District Attorney Investigator: High-Impact Prosecutions

County of Los Angeles; California; On-site; USD 88,000 - 118,000; Full time

Job summary

Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office seeks a District Attorney investigator to support investigators and prosecutors. You will locate and interview witnesses, conduct pretrial investigations, and help build strong cases across auto insurance, workers' comp, healthcare, real estate, and consumer fraud.

You will collaborate with multiple law enforcement agencies, participate in multidisciplinary task forces, and may promote to senior investigator after a 12-month probation.

Qualifications

• Two years of full-time law enforcement experience within the last three years.
• Associate's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• Possession of a valid California POST Basic Certificate or higher.

Responsibilities

• Assist in criminal investigations by gathering and reviewing information to support prosecutions.
• Interview victims, witnesses, and suspects; photograph scenes and collect evidence.
• Conduct interviews with various parties using appropriate techniques to obtain admissible information.
• Locate victims, witnesses, and suspects through interviews and database searches to support prosecutions.
• Perform law enforcement activities including serving subpoenas, warrants, and other court orders.
• Prepare documents (reports, memoranda, logs) and document events per policy and law.
• Assist in presenting evidence in court as a witness or expert witness.
• Interact with local, state, and federal agencies to support investigations.
• Comment on cases with prosecutors and participate in multidisciplinary task forces.
• Perform general office duties to support investigative activities.
• Maintain ongoing training and firearm qualifications per state requirements.
• Travel across Los Angeles County to conduct essential investigative functions.

Skills

Law enforcement experience

Education

Associate degree

California POST Basic Certificate

California Driver License

Job description

LOS ANGELES COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE

EXAM NUMBER:

2889D

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT:

We welcome applications from everyone!

APPLICATION FILING PERIOD:

The application filing period will begin on Monday, September 14, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. (PT) – Continuous.
We will continue accepting applications until the needs of the recruitment have been met. The application window may close unexpectedly once we have enough qualified candidates.

Los Angeles County, with more than 10 million residents, is the nation’s most populous county and one of Southern California's largest employers. With more than 100,000 employees across 39 departments and 2,100 different job types, we provide vital and diverse public services, including law enforcement, property assessment, public health protection, water conservation, and cultural activities. We are dedicated professionals committed to preserving the dignity and integrity of the workplace as well as protecting the rights of each employee. Join us and discover a rich selection of health care options, robust retirement plans and the flexibility to work, relax, and rejuvenate to reach your fullest personal and professional potential.

Joining the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office (LADA) is the largest local prosecutorial office in the United States. Our jurisdiction spans 4,084 miles, stretching from the Antelope Valley to Long Beach and from Pomona to Malibu. LADA is dedicated to protecting and serving our community and safeguarding the rights of crime victims and the accused alike through an unrelenting pursuit of justice. That pursuit of justice will ensure that not just the result, but the process itself reflects the highest standards of fairness, impartiality, and integrity.

The Bureau of Investigation is the county's fourth largest law enforcement agency and employs nearly 300 sworn peace officers, known as District Attorney investigators. The investigators conduct some of the most unique, sensitive, and complex criminal investigations in law enforcement. Bureau personnel also assist other law enforcement agencies with vehicular and electronic surveillance, undercover operations, and photographic services.

POSITION INFORMATION:
As a District Attorney investigator, you will work under the direction of a Sergeant, D.A. and will play a vital role in strengthening some of the County's most challenging prosecutions. Your primary responsibility will be to support the District Attorney's staff of over 800 deputy district attorneys by locating and interviewing witnesses, conducting supplemental pretrial investigations, and helping build strong, well-supported cases.

In this role, you may participate in a wide range of investigative assignments, including cases involving auto insurance, workers' compensation, health care, real estate, and consumer fraud. You may also work directly with attorneys in specialized programs such as Justice System Integrity and Public Integrity, contributing to high-impact, mission-critical work. Your day-to-day duties will involve collaboration with numerous local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. You may be assigned to multidisciplinary teams such as the DEA Narcotics Task Force, Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms Task Force, LA IMPACT, FBI Fugitive Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations Task Force, Innocence Lost Task Force, Sex Crimes (SAFE) Task Force, and the US Secret Service High Tech Crimes Task Force, giving you opportunities to expand your expertise in diverse investigative environments. This position offers the opportunity to develop advanced investigative skills, work alongside experienced professionals, and make a meaningful impact on public safety.

After successfully completing a 12-month probationary period, you will have the opportunity to promote to the position of senior investigator, opening the door to even greater responsibility and career growth.

SPECIAL SALARY INFORMATION:

Applicants will receive a Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification bonus.

- $7,298.78 - $9,836.26 Basic POST

- $7,520.78 - $10,135.44 Intermediate POST

- $7,749.52 - $10,443.74 Advanced POST

• Assists in criminal case investigations by gathering and reviewing relevant information about the case (e.g., police reports, witness statements, depositions, lab reports, medical reports, searching JDIC, and other information databases, relevant case law, similar cases handled by District Attorney, financial transactions) in order to support the criminal prosecution.
• Assists in the follow-up investigations of crimes by interviewing victims, witnesses, suspects; photographing crime scene(s); taking measurements; using various law enforcement-related equipment in order to collect credible, relevant, and admissible findings to support criminal prosecutions.
• Conducts extensive interviews with victims, witnesses, suspects (interrogations), complainants, etc., by applying appropriate interviewing techniques in order to collect credible, relevant, and admissible information and evidence such as written and audio/video statements, etc.) concerning the case.
• Locates victims, witnesses, and suspects by using various investigative methods including searching JDIC and other information databases; interviewing associates, neighbors, employer, and other individuals; searching records of other public and non-public agencies in order to support criminal prosecutions and appropriately enforce orders of the court.
• Performs law enforcement activities, including conducting investigations; serving court-ordered documents, such as subpoenas, search, bench, and/or arrest warrants, summons, motions, affidavits, compelling orders, orders to show cause; providing witness protection; surveillance of persons and property; making arrests by operating as an agent of the District Attorney or working in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies (e.g., federal, state, local, etc.) to support criminal prosecutions and appropriately enforce court orders.
• Prepares a variety of documents (e.g., investigative reports, memorandums, daily work logs) by operating a computer terminal and software programs (e.g., word processing, JDIC, and other information databases); using appropriate standard forms in order to properly document and record events in accordance with departmental policy and procedures, and the law.
• Assists the prosecuting attorney by gathering and reviewing relevant evidence (e.g., physical evidence, charts, diagrams/models and photographs of crime scene, lab and medical reports, financial spreadsheets); conducting interviews; and locating victims and witnesses (e.g., explaining procedures, transporting to the courthouse) to support criminal prosecutions.
• Testifies in court as a case witness and/or expert witness by answering attorneys' and judge's questions in order to present evidence related to the case.
• Interacts with representatives from a variety of public and private agencies (e.g., local, state, federal) and relevant parties to the case (e.g., victims, witnesses, crime lab, members of the medical field, experts, private companies, organizations, financial institutions, insurance companies) by contacting and communicating with relevant parties; gathering evidence and information; and responding to inquiries to carry out investigative activities.
• Performs general office duties by completing activities such as answering telephones (e.g., routing calls to appropriate parties, answering requests for information or assistance from the public), maintaining a variety of case-related documents, and photocopying to support the investigative activities.
• Maintains and updates knowledge and skills related to the investigator discipline by attending training classes and law enforcement-related conferences/associations (e.g., covering topics such as investigation methods, current case law, criminal activity trends, new investigative technology, first aid, state-mandated continual professional development), maintaining firearm qualifications; and reading investigative-related material to comply with current California Peace Officer Standards and Training requirements and departmental policies and procedures and to maintain proficiency in performing investigative duties.
• Drives throughout Los Angeles County to carry out essential investigative functions.

REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY:

• Two (2) years of full-time law enforcement experience within the last three (3) years as a peace officer as defined in Section 830.1 of the Penal Code of the State of California, or as an investigator with the Federal Government as defined by Federal Job Series 1811.
• An Associate's degree or higher from an accredited college or university*.
• Possession of a valid California POST Basic Certificate or higher*.

LICENSE:
A valid California Class C Driver License* is required.

Successful applicants must obtain and present a copy of their driving record from the California State Department of Motor Vehicles before final appointment. Applicants should not present a copy of their driving history until asked to do so by the hiring department. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether an applicant’s driving history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job. License must NOT be currently suspended, restricted, or revoked.

A CANDIDATE WHOSE DRIVING RECORD SHOWS THREE (3) OR MORE MOVING VIOLATIONS WITHIN THE LAST YEAR WILL NOT BE APPOINTED.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION:
*To receive credit for your education, certification and/or license, include a legible copy of all relevant official documents, including your diploma, transcript, or letter/certificate from an accredited institution. The document should show the date the degree was conferred and be in English. If not in English, then translation is required. International degrees must be evaluated for equivalency to U.S. standards if not listed in the International Handbook of Universities or World Higher Education Database. Documents marked as unofficial will not be accepted. For more information on our standards for educational documents, please visit: https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/070812_PPG123.pdf.

If you are unable to attach documents, you may email them to [e-mail] at the time of filing or within seven (7) calendar days of filing your application. Failure to provide the documentation will result in application rejection. Please include your Name, the Exam Number, and the Exam Title on the documents.

We do not accept password-protected documents. Ensure documents are unlocked before attaching to your application or sending them to the exam analyst. Please check your application to ensure that the documents are uploaded by logging on to County of Los Angeles Department of Human Resources website and reviewing your submitted application. All documents must be clear and legible. Although resumes may be uploaded as attachments to the online application, resumes cannot be accepted in lieu of completing the online application.

PHYSICAL CLASS:
4 - Arduous: This class involves frequent heavy lifting over 25 pounds, often combined with bending, twisting, or working above ground on irregular surfaces. It includes those positions that occasionally demand extraordinary physical activity such as those in Safety positions.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
In accordance with California Government Code Section 1031, as peace officers, applicants must be in good physical standing and free from any physical, emotional, or mental condition that could adversely affect the exercise of peace officer powers.

AGE:
At least 21 years of age at time of appointment
VISION:
1) Acuity - At least 20/70 in each eye without correction, correctable to 20/30 in each eye. Successful soft contact lens wearers are not required to meet the uncorrected standard as long as their corrected vision is 20/30 in each eye.
2) Color perception - Anything other than minor hue impairment is disqualifying.

HEARING:
There may be no greater than a 25 dB loss in the better ear as averaged over the test frequencies of 500, 1000, 2000, and 3000 Hz. There may not be a peak loss at any of the test frequencies greater than:

30 dB at 500 Hz
30 dB at 1000 Hz
40 dB at 2000 Hz
40 dB at 3000 Hz

There may be no greater than a 35 dB loss in the worse ear as averaged over the test frequencies, and no peak loss greater than 45 dB at any of the test frequencies. In the case of a questionable, unusual, or borderline hearing loss, the applicant's record will be reviewed by the Occupational Health Service consultant in otolaryngology who will make a recommendation as to the applicant's employability, and forward it to the medical Director for final disposition.

EXAMINATION CONTENT:

If you fulfill the requirements outlined above, you will be invited to participate in the examination.

The examination will consist of two (2) components:

Part I:You will be given a multiple-choice assessment on the knowledge required for this job. We will assess your knowledge related to law enforcement (e.g., search and seizure, laws of arrest, and crimes), written expression, data analysis and interpretation, and reading comprehension. This is an unweighted qualifying assessment.

Applicants must receive a passing score of 70% or higher on Part I to proceed to Part II.

Part II: After passing the multiple-choice assessment, you will be invited to participate in the interview. In the interview, we will assess your technical job knowledge, work habits, and problem-solving, interpersonal, communication, and situational awareness skills. The interview will be worth 100% of your total score.

Standardized examination materials, such as multiple-choice and/or simulation assessment(s), are not subject to review, as outlined in the CSR 7.19. However, the following material is available for review:

- Structured Interview Result Report

TEST PREPARATION:
We provide study guides and other test preparation resources to help candidates prepare for employment tests. While the guides may help in preparing for the test, we recommend reviewing all related materials that seem necessary.

• Various information can be found on our website at Job Search Toolkit – LAC Jobs – Start HERE. The section dedicated to test preparation is “Employment Test Assistance”.
• Online practice tests are available at Practice Tests and Assessments | SHL. You can also visit our Los Angeles County Online Assessment Preparation Series webpage at Homepage | LA County Online Assessments Prep Series for information about common online assessment types, sample questions, and test-taking tips.

ELIGIBILITY & VACANCY INFORMATION:
Applicants who passed the assessment(s) are placed on a list in the order of their score group for a period of 12 months. Applications will be processed as they are received and added to the list accordingly. We will use this list to fill vacancies in the District Attorney's Office as they occur.

No persons may compete for this examination more than once every 12 months.

SPECIAL INFORMATION
LOCATION & SHIFT REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant must be willing to accept any investigative assignments throughout Los Angeles County and work any shift (e.g., evenings, nights, and weekends).

BACKGROUND CHECK:

Before a final appointment is made to this position, you will be required to complete and pass a thorough background investigation including a Live Scan.

Examples of disqualifying factors are:
• Any criminal charges or convictions
• Job related misdemeanor convictions
• Certain serious traffic convictions or patterns of traffic violations such as three (3) moving violations in one (1) year; failure to appear; at-fault accidents; applicant placed on a three (3) year probation
• Poor credit history
• Poor employment history
• Substance abuse
• Driving under the influence

APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION:

We only accept applications filed online. Applications submitted by U.S. mail, fax, or in person are not accepted. Apply online by clicking on the "Apply" green button at the top right of this posting. This website can also be used to get application status updates.

Please fill out the application completely. Provide relevant job experience including employer's name and address, job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, and description of work performed.

We may verify information included in the application at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. Falsification of information could result in refusal of application or rescission of appointment. Copying verbiage from the Requirements or class specification as your work experience will not be sufficient to demonstrate meeting the requirements. Doing so may result in an incomplete application and may lead to disqualification.

We will send notifications to the email address provided on the application, so it is important that you provide a valid email address. If you choose to unsubscribe or opt out from receiving our emails, it is possible to view notices by logging intogovernmentjobs.com and checking the profile inbox. It is every applicant's responsibility to take steps to view correspondence, and we will not consider claims of missing notices to be a valid reason for re-scheduling an exam part.

Register the below domains as approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk mail.
[e-mail]
[e-mail]

New email addresses need to be verified. This only needs to be done once per email address and can be done at any time by logging in togovernmentjobs.com and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of the online application and to prevent incorrectly entered email addresses.

ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI):

The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. We are committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst races. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER:
Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number, so include yours when applying.

COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES:
For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.

NO SHARING OF USER ID AND PASSWORD:
All applicants must file their application online using their OWN user ID and password. Using a family member or a friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.

TESTING ACCOMMODATION:
If you require an accommodation to fairly compete in any part of the assessment process, contact the Testing Accommodations Coordinator at [e-mail]. We require a completed "Request for Reasonable Accommodation" form as well as supporting documentation from a qualified professional justifying the request. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can respond and keep you moving through the process.

QUESTIONS? Please Contact Us:

Exam Number: A2889D
Department Contact Name: Exams Unit
Department Contact Phone: [phone]
Department Contact Email: [e-mail]

California Relay Service Phone: [phone]
ADA Coordinator Phone: [phone]

Teletype Phone: [phone]
Alternate Teletype Phone: [phone]