Salary: See Position Description
Location : Hastings, MN
Job Type: Full-Time
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 60180.26.001
Department: County Attorney
Opening Date: 11/02/2026
Closing Date: 11/16/2026 4:30 PM Central
General Description POSTING TYPE: Open competitive
DEPARTMENT: County Attorney
HOURS: Full-time
FULL SALARY RANGE: $65,638 - $102,560 (107 grade)
LOCATION: Judicial Center, Hastings
UNION: None
CLOSE DATE: Monday, November 16, 2026, at 4:30 p.m.
What You'll DoVictim Witness Specialists provide crime victims with information in accordance with statutorily mandated victims' rights and makes referrals to other community resources when appropriate. Facilitates crime victims' understanding of the criminal and juvenile justice processes. Acts as a resource to Assistant County Attorneys, law enforcement, social services, corrections, and the Court regarding crime victims' rights. Coordinates witness management support on cases prosecuted by the County Attorney's Office. Provides supervision to the Victim/Witness intern when the supervisor is unavailable.
Minimum Qualifications - Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, human services, or closely related field AND one-year related experience in criminal justice, crime victim services or human services.
OR- Associate's degree or two-year technical certificate in criminal justice, legal assistant/paralegal, or human services AND three years of related experience in criminal justice, crime victim services or human services.
OR- An equivalent combination of education and experience to total 5 years
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS BEYOND MINIMUM REQUIRED- Completion of the Minnesota Victim Assistance Academy or the national equivalent.
Duties & Responsibilities These examples do not include all possible tasks in this work and do not limit the assignment of related tasks in any position of this classification. Regular attendance according to the position's management approved work schedule is required for all positions.
- Provide legal and community resource information to crime victims.
- Provide professional support to crime victims and witnesses.
- Assist crime victims in obtaining financial compensation through state and local resources.
- Provide assistance to prosecutors.
- Provide Victim/Witness Program support to further County Attorney's Office goals.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: 1 through 5
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities and Work Environment - Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
- Knowledge of crime victims' rights, laws and issues; civil, criminal and juvenile court systems and procedures; rules of professional conduct; and data practices rules and laws.
- Ability to use good judgment.
- Ability to make sound and independent decisions.
- Ability to operate a personal computer, including word processing and database applications.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, handle multiple tasks at one time, and adapt to frequently changing work demands.
- Ability to work effectively with people, both internally and externally, from diverse, cultural, social, and educational backgrounds.
- Knowledge of human reactions to trauma and ability to assess and work with individuals experiencing trauma and crisis.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality.
- Ability to remain calm and respond professionally during high-pressure situations or crisis calls.
- Ability to utilize active listening skills.
- Ability to remain non-judgmental.
- Knowledge of grief, depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other trauma related conditions/diagnoses.
Work EnvironmentWork is performed in a county office building. Some travel is required. Lifting requirement of up to 20 pounds on an occasional basis. Equipment used may include, but is not limited to, computer, printer, Microsoft Office, state court databases, the office's case management system, telephone, scanner, and copy/fax machines.
Benefits- Comprehensive and affordable medical, dental, vision, and other benefits.
- Excellent work-life balance.
- Generous paid time off (accrual rate starts at four weeks per year).
- Eleven paid holidays each year and one floating holiday.
- Pension with a generous employer contribution.
- Ability to work from home some of the time.
Selection Process- You submit an online application that includes supplemental questions.
- We assign you a score based on your qualifications.
- Top scoring candidates are referred to the hiring manager for interview consideration.
- We conduct interviews and reference checks before extending an offer.
- We extend an offer and conduct background checks.
Visit our Benefits site for more information.
01
*******Applicants for this recruitment will be rated based on their answers to the supplemental questions listed below. It is important that information provided on the application support and/or match answers to the supplemental questions.*******
The Victims Witness Specialist's role provides statutorily mandated victim's rights such as: victim notification, participation, reparations, and restitution and facilitates crime victims' understanding of the criminal and juvenile justice processes. The position provides legal, emotional and financial support services to crime victims. Please initial the box below to CONFIRM that the information provided is accurate and true to the best of your knowledge. Falsification may result in disqualification from consideration for this and subsequent recruitments with Dakota County for up to three years.
02
Select how you meet the minimum qualifications for this position.
- Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, human services, or closely related field AND one-year related experience in criminal justice, crime victim services or human services.
- Associate's degree or two-year technical certificate in criminal justice, legal assistant/paralegal, or human services AND three years of related experience in criminal justice, crime victim services or human services.
- An equivalent combination of education and experience to total 5 years
03
How many years of relevant experience do you have in criminal justice, crime victim services or human services?
- Less than one year
- 1 year
- 2 years
- 3 years
- 4 years
- 5+ years
- No experience.
04
Have you completed the
Minnesota Victim Assistance Academy or its national equivalent? 05
If you identified 'yes' to completion of the Minnesota Victim Assistance Academy or its national equivalent, please tell us when and where you completed it.
06
How many years of full-time work experience do you have working as a
Victim Services Provider, Paralegal, or Legal Secretary in a County, City or State Attorney's Office? Please do not include volunteer experience in your response.
- Less than one year
- 1 year
- 2 years
- 3 years
- 4 years
- 5+ years
- No experience
07
Identify the employer(s) and job title(s) that support our response to the question above. If you have no experience, write "none."
08
How many years of full-time work experience do you have as a
Victim Services Provider in a system or community-based Victim Services program? Please do not include volunteer experience in your response.
- Less than one year
- 1 year
- 2 years
- 3 years
- 4 years
- 5+ years
- No experience
09
Identify the employer(s) and job title(s) that support our response to the question above. If you have no experience, write "none."
10
How many years of full-time work experience do you have working in a
law enforcement department, probation agency, or a human services/social services program that involved direct contact with crime victims? Please do not include volunteer experience in your response.
- Less than one year
- 1 year
- 2 years
- 3 years
- 4 years
- 5+ years
- No experience
11
Identify the employer(s) and job title(s) that support our response to the question above. If you have no experience, write "none."
12
How many years of
volunteer experience do you have in a
domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse, or related program?
- Less than one year
- 1 year
- 2 years
- 3 years
- 4 years
- 5+ years
- No Experience
13
Describe in detail your duties and responsibilities as a volunteer in a domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse, or related program. If you have held more than one volunteer position, please explain each role. If you have no experience, write "none."
14
Have you completed a minimum 40-hour volunteer training program?
15
On average, how many shifts per month did you volunteer? One shift typically equals 8 daytime hours or one overnight.
- No volunteer experience
- 1-3 shifts/month
- 4-6 shifts/month
- 7-10 shifts/month
- More than 10 shifts/month
16
Are you proficient at speaking, reading or writing in a second language? If so, identify the skills that you possess:
- Speak
- Read
- Write
- Not proficient in another language
17
If proficient in a second language, identify the language and years of experience. If not, please indicate "none".
18
The full salary range for this position is $65,638 - $102,560 and preferred hiring range is $65,638 - $82,048 annually. The amount that is offered is dependent on the candidates' overall skills and experience.
Taking that information into consideration, what would be the minimum salary you'd accept if selected for the position? 19
Your response to this question will help Dakota County evaluate the effectiveness of recruitment sources for this specific position. Please select the
one source that most closely describes how you
first learned about this opportunity.
- Facebook
- Friend, Family or Colleague
- Indeed
- Job Fair or Dakota County Event
- Job Interest e-mails from Dakota County
- League of Minnesota Cities
- LinkedIn
- Diversityjobs.com
- Minnesotaworks.net
- Minnesota Association of Counties
- Monster
- Professional Association Website
- Referred by a Dakota County Employee
- College Website, Instructor, Career Services
- Dakota County Website
- Other
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If you selected Other, please indicate where you heard about this opportunity with Dakota County.
Required Question
