Mitigation Specialist - Defense Social Worker

State of Missouri; Kirksville (MO); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The Missouri Public Defender System (MSPD) seeks a Mitigation Specialist to serve clients across Missouri, building relationships with community providers and guiding access to services. You will help address barriers and advocate for holistic outcomes alongside attorneys, reducing detention and unnecessary prison terms.

Responsibilities include conducting psychosocial interviews, developing mitigation memoranda, coordinating with the defense team, and traveling within the assigned region.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in psychology, social work, sociology, or closely related field; Masters in Social Work preferred.
• Relevant experience may substitute.
• Knowledge of available community-based social services.
• Understanding of criminal defense and mitigation practice.

Responsibilities

• Work with clients to identify and achieve service goals.
• Provide case management services to clients, including connections to mental health or substance use treatment, housing, and employment; assist with transportation.
• Conduct psychosocial history interviews with clients.
• Develop mitigation memoranda for use in clients’ cases.
• Occasionally testify or provide in-court advocacy.
• Identify and interview mitigation witnesses.
• Develop mitigation themes and evidence in collaboration with attorneys.
• Draft formal and informal mitigation memoranda.
• Engage with community organizations to increase access to services for clients.
• Supervise HDS interns; help collect and analyze data; onboard new team members.

Skills

Psychology knowledge

Social work background

Communication skills

Time management

Trauma-informed interviewing

Independent work

Travel willingness

Education

Master's degree in psychology/social work

Job description

The Missouri Public Defender System (MSPD) is dedicated to providing legal representation to individuals accused of or convicted of crimes in Missouri who cannot afford an attorney. MSPD operates statewide through district offices strategically located throughout the state, offering opportunities to work in diverse settings, from urban areas like Kansas City and St. Louis to more rural environments. We are seeking mitigation specialists to help our clients with the underlying issues that have led to their contact with the criminal legal system. By connecting clients to community resources and working with attorneys to advocate for holistic outcomes, mitigation specialists play a critical role in reducing pretrial detention and unnecessary prison sentences, ultimately creating lasting change in the criminal legal system.
Client Advocacy And Case Management
As a Mitigation Specialist, you will serve clients in an assigned region, building relationships with community providers and overcoming barriers clients face in accessing services and the stigma of criminal legal involvement. Your key responsibilities include:

• Work with clients to identify and achieve service goals.
• Provide a variety of case management services to clients, such as connections to mental health or substance use disorder treatment, housing, and employment, and assist with finding transportation for case-related needs.
• Conduct psychosocial history interviews with clients.
• Develop mitigation memoranda for use in clients’ cases.
• Occasionally, testify or provide in-court advocacy.

Research And Investigation

• Request and review records.
• Conduct literature reviews and social science research as part of mitigation work.
• Identify and interview mitigation witnesses.

Collaboration And Communication

• Develop mitigation themes and evidence in collaboration with attorneys and other members of the defense team.
• Draft formal and informal mitigation memoranda.
• Engage with community organizations to increase access to services for clients.
• Provide support and guidance to MSPD staff in your assigned region.

Supervision And Training

• Supervise HDS interns.
• Help collect and analyze data tracking holistic defense work and its impact.
• Help onboard new HDS team members.

Education And Experience
Master’s degree from an accredited college or university with specialization in psychology, social work, sociology, or a closely related field; Masters in Social Work preferred. Relevant experience may substitute.
Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Knowledge of or ability to learn about available community-based social services.
• Understanding of the intersection of criminal defense and social work, and mitigation practice.
• Knowledge of the collateral consequences of criminal charges and convictions.
• Effective supervisory and management techniques preferred.
• Strong organizational and time management skills for handling a diverse workload and competing priorities.
• Excellent interpersonal, teamwork, and communication skills for effective performance in office, organizational, and criminal legal system settings.
• Ability to treat clients, coworkers, and colleagues with respect at all times.
• General knowledge of social systems casework and human behavior.
• Ability to apply knowledge to client advocacy.
• Ability to conduct trauma-informed psychosocial interviews and prepare clear and concise written advocacy.
• Ability to work independently and take initiative.
• Ability to travel regularly within the assigned region.
• This position may support large geographic areas.

The salary listed reflects the base pay rate. Verified prior state service, subject to applicable eligibility requirements, may increase total compensation.
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