Capital Defense Mitigation Specialist

State of Missouri; Columbia Township (MO); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

State of Missouri benefits

Pension plan

Health insurance

Generous leave and holidays

Job summary

The Missouri State Public Defender (MSPD) Capital Division in Missouri seeks a mitigation specialist to assist capital cases by addressing life history, trauma, mental health, and sentencing context. Work includes interviewing clients, compiling life histories, and coordinating with attorneys and experts.

The role involves researching records, interviewing witnesses, drafting mitigation reports, supervising interns, and traveling within the region to provide services.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in psychology, social work, sociology, or related field; MSW preferred.
• Knowledge of community-based social services and the intersection of criminal defense and social work.
• Understanding of collateral consequences of criminal charges and convictions.
• Effective supervisory and management techniques.
• Strong organizational and time management skills for handling a diverse workload and competing priorities.
• Excellent interpersonal, teamwork, and communication skills for office, organizational, and criminal justice system settings.
• Ability to treat clients, coworkers, and colleagues with respect at all times.
• General knowledge of social systems casework and human behavior.
• Ability to apply knowledge to client advocacy.
• Ability to conduct trauma-informed psychosocial interviews and prepare clear and concise written advocacy.
• Ability to travel regularly within the assigned region.

Responsibilities

• Conduct in-depth psychosocial history interviews with clients, family members, and other key individuals.
• Work with clients and their families to understand and communicate the full context of their life experiences, including trauma, mental health, and developmental history.
• Develop comprehensive mitigation reports that detail the client's life history for use in court proceedings.
• Provide ongoing case management services to clients, assisting in the identification and achievement of service goals that support mitigation.

Skills

Organizational skills

Time management

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Trauma-informed interviewing

Travel ability

Education

Master’s degree in psychology/social work/sociology

Masters in Social Work preferred

Job description

The Missouri State Public Defender (MSPD) Capital Division in Missouri seeks a mitigation specialist to assist capital cases by addressing life history, trauma, mental health, and sentencing context. Work includes interviewing clients, compiling life histories, and coordinating with attorneys and experts.

The role involves researching records, interviewing witnesses, drafting mitigation reports, supervising interns, and traveling within the region to provide services.