KRS 69.350: Employment of victim advocate.

(1) Each county attorney may employ individually or jointly with one (1) or more other

county attorneys at least one (1) victim advocate to counsel and assist crime victims

as defined in KRS 421.500.

(2) An individual employed as a victim advocate shall be a p erson who by a

combination of education, professional qualification, training, and experience is

qualified to perform the duties of this position. The victim advocate shall be an

individual at least eighteen (18) years of age, of good moral character, with at least

two (2) years of experience working in the human services field or court system in a

position requiring professional contact with children or adults, who has:

(a) Received a baccalaureate degree in social work, sociology, psychology,

guidance and counseling, education, religion, criminal justice, or other human

service field; or

(b) Received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate, and, in addition to

the experience required in this subsection, has at least four (4) years'

experience working in the human services field or court system.

(3) Each county attorney who employs an individual to serve as a victim advocate shall

develop a written job description which describes the duties of the position and

shall ensure the victim advocate comple tes training relating to the appropriate

intervention with crime victims, including victims of domestic violence and elder

abuse, neglect, and exploitation and other crimes against the elderly. Each victim

advocate shall perform those duties necessary to i nsure compliance with the crime

victim's bill of rights contained in KRS 421.500 to 421.530. No victim advocate

shall engage in political activities while in the course of performing duties as victim

advocate or the practice of law as defined in KRS 524.13 0. The creation and

funding of any new personnel position shall be reviewed and approved by the

Prosecutors Advisory Council.