Senior Homicide Advocate Specialist

The Bronx District Attorney's Office is seeking a well-qualified staff whose diverse backgrounds reflect an ability to serve the 1.4 million members of the Bronx County community and to pursue a safer Bronx through fair justice. The Crime Victims Assistance Bureau (CVAB) is seeking a Senior Homicide Advocate Specialist to provide homicide survivors with initial and ongoing crisis intervention, emotional support, and advocacy through interactions with law enforcement, the criminal justice system, the medical examiner's office, and others as necessary. This position will report directly to the supervisor for the Homicide and Violence Response Specialist.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

Provide oversight of the Homicide Advocate Specialists in the absence of the Supervisor.

Assist the supervisor with training and development of Homicide Advocates.

Collaborate with CVAB specialty teams in effort to create consistency among teams.

Act as a liaison between NYPD and the homicide victims' families, provide information on body identification compensation with the Office of Victim Services Compensation Board OVS, and follow up on case status.

Prepare letters and forms to assist with other entitlements.

Escort clients to court and confer with assistant district attorneys.

Manage case data and related preparation and submission of statistical data.

Regular follow-up and check-ins with these clients, with continual assessment of their needs.

Attend meetings, training, and organizing educational presentations to staff and community on topics related to understanding the needs of the Bronx community, who are victims of violent crimes, and providing information and resources.

Attending precinct roll call meetings to offer sensitivity training and act as a bridge between the community and law enforcement.

Developing a plan to offer sustainable remedies to enable clients to resume a level of normalcy in their lives to promote a healthier and safer lifestyle.

Providing information about the criminal justice system and court accompaniment.

Assess safety needs and work collaboratively with the Witness Security Program to provide short-term, safer housing options.

Provide clients with information regarding the Criminal Justice process.

Assist clients with completing and filing victim compensation claims with NYS OVS.

Prepare letters and forms to assist with other entitlements, such as housing.

Refer clients to city partners, including public and private agencies, to provide supportive and concrete services.

Connect clients to onsite therapy through CVAB when needed.

Confer and collaborate with the assigned ADAs on cases.

Fieldwork is required.

All other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Baccalaureate degree required/ Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) preferred.

Bi-lingual (Spanish) preferred.

Past advocacy experience required.

Prior experience working with families after a homicide, preferred.

Knowledge of the neighborhoods and population of Bronx County preferred.

Ability to work in a fast-paced, non-structured environment.

Familiarity with general court services and functions preferred.

Experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and Adobe Acrobat.

Ability to work independently and effectively under deadlines.

Dependable team player who works collaboratively and cooperatively in a team-oriented environment.

Utilize excellent customer service skills to effectively communicate with all levels of the agency.

Exceptional organization, time management, and multitasking abilities

Minimum Qualifications

1.A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties described above; or

2.High school graduation or equivalent and six years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties as described above; or

3.Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have at least one year of experience as described in "1" above.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

Residency Requirement

City Residency is not required for this position

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.