Volunteering within the Domestic Violence Unit

The volunteer training is typically 36 hours long. The training sessions are generally held two weeknights per week (3 hours per session) and three full Saturdays over a three-week period of time.

Yes, we do require prospective volunteers to attend the entire training.  Attending all of the scheduled training sessions helps to ensure that new volunteers have a good foundational understanding of domestic violence, the criminal and civil justice systems and also helps to build cohesion among the new volunteers.

The volunteer training sessions are generally held in 2-3 different locations.  The purpose of holding the sessions in different locations is to accommodate applicants who live in different regions of King County.  Because volunteers come from all over King County and parts of Snohomish and Pierce counties, we try to schedule some of the sessions in central, eastern and south King County. Training locations are typically determined 6-8 weeks before the Volunteer Training begins.

No, we are unable to provide childcare during any of the training sessions.

This will be determined on a case by case basis.  If an applicant can show successful proof of completion of a domestic violence victim advocacy training sponsored by New Beginnings, Domestic Abuse Women's Network or Eastside Domestic Violence Program, etc., we will consider waiving the 36-hour training and instead have that applicant do a more abbreviated training, focusing on system based advocacy.

No, we require all of our volunteers to either go through the full volunteer training or if approved, go through an abridged training.  Applicants must also be cleared through a background check before they can officially begin as a volunteer.

No, unfortunately we are not always able to accommodate all of the requests for training.  We generally train and place 10-15 people in volunteer positions per training session.

After receiving a completed application from prospective volunteers, applications will be reviewed to assess applicants' time availability (both for the training and the actual placement commitment) and genuine interest in providing advocacy services to victims of domestic violence.  Those applicants who most closely meet the first two criteria will be called for an in-person interview.  From those – approximately 10-15 people will be selected to go through the volunteer training.  Ultimate placement in a volunteer position is based on successful completion of both the volunteer training and a criminal background check.

Any prior criminal conviction(s) would render someone ineligible to volunteer for the King County Prosecutor’s Office.  Non-criminal traffic infractions would not make someone ineligible to volunteer.

We require a minimum nine-month commitment to volunteering within the Domestic Violence Unit.  We ask Volunteers to commit at least four hours (of weekday, daytime availability) per week of volunteering for the nine-month period of time.  We welcome volunteers staying longer than nine months, but need to prioritize those applicants who can make at least the full nine-month commitment.

Due to the fact that our services are only provided during the hours that the courts are open (Monday through Friday, 8:30am – 4:30pm) we are unable to take on volunteers whose availability falls outside of these hours.  Fortunately, there are many Domestic Violence agencies within the King County region that seek volunteers who have availability outside of traditional business hours.

No. Although prior experience within the domestic violence field may be advantageous, we are equally committed to training people who may not have prior experience but who possess a genuine desire to learn about and advocate for people who have experienced domestic violence.

During the volunteer training we will be reviewing the different types of volunteer positions within the DV Unit.  Prospective volunteers will be able to rank their first, second and third choice of where they would like to be placed (position and location) after completing the volunteer training.

There is no guarantee that volunteering within the Domestic Violence Unit will lead to a paid position within the Prosecutor’s Office. Volunteers are welcome to apply for open positions within the Prosecutor’s Office once they are publicly posted.

Many former and current volunteers within the DV Unit receive college or graduate school credit for their volunteering.  Applicants must contact their Academic Advisor to determine whether volunteering as a legal advocate within the DV Unit of the Prosecutor’s Office would qualify for academic credit.

We are not able to provide bus passes, parking or mileage reimbursement for volunteers.  Volunteers are responsible for their transportation expenses.

As a volunteer within the Domestic Violence Unit, your primary job will be to assist the legal advocates in providing legal advocacy, domestic violence information/education, resource and referral information and safety planning to people who have experienced domestic violence.  We have volunteer positions as Protection Order Advocates (civil) and as Legal Advocates on criminal domestic violence cases – both misdemeanor and felony.  Please click on the links for volunteer job descriptions of Volunteer Protection Order Advocates, Volunteer District Court Advocates and Volunteer Felony Domestic Violence Advocates.

The Advocates and volunteers within the Domestic Violence Unit of the Prosecutor’s Office serve adult victims of domestic violence (16 years of age or older).  We assist them with either the filing of protection orders against an abusive partner or on the criminal side - assisting someone whose partner has been charged with a DV offense.  We do not work directly with children but work indirectly on their behalf as we support the non-abusive parent as s/he goes through the criminal justice system.  Because we work for the Prosecutor’s Office, we are unable to work with perpetrators of domestic violence.