Capital Mitigation Specialist

Maricopa County; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 76,000 - 92,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition reimbursement

Hybrid work schedule options

Low-cost healthcare for you and depend

Paid vacation, sick time, and parental

Job summary

Maricopa County's Office of the Public Defender seeks a Capital Mitigation Specialist to provide expert guidance on mental health, trauma, and related issues in capital cases.

You will conduct life-history investigations, interview witnesses, and prepare comprehensive social histories and reports to support defense strategies, collaborating with clinicians, law enforcement, and attorneys in a fast-paced, hybrid work environment.

Qualifications

• Four years of relevant casework experience including identification of mental health symptoms, exposure to trauma, physical/neurological defects, and/or drug/alcohol use.
• Master's degree in social work, counseling, psychology, or a related discipline.
• Valid Arizona driver's license upon hire.

Responsibilities

• Conduct life-history investigations to develop mitigation themes.
• Establish and maintain contact with clients and collateral witnesses throughout the duration of the case.
• Compile evidence and extensive documentation relating to the client's life history and background to obtain information to assist in mitigation.
• Synchronize information and develop a coherent 'life story' for the client.
• Collaborate with local law enforcement agencies, medical professionals, and educational institutes for needed information.
• Assess clients' social and medical histories, psychological evaluations, educational transcripts, and legal documents.
• Interview interested parties and assist in the development of mitigation; participate in voir dire as needed.
• Prepare correspondence, social histories, reports, and submit information to psychologists, attorneys, and/or the court.

Skills

Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Education

Master's degree in social work/counseling/psychology

Job description

Posting Date

08/31/26

Application Deadline

09/07/26

Pay Range

Anticipated Hiring Range: $75,750 - 91,875 annually
Full Pay Range: $75,750 - $108,000 annually
Salary offers are based on the candidate's equivalent experience and internal equity with other employees within the same job classification. This position is not eligible for overtime compensation.

Job Type

Unclassified

Department

Public Defender

About the Position

Do you enjoy advocacy? Are you inquisitive? Would you enjoy research and investigation into the backgrounds of our clients? Do you love being part of a collaborative team of professionals who are fighting to save lives?

Capital Mitigation Specialists play an integral part in the capital defense team's work by providing expert guidance in the areas of mental health, cognitive impairments, developmental disability, trauma, and adverse childhood experiences.

About Us

With over 470 employees, the Office of the Public Defender is the largest of the five indigent defense offices in Maricopa County. We are also one of the largest public defender offices in the country. Our office provides innovative, client-centered legal representation in the full range of criminal matters to clients unable to afford legal counsel. Our attorneys and staff are dedicated to treating our clients with respect and dignity as we defend their constitutional rights in a court of law. This is a fast-paced department with an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the people we serve.

Proud to Offer

• Work with a greater purpose
• Tuition reimbursement
• Exceptional work-life balance, with hybrid and alternative work schedule options
• Opportunities for growth and development within Maricopa County
• Low-cost, high-value healthcare for you and your qualifying dependents
• Child care benefits, including access to our on-site center,Maricopa County Kids Club, dedicated to serving Maricopa County families
• Paid vacation, sick time, and parental leave
• Extensive wellness program, including an incentive
• Enrollment in the Arizona State Retirement System, a defined retirement benefit requiring an 11.98% per paycheck contribution rate that includes a 100% employer match on Day 1
• Want to learn more about the County's Qualifying and Compensation Philosophy? Follow this link to learn more! Work With Us | Maricopa County, AZ

We Require

• Four years of relevant casework experience that includes identification of mental health symptoms, exposure to trauma, physical/neurological defects, and/or drug/alcohol use
• Master's degree in social work, counseling, psychology, or a related discipline

Other Requirements

• Valid Arizona driver's license upon hire

We Also Value

• Dual undergraduate/graduate degrees in counseling, psychology, social work, or related field
• Two or more years of experience conducting mitigation investigations
• Experience preparing comprehensive social history narratives, biopsychosocial assessments, or similar reports
• Experience conducting trauma-informed interviews
• Experience working in a criminal justice or forensic setting
• Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Job Contributions

• Conduct a life-history investigation for the purpose of developing mitigation themes
• Establish and maintain contact with the client, collateral witnesses, and interested parties throughout the duration of the case
• Compile evidence and extensive documentation relating to the client's life history and background, including family background, prior personal relationships, and educational, medical, employment, and criminal history, to obtain information to assist in mitigation
• Synchronize information and develop a coherent "life story" for the client
• Collaborate with local law enforcement agencies, medical professionals, and educational institutes for needed information
• Assess clients' social and medical histories, psychological evaluations, educational transcripts, and legal documents
• Interview interested parties, including detailed and comprehensive interviews of lay witnesses, to assist in the development of mitigation
• Participate in jury selection and provide support to an attorney during individual juror voir dire, including assessment of candidates
• Prepare correspondence, social histories, reports, and submit information to psychologists, attorneys, and/or the court
• Assist in the development of case strategies and presentation of mitigation; identify issues requiring evaluation and research, and available expert assistance
• May be required to testify in court

Working Conditions

• Work is primarily performed in an office environment with bright lighting and requires prolonged periods in a stationary position, constant viewing of a computer monitor or screen, frequent computer use involving repetitive hand and wrist movements, and routine exposure to outdoor heat and sunlight.
• Traumatic subject matter (crime scenes, autopsy pictures, capital trial); interruptions; time pressures; high volume of work; handling multiple or complicated tasks; accuracy; decision making; concentration/vigilance, and teamwork may be constant occurrences
• Travel to and from court locations, government facilities, and other job-related locations as necessary, which may include periodic travel outside of Maricopa County, subject to County policies regarding vehicle use
• Frequent jail visits. Unscheduled tasks, frequently changing tasks, and working in a team environment may be frequent occurrences
• Hybrid or alternative work schedule options are available after training, based on business needs
• Ability to lift floor to waist and waist to shoulder a minimum of 10 lbs.; must also be able to carry a minimum of 5 lbs. for a distance of 50 feet; may also be required to push/pull a minimum of 30 lbs. for a distance of 2,640 feet

Selection Procedure

• Consideration will only be given to candidates who submit online applications
• Candidates will be contacted primarily through email and their Workday online application profile
• Must pass a pre-employment background and/or fingerprint investigation as required by statute or policy, including drug and alcohol testing requirements for positions designated as safety-sensitive

Maricopa County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation during the application process or to perform the essential functions of the position under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact [e-mail] to initiate the interactive process.