Court Support Volunteer
Court Support Volunteers receive the same training as Volunteer Advocates - over 100 hours of training including, but not limited to:
- in court preparation for victims/witnesses,
- active listening and communication skills,
- sexual assault,
- child abuse,
- domestic violence,
- suicide intervention,
- crime victim trauma,
- police and court system procedures, and
- crisis intervention to name a few.
Court Support Volunteers would be available to perform the following essential functions:
- keep victims informed of proceedings with the criminal justice system;
- assist in the delivery, explanation and follow-up of court proceedings;
- maintain confidentiality at all times
- provide victim/witnesses with formalized court preparation sessions and accompaniment to court as required
- attend Airdrie Court on Thursdays , Fridays and special sittings in Calgary and occasionally Drumheller Court;
- provide information on, and referrals to, other community agencies who act as additional resources for victims
- accurate completion of written reports and records as required including updating the investigating officer of any additional information received while interacting with a victim.
Court Support Volunteers are required to:
- attend Court on scheduled court days as well as being available for special Court sittings which may fall on other dates;
- sign a one year contract with the program;
- completion of all security clearance forms for the RCMP;
- participate and attend all training programs and other in-service sessions;
- have strong communication skills and the ability to provide non-judgmental support;
- the ability to work in stressful situations, and
- maintain a high degree of professionalism including dressing in a business-like fashion and punctuality.