Victim Services Specialist (Probation Counselor II)

Salary : $64,190.88 - $106,984.59 Annually
Location : FAIRFAX (EJ28), VA
Job Type: FT Hourly W BN
Job Number: 25-00584
Department: Police
Opening Date: 03/08/2025
Closing Date: 3/21/2025 11:59 PM Eastern
Pay Grade: S23
Posting Type: Open to General Public

Job Announcement
The Fairfax County Police Department's Victim Services Division (VSD)is seeking a dedicated and compassionate Victim Services Specialist to join our team. As part of the Major Crimes Bureau, VSD plays a critical role in ensuring crime victims receive the support, advocacy, and resources they need. This position reports to the Director of Victim Services and will be based at the Fairfax County Public Safety Headquarters.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide comprehensive emotional, physical, financial, and practical support to victims of violent crimes and their families.
• Offer crisis counseling and intervention in collaboration with law enforcement.
• Serve as a vital liaison, guiding victims through the criminal justice system and connecting them to essential services.
• Respond to crime scenes during evenings, weekends, and holidays, offering immediate crisis support and follow-up care.
• Maintain ongoing communication with victims and witnesses throughout investigations, prosecutions, and judicial proceedings.
• Stay informed of community resources to ensure effective assistance for victims.

Ideal Candidate:

• Passionate about advocating for victims of crime and empowering them through crisis.
• Thrives in fast-paced, high-pressure situations with the ability to provide critical support in emergencies.
• Possesses excellent communication, crisis intervention, and problem-solving skills.
• Has a working knowledge of the criminal justice system and community resources.

Why Join Us? This is more than just a job-it's a chance to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those affected by violent crime. As a Victim Services Specialist, you'll be a crucial part of a committed team working to provide hope, healing, and justice for crime victims in Fairfax County.

Position may be underfilled as a Victim Services Specialist I (Probation Counselor I) (S20); the Underfill Requirements are stated below in the Employment Standards section.

Join us in making a difference in the lives of crime victims by providing essential support and guidance. Apply today to become a vital part of our dedicated team at the Fairfax County Police Department.
Illustrative Duties

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position description.)

Victims Services
Provides supportive services to victims and witnesses of crime involved in the criminal justice system including emotional support, financial assistance, counseling, and victim agency referrals;
Maintains on-going contact/communication with victims and witnesses during investigation and judicial proceedings, and provides notifications of investigative activity or case developments as needed;
Provides court accompaniment to crime victim and witnesses for all court proceedings in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations, General District and Circuit Courts;
Reduces delays in bringing cases to court by assisting in determining availability of victims and witnesses;
Responds to call-outs to crime scenes and other locations to provide immediate crisis intervention and support, refers clients to related supportive services and agencies;
Operates a county vehicle to provide the effective delivery of services to victims and witnesses including transporting victims and witnesses to court hearings, commonwealth's attorneys meetings and other court related appointments;
Provides assistance by administering and providing services designed to enhance coordination among agencies operating within the criminal justice system;
Works with and assists the officers and detectives within their district station assignment or the criminal investigations bureau with the proper victim services and referrals;
Encourage citizen awareness and participation through public information and education.
Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

• Knowledge of casework supervision practices and procedures;
• Knowledge of the principles of psychology and sociology;
• Knowledge of current social and economic conditions;
• Ability to use technology to enter and retrieve information;
• Ability to interpret laws, rules, and regulations related to probation work and victim services
• Ability to interview and counsel clients;
• Ability to prepare complete case records and reports;
• Ability to develop effective working relationships with a variety of individuals.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in social/behavioral sciences, criminal justice, or education plus two years of professional experience in probation work, social work, criminal justice, juvenile justice, education, or counseling. A master's degree in the disciplines above may be substituted for one year of the required experience.
UNDERFILL REQUIREMENTS:This position may be underfilled as a Victim Services Specialist I (Probation Counselor I) (Grade S20; 55,789.55 - $92,981.62). The employment standards for the Victim Services Specialist II) are: (Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to") Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in social/behavioral sciences, law enforcement, or education.

Applicants hired at the Victim Services Specialist I (Probation Counselor I) will be non-competitively promoted to the Victim Services Specialist II (Probation Counselor II) level upon successful completion of an underfill agreement.

Note: Underfill candidates must be able to meet the minimum qualifications of the Victim Services Specialist I (Probation Counselor I) within one year of the job announcement's closing date.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree in a related field.
• Three years of professional work experience working in the victim services field directly working with victims of crime.
• Must live within 30 miles of the county line and be available for on-call response and be in route to a callback assignment within 30 minutes of notification.
• Must be available to work evening hours and some weekends to meet the needs of crime victims.
• Ideal candidate will have extensive experience working in a court system environment.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
Driver's license (required)

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to the position will be required to complete a criminal background check, credit check. driving record check, and polygraph exam to the satisfaction of the employer.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to drive an automobile; ability to operate keyboard-driven equipment and to sit for long periods. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:Panel interview and may include exercise.

The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 38.7% of residents speak a language other than English at home () and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. EEO/AA/TTY.
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Merit Positions

Fairfax County is proud to offer employees an attractive and comprehensive benefits program, including the following:

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
• Group Term Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• LiveWell Program
• Flexible Spending Programs
• Paid Leave (annual, sick, parental, volunteer activity, and more!)
• Paid Holidays
• Contributory Retirement Plan
• Deferred Compensation
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employees' Child Care Center
• Commuter Benefit Program
• Continuous Learning Opportunities

NOTE: Fairfax County Government is a qualifying employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. For more information about the PSLF program:

For additional details please visit the
Non-Merit Positions

Non-Merit Benefit Eligible: scheduled to work a minimum 1,040 hours and no more than a maximum of 1,560 hours in a calendar year.

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
• Flexible Spending Program
• Deferred Compensation

Temporary: scheduled to work a maximum of 900 hours in a calendar year.

• No benefits

01

What is the highest level of education that you have completed?

• Less than 12th grade
• High school diploma or GED
• Some college
• Associate's degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree
• Doctorate degree

02

If you answered "Some college" for the highest level of education completed, please indicate the number of quarter or semester hours you have completed towards a degree.

• Less than 45 quarter hours
• 45 to less than 90 quarter hours
• 90 to less than 135 quarter hours
• 135 to less than 180 quarter hours
• 180 or more quarter hours
• Less than 30 semester hours
• 30 to less than 60 semester hours
• 60 to less than 90 semester hours
• 90 to less than 120 semester hours
• 120 or more semester hours
• Not applicable

03

Please indicate the major(s) or minor(s) for your completed degree(s). Check all that apply.

• Social/behavioral sciences
• Criminal justice
• Education
• Psychology
• Counseling
• Social work
• Other (related field)
• Other (non-related field)
• Not applicable

04

If you answered "Other (related field)" or "Other (non-related field)" for the previous question, please list all of your majors and minors. If this question does not pertain to you, or you do not have a degree, enter "Not applicable".
05

Do you currently possess a valid driver's license?

• Yes
• No

06

How many years of full-time equivalent professional-level experience do you have in probation work, social work, criminal justice, juvenile justice, education or counseling do you possess?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

07

How many years of full-time equivalent professional-level experience do you have counseling and working with victims of crime?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

08

How many years of full-time equivalent professional-level experience do you have working in a court system environment?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

09

How many years of full-time equivalent professional-level experience do you have working directly with victims and/or witnesses of crime in a victim witness program?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

10

How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have directly working with victims of crime in a non-Victim Witness Program? (ex: DV Shelter, non-profit program, etc.)?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

11

Are you able to meet the requirements for on-call response and be in route to a callback assignment within 30 minutes of notification?

• Yes
• No

12

Are you able to meet the requirements to work evening hours to meet the needs of crime victims?

• Yes
• No

13

How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have working in system-based victim advocacy field?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

14

If you are fluent in English with some Spanish language skills, indicate your level of Spanish skills. (Note you will have to demonstrate your level of skills indicated)

• Able to speak, read and write English and Spanish with ease and at a complex level without assistance
• Able to speak and understand complex conversations in English and Spanish without assistance
• Able to speak and understand Spanish but would require assistance to carryout conversations
• None of the above

Required Question