Victim Advocate (Research Assistant)

** ACTING CAPACITY VACANCY**

Opening Date:  April 28, 2025
Closing Date:  May 12, 2025        
Job Class Code: 0677
Grade: 1
Salary: $47,174.40 - $65,832.00/year
*Pursuant to 5 MRS § 196 the salary for this acting capacity position is set by the Office of the Attorney General.
Acting Capacity Position Number:  006000497
 
Bargaining Unit:  MSEA-B, Professional and Technical Services Unit

The Office of the Attorney General is seeking qualified applicants for a full-time acting capacity vacancy.

The Victim Advocate’s primary duties are to maintain communication with the family members and loved ones of homicides victims, update them on case developments when appropriate and offer ongoing assistance, support, referrals and education.  In fulfilling these duties and responsibilities, the Victim Advocate often will need to review the investigative reports, attend case specific round table discussions with prosecutors and investigators, meet with family members, create, maintain and provide to victims’ families educational and resource based materials, assist family members and loved ones of homicide victims in responding to media requests regarding the criminal investigation and/or prosecution and perform those administrative tasks which are necessary to complete these duties.  Maine has approximately 30 prosecutable homicides in a year and the advocate is personally involved with all stages of the process.  

The Victim Advocate will provide direct services to families in homicide cases. These services include but are not limited to: crisis counseling, home visits, making referrals for individual treatment and grief support; providing information regarding the victim’s rights while dealing with the criminal justice system, providing support and advocacy within the criminal justice system, providing assistance with completing and filing applications for Victim’s Compensation, providing notification of court hearings and proceedings at all stages of the process, making travel arrangements for victims who are subpoenaed to trial to testify, offering assistance with funeral arrangements for family members of murdered loved ones,  requesting the return of personal effects to family members of homicide victims, attending  pre-trial interviews, and providing notification to family members and attending  hearings for those defendants who have been determined to be not criminally responsible by reason of insanity.  

Work is performed with limited supervision and requires non-traditional hours and travel for extended periods of time. 

Required Abilities:

Keyboarding, computer and software experience and proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
Excellent communication skills and the ability to follow oral and written instructions.
The ability to work under stressful conditions and meet deadlines.
The ability to interact with victims in difficult and stressful situations.

Maine Office of the Attorney General home page 

Minimum Qualifications

A.    A Bachelor Degree and two years direct victim services or law enforcement experience.  Equivalent related experience and/or training may be substituted for education.
B.    Knowledge of the Maine Judicial System, including that related to legal process, courtroom proceedings and the Rules of Evidence.
C.    Keyboarding, computer and software experience and proficiency in a Windows environment.
D.    Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to follow oral and written instructions.
E.    The ability to pass a background and criminal and motor vehicle record check.
F.    The ability to work under stressful conditions and meet deadlines.
G.    The ability to interact with victims’ families in difficult and stressful situations.
H.    The ability to work with limited supervision.
I.    The ability to work non-traditional hours and travel for extended periods of time. 
   
Application Instructions: 
To apply for this acting capacity position, please submit a cover letter highlighting the experience and qualifications that make you a strong candidate for this acting capacity position, along with your resume, three references, and a completed online direct hire application. 
The Office is not responsible for late receipt of applications due to delays in mail service, faxing, or electronic transmission malfunctions.
Any job offer to a new hire is conditional upon verification of an applicant’s credentials, and a satisfactory check of criminal history records, driver’s license records, and professional license records, as applicable.
Please direct all questions to the Chief of the Criminal Division, Assistant Attorney General Lisa Marchese via email  or by phone at 207-626-8800.

BENEFITS
Maine state employees embody our state motto — "Dirigo" or "I lead" — as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including: 
•    Work-Life Balance – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service. Overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave. 
•    Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-95% of employee-only premiums ($11,196.96 - $12,514.32 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.  
•    Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements. 
•    Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($350.40 annual value). 
•    Retirement Plan – The State of Maine contributes 13.29% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.  
•    Gym Membership Reimbursement – Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense. 
•    Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts – Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses. 
•    Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness – The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office. 
•    Living Resources Program – Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.
•    Parental leave – One of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including fathers and adoptive parents—receive six weeks of fully paid parental leave. Additionally, unpaid leave may also be available under the Family and Medical Leave Act.  
•    Voluntary Deferred Compensation – Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions. 
•    Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness. 
Maine State Government and the Office of the Attorney General are Equal Opportunity employers. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.