Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Affiliations
References
Volunteer Experience
Languages
Accomplishments
Timeline
Generic

Maria Liz Cervantez

Avondale,USA

Summary

Proven Victim Advocate Bureau Chief with extensive experience in crisis intervention and victim support. Expertise in team management and data-driven decision-making enhances advocacy efforts. Strong background in grant writing contributes to securing funding for victim services. Committed to fostering relationships within the justice system to improve outcomes for crime victims.

Overview

30
30
years of professional experience

Work History

Victim Advocate Bureau Chief

Maricopa County Attorney Office
Phoenix, AZ
09.2018 - Current
  • Supervise team members in adult, juvenile, and justice court establishments and provide continuous coaching and problem solving tools to achieve goals, improve satisfaction surveys, and comply with Arizona Bill of Victim rights.
  • Review, prepare and review, weekly, monthly, quarterly statistics to satisfy grant requirements.

Victim Advocate - Bilingual

Maricopa County Attorney Office
09.2004 - 09.2018
  • Assist, educate, and support crime victims entering the criminal justice system.
  • Provide court, interview, and meeting escorts for victims and their families to voice their input along the process.
  • Build and maintain relationships with agencies throughout the criminal process to aid towards achieving justice for crime victims.
  • Recipient of the 2017 Inspiration Award.
  • Collect, review and maintain records for various systems use and to satisfy grant proposal objectives.
  • Process high volume restitution requests into electronic case management for prosecution and diversion teams.
  • Case Manage, review and process minute entries to comply with notification policies.

Board Member

Tolleson Elementary School District
01.2000 - 01.2006
  • Lead substantial initiatives including the construction of the Sheely Farms Elementary School.
  • Respond and set standards for educational improvement for students and teachers to succeed, while balancing the community feedback and needs.
  • Reviewed statistical analysis, contracts to determine spending priorities, including bond and override practices.

911 Police Dispatcher

City of El Mirage
El Mirage, AZ
01.2001 - 01.2004
  • Translate, relay, and communicate emergency information to police staff relating to crimes and investigations.
  • Dispatch emergency personnel to crisis and emergent situations.
  • Enter, modify, confirm and remove sensitive classified information including warrants, missing persons, stolen/missing article and vehicle into the Arizona Criminal Justice Information System (ACJIS).

911 Police Dispatcher

City of Tolleson
Tolleson, AZ
01.2000 - 01.2001
  • Translate, relay, and communicate emergency information to police staff relating to crimes and investigations.
  • Dispatch emergency personnel to crisis and emergent situations.
  • Enter, modify, confirm and remove sensitive classified information including warrants, missing persons, stolen/missing article and vehicle into the Arizona Criminal Justice Information System (ACJIS).

Human Resources Clerk

Sun Land Beef Company
Tolleson, AZ
06.1995 - 09.2000
  • Process, conduct data entry, and file information into processing systems and employee hard files.
  • Researched attendance, payroll, and employee concerns.
  • Process FMLA and leave of absence requests to adhere to Arizona and Federal Standards.

Bilingual Legal Advocate

New Life Center
Litchfield, AZ
01.1998 - 01.2000
  • Network, advertise, and facilitate women’s support groups in the west valley.
  • Propose budget, coordinate event planning and collected statistics to satisfy grant needs.
  • Provide crisis intervention, referrals and accompany clients seeking orders of protection, injunctions against harassment.

Education

Masters of Professional Counseling - Professional Counseling courses

Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, AZ

Bachelor of Arts - Criminal Justice Studies, Communications Minor

Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, AZ

Skills

  • Case management
  • Grant writing
  • Crisis intervention
  • Victim advocacy
  • Court escorting
  • Legal compliance
  • Problem solving
  • Team leadership
  • Team collaboration
  • Bilingual communication

Affiliations

  • National Organization for Victim Assistance
  • Arizona Women’s Initiative Network

References

  • Frankie Jones, City of Phoenix Municipal Court Judge, (623) 261-3565
  • Belinda Torres, State of Arizona Strategic Planner, (623) 986-7004

Volunteer Experience

  • Restitution Conference Panelist, Nation Crime Victim Law Institute, 2021, 2022
  • Guest Speaker, ASU Course CRJ305 Women in Criminal Justice, 2020, 2021, 2022
  • Durango Park HOA Board President/Chairperson, Winter Festival 1st, 2nd, and 3rd annual events, 2015 - 2021
  • Peer Support Team Leadership Member, Maricopa County Attorney’s Office

Languages

Spanish
Native/ Bilingual

Accomplishments

  • MCAO Inspiration Award Recipient 2017

Timeline

Victim Advocate Bureau Chief

Maricopa County Attorney Office
09.2018 - Current

Victim Advocate - Bilingual

Maricopa County Attorney Office
09.2004 - 09.2018

911 Police Dispatcher

City of El Mirage
01.2001 - 01.2004

Board Member

Tolleson Elementary School District
01.2000 - 01.2006

911 Police Dispatcher

City of Tolleson
01.2000 - 01.2001

Bilingual Legal Advocate

New Life Center
01.1998 - 01.2000

Human Resources Clerk

Sun Land Beef Company
06.1995 - 09.2000

Masters of Professional Counseling - Professional Counseling courses

Grand Canyon University

Bachelor of Arts - Criminal Justice Studies, Communications Minor

Grand Canyon University

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