Mitigation Specialist - Defense Social Worker

State-of-Missour; Saint Joseph (MO); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Missouri Public Defender System (MSPD) seeks a Mitigation Specialist to serve clients across Missouri, advocating for holistic outcomes by connecting clients to community resources and supporting defense teams. The role emphasizes reducing pretrial detention and promoting just outcomes within diverse urban and rural settings.

The candidate will perform psychosocial interviews, develop mitigation memoranda, and collaborate with attorneys to identify mitigation themes while traveling regionally to

Qualifications

• Master’s degree required or related field; MSW preferred.
• Experience in social services, mental health, or criminal defense contexts.
• Knowledge of collateral consequences of criminal charges.
• Supervisory/management experience preferred.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.

Responsibilities

• Advocate for clients and manage case plans.
• Connect clients to mental health, housing, and employment services.
• Conduct psychosocial history interviews.
• Develop mitigation memoranda for clients.
• Occasionally testify or provide in-court advocacy.
• Request and review records.
• Conduct literature reviews and interviews.
• Develop mitigation themes with the defense team.
• Draft formal and informal memoranda.
• Engage with community organizations to increase service access.
• Supervise interns and assist with onboarding new staff.

Skills

Community engagement

Case management

Advocacy

Interviewing skills

Written advocacy

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.

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:

Client Advocacy and Case Management

• 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 successful candidate will receive competitive compensation and State of Missouri benefits that include a defined pension plan, generous amounts of leave and holiday time, and eligibility for health insurance coverage. Learn more about benefits at https://publicdefender.mo.gov/employment/working-for-mspd/benefits/ Your total compensation is more than the dollars you receive in your paycheck. To help demonstrate the value of working for the State of Missouri, we have created an interactive Total Compensation Calculator. This tool provides a comprehensive view of benefits and more that are offered to prospective employees. The Total Compensation Calculator and other applicant resources can be found https://pers.oa.mo.gov/applicants .

MSPD can assist with relocation expenses that are consistent with our Relocation Policy. This policy allows MSPD to reimburse up to $2,500 in qualifying relocation related expenses if the new hire's work location is at least 60 miles away from their prior residence.

Join MSPD and be part of a dedicated team working to create meaningful change in the criminal legal system, ensuring justice and support for those who need it most.

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