings of anger, frustration, fear, or depression. Please tell us about your professional experience working with individuals and families in crisis and how this experience prepares you for this position. Be sure to include where this experience was gained. Please do not use AI to generate your response.
05
How did you learn about this position?
County of San Mateo Website
County of San Mateo Job Interest Card Notification
County Hosted Virtual Event
County Hosted Job Fair
CalOpps.org
College/University Career Center
Community-based Organization Posting
Facebook/Instagram
Friend or Relative
GovernmentJobs.com
Indeed
Job Fair
LinkedIn
Professional Publication/Website (Please specify in next question)
X (formerly called Twitter)
Zip Recruiter
Other (Please specify in next question)
06
If you answered, "Professional Publication/Website" or "Other" to the above question, please indicate below how you learned about this position. Your response to this question will help us in better marketing County jobs. Type NA if not applicable.
Required Question
Employer
County of San Mateo
Address
County of San Mateo Human Resources Department 500 County Center, 4th Floor Redwood City, California, 94063-1663
Phone
(650) 363-4343
Website
https://jobs.smcgov.org
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