| Location | Santa Rosa, CA |
| Salary | $73,654.46–$89,516.58 Per Year |
District Attorneys Victim Witness Advocate I -Time-Limited
Salary
$73,654.46 - $89,516.58 Annually
Location
Santa Rosa, CA
Job Type
Full-Time
Job Number
26/08-3221-OTLC
Department
District Attorneys Office (DAO)
Opening Date
08/26/2026
Closing Date
Continuous
Bargaining Unit
25
Position Information
The Sonoma County Office of the District Attorney is seeking a motivated and dedicated service-oriented individual to join their Victim Services Division as a Victim Witness Advocate I.
Starting salary up to $42.89/hour ($89,516/year) and a competitive total compensation package!*
The District Attorneys Office is currently recruiting to fill a Victim Witness Advocate I - Time-Limited position that is currently funded through March 31, 2027.
Note: It is the policy of law enforcement and legal offices and departments, in the County of Sonoma, that candidates complete a thorough background investigation process prior to employment. Please review the Additional Information section of this job announcement further below for more information on the required background process.
The District Attorneys Office
The District Attorneys Office is looking for a Victim Witness Advocate I, who will act as a liaison between the Deputy District Attorneys and victims of crime to ensure their voice is heard and rights are upheld. The Advocate will have daily contact with victims to provide regular court updates, refer them to community resources, and accompany them to court proceedings. The Victim Witness Advocate I assists with general information to help the victim of a crime better understand the criminal justice process and assists with submission of California Victim Compensation Applications by compiling of restitution documents. Additional responsibilities include:
The ideal candidate will possess many of the following:
Please note: This position requires completion of a 40-hour advocate training and a series of comprehensive trainings by a staff member which includes shadowing. This position also requires attending outreach events and potentially working some weekends and after normal business hours.
What We Offer
Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing youre working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:
This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment. The Civil Service title for this classification is Victim Witness Advocate I.
Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.
Minimum Qualifications
Experience: Experience that would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, two years of responsible public contact experience involving law enforcement, supportive counseling or similar work in a public or private agency that provided knowledge of community social service resources, would provide such opportunity. Experience dealing with the criminal justice process is highly desirable.
Education: Any combination of training and experience that would provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, significant coursework in sociology, psychology, counseling, social work, criminology, or a closely related field, would provide such opportunity.
License: Possession of a valid drivers license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California to perform the essential job functions of the position.
The position advertised on this announcement does not require possession of a valid California Driver's License.
Background Requirements: Incumbents must pass a criminal background investigation.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of: the laws and procedures of criminal justice agencies as they affect the responsibilities and rights of victims and witnesses of crimes; personality development, group and family dynamics, human motivation and behavior patterns sufficient to gain rapport with hostile and uncooperative, or traumatized individuals; rules of professional confidentiality concerning victim and advocate, as well as of attorney/client work product; psychological dynamics of child abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault; the principles, practices and techniques of interviewing; the needs, problems, attitudes and behavior patterns of emotionally vulnerable individuals; community resources available to victims and/or witnesses; child abuse reporting laws; domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse laws.
Ability to: develop and maintain the confidence and cooperation of emotionally vulnerable individuals; establish and maintain effective working relationships with victims and/or witnesses and their families, departmental staff, law enforcement officers, attorneys and community agencies; effectively interview victims, families and other individuals to obtain information on a variety of complex and sensitive subjects; provide psychological and emotional support to reduce stress associated with being a victim or witness of crime; initiate and maintain computerized case files to document case activities; relate to a wide variety of individuals from different socio-economic, cultural and ethnic groups; analyze situations accurately and to take effective action; adjust to workload changes and meet deadlines under pressure; train and supervise volunteers and intern; speak in public before a variety of groups and organizations.
Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying
Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.
Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire be completed.
Responses to supplemental questions will be used in assessing minimum qualifications. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient.
The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:
An Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%). Each application and supplemental questionnaire will be thoroughly evaluated for satisfaction of minimum qualifications and relevance of educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities that relate to this position. Candidates possessing the most appropriate job-related qualifications will be placed on an employment list and referred to the department for selection interviews.
Additional Information
It is the policy of law enforcement and legal offices and departments, in the County of Sonoma, that candidates complete a thorough background investigation process prior to employment. This policy is imperative in order to keep the department's employees and the public safe and to maintain high standards in the law enforcement community. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to candidates.
The background investigation will include a thorough assessment of a candidate's personal, employment, educational, criminal, and credit history. The investigation may include but is not necessarily limited to: use of prescription and/or other drugs, reports from former employers, friends, family members, educational institutions, law enforcement agencies, credit reports, court reports, public records search, and/or other relevant sources. Candidates must be honest and forthcoming about information that may arise during the background process. Deception during any portion of this process is grounds for disqualification, even after employment.
Depending on the assignment, candidates may be required to take a pre-employment medical examination and may be required to take a polygraph examination. All candidates for law enforcement positions are required to undergo drug testing as part of the selection process. Additionally, candidates may be required to take a pre-employment psychological and physical abilities examination. The results of these examinations and the background investigation shall be confidential and shall not be available to the candidate for review. Failure to pass the background investigation will eliminate a candidate from the employment process. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.
Issues that arise during the investigation process will be assessed and judgment and discretion will be used to determine the employability of the candidate. Where there is evidence of a candidate's past use of controlled substances, many factors shall be used to determine the employability of the individual such as a pattern of use, kind of drug used, circumstances of the start of the drug use, treatment, behavior and attitude since discontinuance, etc. Please note that a history of using controlled substances does not result in automatic disqualification from the selection process. Prior to disqualifying any candidate whose profile falls within the provisions of the policy, the candidate shall be given the opportunity to present any and all evidence of mitigating facts that the candidate feels should be considered by the hiring authority. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter.
How to Apply
Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org. Paper applications may be submitted in person, by fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job announcement must be received by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Continuous recruitments may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.
The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.
HR Analyst: DP
HR Technician: KK
Important Note: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.
County of Sonoma Benefits: General*
These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:
Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation accrual and sick leave accruals; additional management leave annually; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.
Health Plan: Choose from nine health plans (three HMOs, three deductible HMOs, and three HSA-qualifying plans) with a generous County contribution to the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit). For more information, please see the appropriate MOU.
Retirement: Fully integrated with Social Security. For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired.
IRS 457 Plan: Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.
Retiree Medical: County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.
Student Loan Debt Relief: County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.
Plus, excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.
For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331. Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at Labor Agreements & Salary Resolution. For specific information about health and welfare benefits, including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts, go to Human Resources or contact the Human Resources Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonomacounty.gov or (707) 565-2900.
01
How did you first learn about this opportunity?
02
Please indicate if you would also be interested in future part-time or extra-help (temporary, intermittent, or seasonal employment) positions should they become available. Check all that apply.
03
This eligible list may be used for future bilingual (English/Spanish) positions. Please indicate if you are interested in bilingual positions and your level of proficiency.
04
For this question and all subsequent questions, please provide sufficient information to allow for a thorough evaluation of your qualifications. Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using specific criteria and may be reviewed by hiring managers.
Please describe your two or more years of responsible public contact experience involving law enforcement, daily contact with victims, or similar work in a public or private agency that provided the public/clients knowledge of community resources, including and experience you possess working with the criminal justice process. For each position you list, include:
05
Please describe your experience providing advocacy for victims of crimes. Include a detailed description of your role and duties, and the types of clients you worked with.
06
Please describe your experience working with individuals from diverse socio-economic and/or cultural backgrounds. Highlight any experience you possess with under-served communities and immigrant populations.
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Please describe your experience managing multiple clients, cases, assignments, or competing priorities, including how you prioritized your work, how you handled any challenges, and tools and methods used to track and update your work.
Required Question
Employer County of Sonoma (CA)
Address 575 Administration Drive, Suite 116B
Santa Rosa, California, 95403
Phone (707) 565-1701