Criminal Investigation 1

National Legal Aid & Defender Association; Marietta (GA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

The Office of the Ohio Public Defender is seeking a Criminal Investigator 1 for the Washington County Office of our Trial Services Division. You will conduct criminal investigations for non-capital felonies and misdemeanors and assist in preparing cases for trials across Ohio.

You will travel regularly to jails, courthouses, and communities to collect evidence and interview witnesses. Successful candidates should have a passion for teamwork and a commitment to pursuing a fair justice system,

Qualifications

• Experience in criminal investigations preferred.
• Ability to travel across Washington County and Ohio as needed.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Investigate the facts and circumstances of the alleged offense.
• Serve subpoenas.
• Interview clients.
• Review case materials.
• Locate, contact, and interview witnesses in the field.
• Gather physical and documentary evidence.
• Prepare and complete reports of interviews, findings, and timelines for use in trial.
• Travel throughout Ohio and outside the state as necessary to locate and interview potential witnesses.
• Serve as a liaison to clients’ families, law enforcement, defense witnesses, and attorneys to transmit information.
• Meet regularly with defense team to provide updates and collaborate.

Job description

Position Description

Who We Are

The Office of the Ohio Public Defender (OPD) is the state agency responsible for providing legal representation and other services to people accused or convicted of a crime who cannot afford to hire an attorney.

Our Mission: Advocating. Fighting. Helping.

Our Vision: A Fair Justice System.

Out Values: Compassion. Dignity. Equity. Integrity. Service. Community.

We are committed to building a work environment where all team members have a voice and can embrace our differences to innovate service to the public in our pursuit of fairness and justice for all people.

Follow OPD on Facebook, Linkedln, lnstagram, and Threads I Visit our Website

What You'll Do

The Office of the Ohio Public Defender is seeking a qualified Criminal Investigator 1 to serve in the Washington County Office of our Trial Services Division. As a Criminal Investigator 1, you will conduct criminal fact investigations of possible non-capital felonies and misdemeanors and assist in preparing and presenting cases at all levels of litigation including trials in Municipal, Juvenile, & Common Pleas Courts. The Trial Services Division provides client-centered representation to indigent clients facing criminal charges across the counties in Ohio. You will travel regularly throughout Washington County and will spend time in the community, in jails, and in courthouses. The office has six staff attorneys, four core support staff, and a supervising attorney. You will report to the Office Director.

Successful candidates will have passion for working with a large team and assisting people who are facing the challenges of poverty. The preferred candidate will have professional or volunteer experience helping to pursue a fair justice system.

Essential functions of the position include but aren’t limited to:

• Investigate the facts and circumstances of the alleged offense.
• Serve subpoenas
• Interview clients.
• Review case materials.
• Using a variety of tools, locate, contact, and interview witnesses in the field.
• Locate, contact, and interview other suspects and family members as needed.
• Gather physical and documentary evidence.
• Prepare and complete reports of interviews, findings, and timelines for use in trial.
• Gather documentation to support the testimony of expert and lay witnesses.
• View and diagram crime scenes.
• Assist in identifying records to put into evidence.
• Travel throughout Ohio and outside the state as necessary to locate and interview potential witnesses.
• Serve as a liaison to clients’ families, law enforcement, various defense witnesses, and attorneys to transmit information.
• Meet regularly with others on defense team to provide updates on investigation and to collaborate with team members.
• Assist with mail, court runs, or filings.

Additional Information

The Criminal Investigator 1 position is assigned to the State of Ohio's OCSEA Pay Schedule, Pay Range 30, presented below in table format. Starting pay will be at Step 1 unless required by contract/legislation; candidates with exceptional qualifications may be considered for higher starting pay. Our steps give a standard path for earnings growth; you move to the next step after 180 days and annually thereafter. We typically have fiscal year Cost of Living Adjustments as well. Note: In the event a candidate demonstrates exceptional qualifications above minimum, they may qualify for a starting salary above

Step 1.

• FY27
• Step 1
• Step 2
• Step 3
• Step 4
• Step 5
• Step 6
• Step 7
• Hourly
• $26.54
• $27.56
• $28.76
• $30.10
• $31.47
• $32.84
• $34.53
• Annually
• $55,203
• $57,325
• $59,821
• $62,608
• $65,458
• $68,307
• $71,822

The Office of the Ohio Public Defender complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the OPD HCM Department, at 614-466- 5394 or [e-mail].

Intentional omission of relevant information, falsification, or misrepresentation of information on the application will disqualify the applicant. In addition, such intentional acts are grounds for immediate termination of an employee. Final candidates selected for this position will be required to undergo a background check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicant's prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration. Final candidates selected for this position will be required to undergo a drug test. An applicant with a positive test result will