The Domestic Violence Unit prosecutes city ordinance violations in Seattle Municipal Court involving crimes of misdemeanor intimate partner domestic violence, elder abuse, stranger stalking or sexual assault, and child abuse/neglect cases. The vast majority of our cases, however, involve intimate partner violence. Domestic violence transcends gender, age, ethnicity and sexual orientation. The Domestic Violence Unit provides support and resources for all domestic violence victims: women, men, children and the elderly.

The office prosecutes crimes of misdemeanor intimate partner domestic violence, family abuse, and child abuse/neglect cases. Students will reach out to victims of violence to discuss their safety, explain the court process, and determine what the victim would like to see happen. Students will advocate for the victim with prosecutors by giving recommendations to the prosecutor regarding optimum case outcomes and victim's wishes. They will also advocate in court by voicing victim's wishes, conferring with the prosecutor, reading victim statements, and supporting a victim who prefers to speak themselves.

There are 3 different options for this practicum site.

Interns will focus on 1 of the 3 options, depending on availability and interest:
1. provide support and resources for primarily intimate partner violence victims, walking them through the criminal justice process.
2. OR provide support and resources for primarily family violence (adult child/parent) or child abuse victims, walking them through the criminal justice process.
3. OR assist with program management and policy (limited direct service), assisting with our Domestic Violence Intervention Program Multi-Disciplinary Team.

Option 1 and 2 can include Latinx specialization.

All interns will have the opportunity to attend multi-disciplinary meetings such as regarding the domestic violence intervention program https://www.seattle.gov/courts/programs-and-services/specialized-courts/domestic-violence-intervention-project. They will also have the opportunity to attend staffing meetings among advocates as well as for the entire unit (including prosecutors).

The 3rd option listed above, program management and policy, will focus on:
--enhancing the training of advocates, including searching out and summarizing local resources
--reviewing potential policy changes, researching policy in different jurisdictions to inform our process, such as looking at diversion programs for intimate partner violence
--gathering feedback from clients to inform policy decisions
--presenting summaries of the research above to decision makers.

All interns will have an opportunity to attend division-wide meetings where policy decisions are discussed and implemented. All interns will observe how the prosecutors interpret the law as it is written and will see limitations to how the law can intervene in gender based crimes. All interns will observe conversations about race and social justice, and how the criminal system can exacerbate disparities.

Laptop and cell phone provided for remote work.

Active listening, ability to remain non-judgmental, domestic violence or child abuse experience (either professional/volunteer or personal experience).

Strongly prefer some experience with domestic violence, criminal justice, mental health and addictions.

Send your updated resume in an email to Julie Huffman (julie.huffman@seattle.gov), with a short description of why you are interested in this position and what skills and experience you have to bring to it. Also include your preferred schedule.