CHILD ABUSE PROSECUTION ASSISTANT 6145

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS

An employee in this class assists the Family Crime Bureau of the District Attorney's Office in preparing to prosecute child abuse cases. Work involves providing child abuse victims with personal support at a time of acute vulnerability, while simultaneously establishing a relationship which encourages discussion of subject incidents during case preparation and actual trial proceedings. Incumbents bridge the gap between victim and prosecutor, and serve as liaison with Child Protective Services and the Police Department. Work is performed under the general supervision of an Assistant District Attorney assigned to the case. Does related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES

Provides sensitive support to victims of child abuse in dealing with retelling details of incident subject to prosecution;

Establishes trust and rapport with victim in order to encourage discussion of incident and to prepare for the difficult prospect of court testimony;

Assists District Attorney's Office by ascertaining legal requirements and eliciting information pertinent to a successful case prosecution;

Guides prosecutors in the sensitive handling of court questioning of victim in order to gain effective testimony with a minimum of stress to the victim;

Assists in referring victim to appropriate counseling and support services;

Serves as liaison between victim of child abuse and the District Attorney's Office, the Police Department, and Child Protective Services.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

Good knowledge of the psychological needs of victims of child abuse; working knowledge of the legal requirements of child abuse prosecution; working knowledge of community resources available to child abuse victims; ability to develop supportive relationships with child abuse victims in order to facilitate collection and presentation of evidence with a minimum of stress to the victims; ability to prepare concise and accurate reports; ability to express oneself clearly, both orally and in writing; ability to provide guidance to the prosecutors in sensitive handling of court procedures with the victim; patience; good judgment; physical condition commensurate with the demands of the position.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

OPEN COMPETITIVE

(a) Graduation from a New York State or Regionally accredited college or university with a Master's Degree in Social Work or Psychology and one year of experience in counseling or directly providing support services to abused or neglected children; or,

(b) Graduation from a New York State or Regionally accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology or Social Work and two years of experience in counseling or directly providing support services to abused or neglected children; or,

(c) Graduation from a New York State or Regionally accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree and three years of the above experience.

R03/16/87

SUFFOLK COUNTY

COMPETITIVE

RR1/23/03