Mitigation Specialist - Charlottesville

Indigent Defense Commission; Charlottesville (VA); On-site; USD 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

Indigent Defense Commission in Charlottesville is seeking a Mitigation Specialist to support the Public Defender's Office. The role involves interviewing clients, reviewing life histories and mental health records, and aiding in defense strategies and mitigation planning.

The successful candidate will work closely with attorneys and is subject to fingerprint-based background checks. The position emphasizes professionalism, confidentiality, and coordination with other criminal justice agencies to

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Education, training, and/or work experience in mental health or counseling is a requirement.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, establish rapport with clients and families.

Responsibilities

• Interview clients, families, and witnesses to gather life histories and review mental health, educational, and medical histories for defense or mitigation.
• Support clients in crisis and identify interventions or service linkages as needed.
• Assist with development of defense themes of mitigation and identify witnesses for testimony in court.
• Maintain confidentiality of client records and case files.
• Manage time and deadlines, prepare cases, and complete administrative paperwork.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Education, training, and/or work experience in mental health or counseling

Job description

Title: Mitigation Specialist - Charlottesville

State Role Title: Investig and Legal Support II

Hiring Range: $60,210.00 + State Benefits

Agency: Indigent Defense Commission

Location: CHARLOTTESVILLE 320

Agency Website: www.vadefenders.org

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Virginia Indigent Defense Commission (VIDC) is now accepting applications for the position of Mitigation Specialist in the Charlottesville Public Defender's Office. The Mitigation Specialist assists attorneys in providing zealous, high-quality representation to indigent persons accused of criminal offenses. The Mitigation Specialist reports to the Public Defender of the Charlottesville Office and is employed at-will. The successful candidate will be subject to a fingerprint-based criminal background check.

Duties

• Interviews clients, their families, and relevant witnesses to take in-depth life history and review client’s mental health, educational and medical histories to aid with the defense trial or in mitigation.
• Be a supportive resource for clients in crisis, including quick assessments and identification of appropriate intervention or linkages to services where necessary.
• Assist with the development of defense themes of mitigation, alternative sentencing plans, and identifying appropriate witnesses to testify in court.
• Maintain confidentiality of client records and case files.
• Develop and maintain effective time-management and organizational skills in a manner that allows adequate time to track and abide by deadlines, prepare cases, complete administrative paperwork, and respect co-workers’ time constraints.
• Coordinate services with other criminal justice agencies to increase dispositional resources for public defender clients.
• Represent the office on various committees and task forces that provide services to public defender clients.
• This position also requires that the Mitigation Specialist behaves professionally to uphold the integrity and enhance the professional reputation of the Mitigation Specialist and the office, while also enhancing office efficiency and effectiveness through teamwork.
• The Mitigation Specialist must be aware of, and adhere to, the code of professional conduct governing all members of the defense team representing criminal defendants.

The IDC is committed to inclusive hiring and is dedicated to diversity in our workforce. We encourage and welcome qualified applicants of all identities, cultures, backgrounds, and experiences.

Minimum Qualifications

High school diploma or equivalent required. Education, training, and/or work experience in mental health or counseling, and some experience in a mental health discipline dealing with families and support groups, is a requirement. The applicant must demonstrate the ability to work independently and collaboratively, along with the ability to establish rapport and maintain professional relationships with client’s family members and other critical individuals and agencies that provide services to clients. The ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally is required. A valid driver’s license and the ability to travel is needed.

Additional Considerations

Prior experience researching and gathering data to reach a supportable conclusion in support of mitigation arguments, along with interviewing experience and applicable techniques, experience conducting interviews to prepare family and social history reports, experience examining medical records and identifying mental health factors that will assist in mitigation, knowledge of the criminal trial and sentencing process and previous experience working with indigent clients.

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a fingerprint-based criminal background check.

Being authorized to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment.

IDC uses the E-Verify system and does not provide sponsorship.

This position qualifies for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) depending on your type of loan.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.