Investigator District Attorney

Midland County, Texas; Midland (TX); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Midland County, Texas is seeking a dedicated investigator to support the District Attorney and legal team. The role involves coordinating interviews, subpoenas, and evidence, as well as assisting with grand jury and trial preparation.

You will collect and verify documents, photograph crime scenes, and transport witnesses or suspects as required. A peace officer credential and substantial investigative experience are essential.

Qualifications

• Five years of investigation experience in law enforcement.
• Certification and credentials required for peace officer duties.
• Ability to pass background check and drug testing.

Responsibilities

• Assist District Attorney and Chief Investigator with cases.
• Obtain certified copies of documents and subpoenas as needed.
• Coordinate interviews, subpoenas, and court appearances.
• Transport witnesses and prisoners to and from the courthouse.
• Photograph crime scenes and collect evidence for trials.
• Attend grand jury and pre-trial hearings as needed.
• Provide trial support including exhibits and testimony.

Skills

Interviewing

Report writing

Evidence photography

Courtroom communication

Jury selection support

Criminal investigations

Interagency coordination

Education

Advanced or Master Peace Officer certificate (TCOLE)

TDCAA Professional Criminal Investigator certificate

Valid Texas Driver License

Job description

Summary

Perform all duties assigned by the District Attorney; perform duties assigned by the Chief Investigator, assists attorneys on cases by obtaining certified copies of documents, conducting follow-up interviews with victims/witnesses, coordinating polygraph examinations, and photographing crime scenes; performs hot check investigations, including locating check writer, setting up payment schedules, and making payments to the victim; assists various attorneys with all aspects of a trial, including juries, evidence, testimony, and progress of the case; assists with grand jury and pre-trial hearings, including presenting cases and serving as bailiff; serve subpoenas for witnesses and records; conducts special investigations upon request. Responsible for the vast majority of the listed essential duties and responsibilities pertains to misdemeanor case assignments, however, may be required to assist in felony cases, misdemeanor/felony hot check case, and hot check warrants.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Perform all duties assigned by the District Attorney.
• Perform all duties assigned by the Chief Investigator.
• Assigned duties are performed during regular working hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM Monday through Friday, however, some assignments may require working after hours, weekends, or holidays.
• Serves as liaison with various law enforcement agencies, including requesting more information for cases and obtaining Agency Offense Reports.
• Locate victims, witnesses, and defendants as needed for interviews or statements.
• Serve subpoenas for victims, witnesses, and attorneys' requests for certified copies of materials, such as court documents, death verifications, agency reports, jail records, photographs, fingerprint cards, vehicle registration, and driver's license.
• Obtains certified copies of materials, such as court documents, death verifications, agency reports, jail records, photographs, fingerprint cards, vehicle registrations, driver's licenses, and "pen packs" when subpoenas are not required.
• Pick up requested materials and evidence from other agencies.
• Interviews and takes statements from the victims and/or witnesses in a case, including contacting the appropriate parties, asking questions, and discussing the case with them.
• Communicates with defense attorneys, including helping to work out pleas and obtaining information to be investigated.
• Transport witness, defendants, and prisoners either local, out of county or out of state
• Photograph and/or obtain city plat maps of crime scenes for court presentation.
• Attend interviews between attorneys (prosecution or defense) and victims, witness, and defendants.
• Testify in Court when needed.
• Schedules and coordinates polygraph examinations, including copying the case for the examiner, reviewing the case with the examiner, transporting subject to and from the examination site, observing the examination, reviewing the results with the examiner, taking statements or confessions if needed, and reporting results to the attorney on the case.
• Assists attorneys in jury selection process, including reviewing jury panel information sheets, conducting criminal history checks on jury panel, and making recommendations for jury selection.
• Assists attorneys in trial, including setting up exhibits, operating sound and visual systems, obtaining background information on witnesses, and keep witnesses ready to testify.
• Listens to all testimony presented in case, including watching out for inconsistencies and observing nonverbal responses of the jurors.
• Confers with attorneys regarding evidence and testimony presented and the overall progress of the case.
• Sign affidavits of complaints for attorneys.
• Request, receives, and distribute restitution for victims.
• Assist attorneys during misdemeanor arraignments.
• Take and/or pick up drug evidence and lab results from DPS lab.
• Serve Protective Orders.
• Assists other law enforcement agencies on investigations, including reviewing cases, investigating crime scenes, performing surveillance functions, and serving warrants.
• Answer calls from citizens requesting assistance.
• Take or retrieve files to or from the "Barn".
• Receive and review Hot Check warrant files compiled by the hot check office staff.
• Perform misdemeanor hot check investigations, including contacting the victim for any additional information, locating check writer, setting up payment schedules, and making payments to the victim and entering any new information into the hot check file.
• Perform felony hot check investigations, contact the victim for any additional information, identify and contact the offender; to interview, photograph, finger print, record a confession, and to make arrangements for a payment plan; subpoena bank records; interview and take statement from victim; prepare detailed reports and arrest warrants for prosecution.
• Arrest individuals on hot check warrants or any other wanted persons contacted.
• Investigate reported hot check forgeries and review with local law enforcement agencies.
• Review ANS warrants in Spillman for arrested hot check persons and show that they were served.
• Deliver misdemeanor warrants to Midland County Jail on persons arrested on misdemeanor hot check warrants.
• Deliver Dismissals on defendants who are in jail to the JPs to be signed and take signed copy to the jail.
• Pick up and deliver supplies and equipment from vendors that are needed for the office.
• Assists with Grand Juries and pre-trial hearings, including serving as bailiff, presenting cases, serving subpoenas, transporting witnesses and prisoners to and from courthouse, delivering subpoenaed records, and obtaining certified copies of records.
• Provides security as needed for district courts, grand jury, pre-trial hearings, and Commissioners Court meetings
• Witness Court ordered drug evidence destruction.
• Maintain educational and training requirements for Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.
• Investigate Sexual Assault cases from the Attorney General's Office.
• Perform all duties as a certified peace officer of the State of Texas.
• Monitor local law enforcement radio communications and assist other agencies as needed.
• Maintain the County issued vehicle and equipment in a clean and good working condition.
• Assist the other Investigators when needed to perform any of the essential duties and responsibilities.

Qualifications, Education, and/or experience

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Must also pass a background check, submit to a drug test, and meet all Midland County requirements for employment.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Five years investigation experience in law enforcement.
• Advanced or Master Peace Officer certificate from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE).
• Any equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Valid Texas class C driver license.
• Professional Criminal Investigator certificate from TDCAA when eligible

KNOWLEDGE OF

Texas Criminal Code rules and procedures; the legal system; personal computers and software; safe operation of firearms; use of still and video cameras; operation of office equipment, including copy machine and facsimile machine; operation of investigative equipment, including fingerprint equipment, communication equipment, and criminal investigations and trials.

Knowledge, Skills and/or ability

SKILL/ABILITY TO

Read, analyze, and interpret case information; determine priority of tasks and/or items to be gathered for investigations; gather various information related to cases; write reports, memos, and letters; interview victims, witnesses, suspects, and defendants in cases to collect statements and confessions; photograph and analyze crime scenes; communicate effectively, both in person and on the phone; analyze trial and courtroom proceedings, including making recommendations to attorneys regarding witnesses, evidence, and juries; and maintain effective working relationships with attorneys, judges, other law enforcement officers, and co-workers.