TENTATIVE

Occ. Code 8123900

DIRECTOR, VICTIM SERVICES, M-2

New York State Department of Civil Service

Classification Standard

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CLASS

            The one position in this class oversees the operation of the Department of Correctional Services (DOCS) Office of Crime Victim Services.  The incumbent coordinates within DOCS all victim services activities and coordinates victim service activities outside the Department with the Unified Court Systems, other State agencies, and victim advocacy groups. 

This position is classified at DOCS Main Office.  Incumbents at DOCS assist in the total care and confinement of inmates sentenced to the custody of the Department, and as such perform various duties and functions in conjunction with the overall operation of a facility and/or location to which they are assigned.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

DIRECTOR, VICTIM SERVICES:  one position title; directs and manages the operations the Departments crime victim programs for facilities Statewide; recommends program policy changes; and implements victim program policy changes for the Associate Commissioner.

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES

Coordinates the Departments victim service programming.

• Assists District Attorneys and court staff in establishing policies to provide DOCS with Orders of Protection.
• Ensures victim programs ensure victim safety and guarantees that participation of victims(s) and offender(s) in programs is voluntary.
• Establishes best practices guidelines in victim programming.
• Notifies the Crime Victims Board whenever an inmates account balance exceeds ten thousand dollars.
• Notifies the Inmate Accounts Office and Counsels Office when an inmates account balance requires review in accordance with established Department guidelines.
• Assists the Crime Victims Board in meeting victim needs and recommends how DOCS can best meet these needs.
• Assists the Crime Victims Board and Attorney Generals Office in supporting victim civil actions.
• Assists the New York State Unified Court System in their efforts to provide victim-offender dialogues.
• Interviews offender to evaluate suitability of offender participation in victim-offender dialogues.
• Conducts informational victim groups programs and provides education and information on individual victim services and victim service providers to interested individuals and organizations.
• Prepares written informational material for dissemination to victims groups.
• Coordinates efforts with the Crime Victims Board to publicize victim services and informational hotlines, including participation in presentations to a wide range of groups and disseminating printed and audiovisual material.
• Represents the Commissioner of DOCS on committees outside the Department and serves as a member of the New York State Crime Victims Board Advisory Council and New York State Anti-Stalking task force.
• Coordinates with the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence to establish and maintain directives on Domestic Violence Policy.
• Works with community organizations to better understand victim service needs.
• Works with the Department's Hispanic Affairs Unit to translate program information into the Spanish language.
• Maintains a list of victim service providers and networks.
• Refers victims directly to services for which they may be eligible, including Crime Victims Board compensation programs and post sentencing services.
• Establishes escape notification policy for Command Center staff in the event of an inmates escape.

Oversees the operation of the Departments Office of Victims Services.

• Remains on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for escape notification.
• Reviews, updates, and establishes Departmental directives enhancing victim protections and services.
• Supervises, performs performance evaluations and probation reports, and schedules time off for the professional, clerical, and intern staff of the Office of Victim Services.
• Ensures operation of the Victim Notification Program reaches intended recipients and coordinates the automation of written notifications through the Office of Crime Victim Services.
• Ensures victim notification forms are received by local District Attorneys and records the receipt and number of these forms.
• Meets with District Attorneys and court staff to ensure Order of Protection documents are supplied to DOCS.
• Coordinates Office of Victim Services efforts to further automate and record victim notification transactions.
• Assists staff in correction facilities to obtain, interpret, and document Orders of Protection in appropriate files and computerized systems.
• Assists Counsels Office with compliance with the Notification Compensatory Damages Program.
• Assists the Inmate Accounts Office in efforts to increase the collection of court ordered restitution.
• Assists the Training Academy staff to update training for all new and existing correctional facility staff in escape pursuit, victims rights and services programs and victim epideminology.
• Documents amount of restitution collected and day of payment by disbursing agency.
• Assists probation offices in counties and New York City with victim restitution payment processing.
• Assists correctional facilities with victim impact programming. 

Oversees the operation of the Departments Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) Telephone System.

• Coordinates the operation of the VINE telephone system with the New York City Department of Corrections and the New York State Sheriffs' Association.
• Oversees the VINE contract and approves payments, contract renewals and ensures vendor compliance with program contract requirements.
• Reviews new organization additions to the VINE telephone system ensuring the new information is consistent with required information parameters.
• Establishes policy to identify VINE system information errors.
• Coordinates with the New York State Division of Parole to ensure offender data from parole officers is included in VINE.
• Executes daily testing of the VINE Telephone System.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Promotion:  one year of permanent competitive service in a program service position within the New York State Department of Correctional Services allocated to Grade 22 or higher.

Date:  6/09

NOTE: Classification Standards illustrate the nature, extent and scope of duties and responsibilities of the classes they describe.  Standards cannot and do not include all of the work that might be appropriately performed by a class.  The minimum qualifications above are those which were required for appointment at the time the Classification Standard was written.  Please contact the Division of Staffing Services for current information on minimum qualification requirements for appointment or examination.