Washington County DA Looking for People to Help Victims

The Washington County District Attorney's Office needs your help.

For more than 30 years they have had a Victim Assistance Program that helps crime victims find their way through the judicial system.

A major part of the program are volunteer victim advocates.

They help victims of a variety of crimes including assault, robbery, physical abuse, domestic violence, and elder abuse.

The volunteers do things like determine restitution amounts, provide office assistance, accompany and support crime victims in court proceedings, inform victims of their rights, and work to enforce them.

According to the county:

interested applicants must submit both an application and background check (found online), and interview to be considered for training. Our next advocate training is scheduled for June 21-24, 2016 from 8:30am – 5:00pm every day. Topics to be covered in training include: the criminal justice process, general advocacy, domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse, sexual assault, victim rights, crisis intervention, ethics, and court etiquette.

Bilingual English-Spanish applicants are currently needed and encouraged to apply.

Interns are required to make a 6 month commitment and work at least 15 hours per week. It is an unpaid internship. Summer internships are also available; students are asked to make a full summer commitment Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm. We require volunteers to make a minimum 1 year commitment but we do not specify/require a mandatory number of hours per week.

Go to this website for an application and more information.

Applications are due June 17.