October 28, 2018
Re:CourtWatch Monitorposition
Dear Applicant:
Thank you for your interest in becoming a CourtWatch Monitor. We are currently recruiting volunteers for Fall 2018 (October - December).
The enclosed packet contains the following:
- Position Profile
- Application Timeline
- Volunteer Application
- Availability Form
- KCSARC Statement of Beliefs
- KCSARC Philosophy
Sincerely,
Mary Laskowski
CourtWatch Services Coordinator
Position Profile
Title:
/ CourtWatch Monitor (Volunteer)Function:
/ CourtWatch Monitors will observe cases related to sexual assault and child physical abuse in King County Superior Court. They will complete questionnaires and participate in debriefings so that the information can be used to track individual cases and trends/patterns of behavior within the justice system.Hours:
Training: / Minimum of one shift / month (3.5 hours) if able to make at least a6-month commitment, ORMinimum of one shift / week (3.5 hours) if able to make a commitment for a semester/quarter for academic credit
The following monitoring shifts are currently available at both the Regional Justice Center in Kent and the King County Courthouse in Seattle:
Monday: 9 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday: 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday: 9 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Thursday: 9 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Friday: 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Volunteers MUST be able to attend the volunteer orientation before they begin observing cases.
The next scheduled orientation is: All Day Friday, September 14, 2018
T
Reportsto: / CourtWatch Services Coordinator
Essential Functions
-Attend the CourtWatch Volunteer orientation
-Attend all scheduled monitoring shifts at the RJC in Kent and/or the King County Courthouse in Seattle (volunteers may indicate their location preference on their application)
-Record accurate observations about the court proceedings that you monitor
-Communicate effectively with the CourtWatch Manager or Volunteer Coordinatorabout what you observed, both through monitoring questionnaires and debriefings
-Follow courthouse rules
-Follow volunteer policies & procedures
Technical Functions
-Proficient in communicating via e-mail and telephone
-Reliable and consistent access to e-mail
Personal Competencies
-At least 18 years old
-Ability to read, write, and speak English
-Neither you nor members of your immediate family have been recent victims of violent crime, or have a case pending before the courts you will be observing
-You have not been convicted of a crime against another person
-You do not currently work for an agency or law firm that defends persons accused of sexual assault, or a program or practice where the primary focus is treating sex offenders
Physical-Mental-Psychological Skills
-Volunteers must provide their own transportation to the courthouses (Kent and/or Seattle) for observations and to the orientation at KCSARC in Renton
-Ability to interface with the impact of secondary trauma
Application Time Line
Application Due:Applicants must submit their application materials by Friday, August 3, 2018
Note: Interested candidates should apply quickly,as applicants will likely be selected on a rolling basis.
Start Date:September 14, 2018(Volunteer Orientation)
Apply:Send completed application,résumé, and cover letter to:
Mary Laskowski
CourtWatch
P.O. Box 300
Renton, WA 98057
OR
Benefits:Unpaid (students may be able to receive credit);
Learning more about the dynamics of sexual assault;
Helping improve the justice system’s response to cases of sexual assault;
Meeting people who share your values
CourtWatch Monitor Application
Last NameClick or tap here to enter text. / First Name
Click or tap here to enter text. / Middle Name
Click or tap here to enter text.
Address
Click or tap here to enter text. / City
Click or tap here to enter text. / State
Click or tap here to enter text. / Zip Code
Click or tap here to enter text.
Home Phone Number
Click or tap here to enter text. / Cell
Click or tap here to enter text. / Email
Click or tap here to enter text.
To qualify for this position, you must be at least 18 years old. Do you qualify? / Yes☐ / No☐
How did you hear about this position? / Click or tap here to enter text. /
Number of hours per month you can volunteer? / Click or tap here to enter text. /
How soon will you be available to volunteer? / Click or tap here to enter text. /
Brief Employment History
Click or tap here to enter text.
Brief Volunteer History
Click or tap here to enter text.
References
In addition to a thorough check of applicant’s criminal history, we will check the applicant’s references.
Click or tap here to enter text. / Click or tap here to enter text. / Click or tap here to enter text. /
- Name
Click or tap here to enter text. / Click or tap here to enter text. / Click or tap here to enter text. /
- Name
Click or tap here to enter text. / Click or tap here to enter text. / Click or tap here to enter text. /
- Name
Click or tap here to enter text. / Click or tap here to enter text. / Click or tap here to enter text. /
- Name
Compensation and Confidentiality
Will you be receiving compensation for volunteering (i.e. school credits, class requirements fulfilled)?
Yes ☐ No ☐
KCSARC may publish a CourtWatch newsletter, and occasionally its articles may include volunteer’s names and information about their work as court monitors. Do we have your permission to release such information: Yes ☐ No ☐
Criminal History
To ensure that CourtWatch volunteers have no conflict of interest and are assigned properly to watch various court proceeding, we ask that you provide information about any contact you have had with the criminal or civil justice systems. An active criminal charge disqualifies one from a volunteer position, however prior criminal conviction or charges are decided on a case-by-case basis. This information is confidential.
Do you currently have any type of criminal charge, including traffic offenses, pending against you?
Yes ☐ No ☐
If yes, please describe the charges: / Click or tap here to enter text. /
What county? / Click or tap here to enter text. /
Are you currently on probation for any type of criminal charge? Yes ☐ No ☐
If yes, please describe the charges: / Click or tap here to enter text. /
What county? / Click or tap here to enter text. /
Aside from what you have already noted, have you ever had any type of criminal charge filed against you? Yes ☐ No ☐
If yes, please describe the charges: / Click or tap here to enter text. /
What county? / Click or tap here to enter text. /
What happened in this case? / Click or tap here to enter text. /
Are you currently a victim or witness in a pending criminal case? Yes ☐ No ☐
If yes, which county? / Click or tap here to enter text. /
Are you currently or have you ever been involved in any civil matter including an order for protection, restraining order, or anti- harassment order? Yes ☐ No ☐
If yes, what kind of action? / Click or tap here to enter text. /
If yes, which county? / Click or tap here to enter text. /
What is the status of this matter? / Click or tap here to enter text. /
Agreement and Release
I certify that the answers given herein are true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I authorize KCSARC to conduct a complete investigation of any and all information contained in this Volunteer Application. In the event that I am selected as a volunteer, I understand that any false or misleading statements contained in my application may result in discharge.
Click or tap here to enter text. / Click or tap here to enter text. /
Signature / Date
CourtWatch Volunteer Scheduling
NAME: Click or tap here to enter text.
AVAILABILITY: Please mark the time slots you would be available and able to volunteer if you were offered a CourtWatch monitor position (shifts are from 8:30am-noon and 1:00pm-4:30pm).
Time / Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday8:30am / ☐ / ☐ / ☐ / ☐ / NO SHIFT
9:00am
10:00am
11:00am
12:00pm / LUNCH / LUNCH / LUNCH / LUNCH / LUNCH
1:00pm / ☐ / ☐ / ☐ / ☐ / ☐ /
2:00pm
3:00pm
4:00pm
4:30pm
LOCATION: I am available to volunteer at the:
☐Seattle Courthouse (Downton Seattle)
☐Regional Justice Center (Kent)
☐Both
FREQUENCY: I am interested in volunteering:
☐Weekly
☐Every other week
☐Once a month
Other: Click or tap here to enter text.
I will be unavailable the following dates (known vacations, etc.):
Click or tap here to enter text.
CREDIT: I will be receiving school credit for this volunteer position:
☐Yes
☐No
Statement of Beliefs
Agency Mission
- We give voice to victims, their families and the communities
- We create change in beliefs, attitudes and behaviors about sexual assault
- We instill courage for people to speak out about sexual assault
Diversity Statement
King County Sexual Assault Resource Center values the strengths that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds bring to our organization and the people we serve. We demonstrate this commitment in our policies, services and actions.
Diversity is defined as differences in ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation and disabilities. Because sexism, racism homophobia and ageism are connected to sexual assault, KCSARC has a compelling interest in being diverse – both in those who make up the agency as well as those who benefit from our services.
KCSARC is committed to provide services to any person regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, creed, income, marital status, age, sexual orientation or presence of any sensory, mental or physical handicap.
The agency publicly takes positions on issues related to sexism, racism, homophobia and sexual assault, as well as other issues that impact the agency or those we serve. We acknowledge that employees/volunteers may have differing private opinions, however, while conducting agency business, employees/volunteers are expected to support agency positions.
Volunteer Service Environment
KCSARC seeks to create a work environment in which all employees/volunteers are encouraged to develop to their full potential in an environment, which is flexible, fair and free from discrimination. KCSARC employees/volunteers are expected to fully participate in their own professional development and in healthy and effective functioning of the workplace.
Workplace Philosophy
Weapons:
KCSARC does not wish to contribute in any way to perpetuating violence in this society. The potential for escalating the level of violence in a given situation is greatly increased when weapons are accessible. For this reason, KCSARC prohibits the carrying of weapons by staff/volunteers when engaged in agency business.
Conflict of Interest:
KCSARC recognizes that employees/volunteers may have secondary employment, as well as volunteer work which may or may not be in the field of sexual assault. It is considered an automatic conflict of interest if secondary employment or volunteer work is in the field of criminal or civil defense work, sex offender treatment, or in the sex industry.
Criminal Background Checks:
The State of Washington requires criminal background checks for employees/volunteers who have unsupervised access to vulnerable children or adults. KCSARC takes its responsibility to provide a safe environment and high quality services to clients with the utmost seriousness; thus, background checks are required for all employees/volunteers. We will not hire individuals who have been convicted of crimes against children or other persons, nor will we hire individuals who have been found by a court in a protection proceeding to have abused or financially exploited a vulnerable adult.