Federal Mitigation Specialist & Defense Advocate

National Legal Aid & Defender Association; Peoria (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Federal Employees Retirement System

Thrift Savings Plan with matching

Health insurance

Life insurance

Dental and Vision insurance

Annual leave

Sick leave

11 paid holidays

Paid Parental Leave

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

The Federal Public Defender for the Central District of Illinois seeks a Mitigation Specialist to support Assistant Federal Public Defenders. The role involves developing and presenting mitigation evidence for court proceedings in federal cases under the Criminal Justice Act.

You will interview clients, coordinate with families and service providers, and help identify experts. The position includes federal benefits and opportunities to contribute to pretrial and sentencing processes.

Responsibilities

• Assist attorneys in investigating, analyzing, developing, and presenting mitigation evidence.
• Develop and maintain relationships with clients, their family members, local social service providers, pretrial service and probation officers, and other entities to support both the client and attorney.
• Interview clients and relevant persons in a culturally competent manner.
• Locate and conduct witness interviews to discover information to assist the attorney in advocating for pretrial release and develop all mitigating circumstances in the client’s life to assist at trial or sentencing.
• Obtain necessary client signatures and ensure all release forms are current and timely.
• Gather, investigate, validate, and report to attorney all aspects of client’s life history obtained from multiple sources including vital records, social services records, educational records, employment and personnel records, military records, medical/health records, arrest reports, institutional records, community records, and interviews with persons relevant to the client.
• Determine what experts might be consulted and potentially retained to evaluate the client for substance abuse or mental illness.
• Facilitate client’s entry into the necessary and available treatment, housing, educational, or vocational programs.
• Develop and maintain lists of inpatient and outpatient treatment facilities, short-term/low-income/homeless housing, and vocational training and educational programs.
• Maintain sufficient knowledge of current research and trends in areas such as substance abuse, mental health, and effects of incarceration.
• Assist the attorney in court where requested, including preparing sentencing presentations and testifying.

Job description

The Federal Public Defender for the Central District of Illinois seeks a Mitigation Specialist to support Assistant Federal Public Defenders. The role involves developing and presenting mitigation evidence for court proceedings in federal cases under the Criminal Justice Act.

You will interview clients, coordinate with families and service providers, and help identify experts. The position includes federal benefits and opportunities to contribute to pretrial and sentencing processes.