Public Defender Investigator I/II

County of Lake; California; On-site; USD 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Public Defender Investigator to conduct vital criminal and civil investigations. This role involves interviewing witnesses, collecting evidence, and preparing reports that are crucial for the defense. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in criminal justice and investigative techniques. This position requires a valid driver's license and offers a dynamic work environment where you will collaborate closely with attorneys and clients. Join a team dedicated to ensuring justice and making a difference in the community.

Qualifications

• Associates degree in Criminal Justice or related field required.
• 1 year of investigative experience or 2 years of law enforcement work.

Responsibilities

• Conduct criminal and civil investigations for Public Defender cases.
• Interview witnesses and prepare comprehensive investigative reports.
• Testify in court as a case witness or expert witness.

Skills

Criminal Investigation

Civil Investigation

Interviewing Techniques

Evidence Collection

Report Writing

Education

Associates Degree in Criminal Justice

Associates Degree in Public Administration

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Under direction, in the Office of the Public Defender, conduct criminal and civil investigations related to Public Defenders cases.

PUBLIC DEFENDER INVESTIGATOR I

Licensing and Certification:

Valid Driver's License

Education and Experience:

Associates degree or equivalent from a two-year college in Criminal Justice, Public Administration, or a related field; and, one (1) year of responsible related investigative experience.

OR

Two years of recent, full-time paid law enforcement work including experience in criminal of civil investigation.

PUBLIC DEFENDER INVESTIGATOR II

Licensing and Certification:

Valid Driver's License

Education and Experience:

Associates degree or equivalent from a two-year college in Criminal Justice, Public Administration, or a related field; and, two (2) years of progressively responsible related investigative experience.

OR

Three years of recent, full-time paid law enforcement work including experience in criminal of civil investigation.

This is not exhaustive of all job responsibilities. For more details, please refer to the link provided below.

The information presented in job postings, job descriptions, or recruitment materials does not form a legally binding contract, either explicit or implicit. Benefits may differ among different employee groups. The details provided in these materials are subject to change or cancellation without prior notification. Prospective employees of the County of Lake must undergo the County's pre-employment medical review program upon receiving a conditional job offer before assuming their position with the County.

Applicants may substitute relevant experience and/or education at a 2 to 1 ratio to fulfill minimum qualifications. For further details, individuals should reach out to the Human Resources department.

ADA Accommodations

Individuals in need of accommodation during the application and/or selection process under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should reach out to County of Lake Human Resources at [phone].

The County is an Equal Opportunity-Affirmative Action Employer

Veteran's Preference

PUBLIC DEFENDER INVESTIGATOR I

DEFINITION

Under direction, in the Office of the Public Defender, conduct criminal and civil investigations related to Public Defenders cases.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is the first working level class in the Public Defender Investigator series, and as such conducts investigations of the less complex cases referred to the Public Defender's Office. This class is distinguished from Public Defender Investigator II in that the latter is the full journey level exercising considerable discretion in the conducting of investigations and preparation of investigative reports.

The Public Defender Investigator class series is further distinguished from other investigative class series in that positions in this class are not designated peace officers and have no specialized standing in terms of powers of arrest, or access to confidential law enforcement records.

Positions in the Public Defender Investigator series are flexibly staffed. Incumbents may advance to the higher classifications after gaining the knowledge, skill, experience, licenses, and certifications which meet the qualifications for and demonstrating the ability to perform the work of the higher-level class.

This is not a remote position; Investigators are expected to remain in the office unless conducting their duties of investigation. Investigators must be accessible in person to meet and confer with lawyers and clients at the office.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Supervision is received from either a Chief Deputy Public Defender or the Public Defender who reviews work by means of conferences, written directions, and analysis of objectives and results accomplished.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Conducts criminal and civil investigations, which includes interviewing witnesses, conducting surveillance, following up on potential leads, collecting and processing evidence, and preparing various court documents.
• Investigates cases referred to Public Defender by the Juvenile Court involving delinquent, dependent, and neglected children and obtains information regarding home conditions such as family composition, personality of parents, and family finances.
• Interviews defendants to obtain information concerning each case.
• Visits scenes of alleged crimes to ascertain and evaluate physical, material and environmental factors relevant to case investigations; investigates locations of evidence; photographs crime scenes, evidence and/or defendants.
• Prepares and serves subpoenas for witnesses or information/documents.
• Provides instruction and direction to witnesses.
• Prepares comprehensive investigative and/or other reports.
• Conducts computer and other file searches to locate transient clients and witnesses.
• Secures, reviews and analyzes police reports, written statements, depositions and other pertinent case material; examines various records and documents to secure information concerning alleged crimes or civil wrongs.
• Presents findings and evaluations to Public Defender or deputies; consults with Public Defender or deputies regarding case strategy in preparation for trials.
• Prepares court presentations and other demonstrative aids such as diagrams of crime scenes, photo enlargements and composites and/or other exhibits.
• Must be able to attend court hearings and/or trials as the designated investigator for the defense.
• Testifies in court as a case witness or an expert witness.
• Acts as liaison between attorneys, witnesses, experts and other pertinent parties.
• Confers with law enforcement and/or other appropriate representatives.
• Attends and/or conducts various internal and external meetings.
• Organizes and maintains records and files.
• Maintains custody of evidence; requests laboratory work on evidence.
• Maintains liaison between Public Defender's Office and clients, and governmental agencies.
• Maintains knowledge of current and/or new case laws and statute amendments affecting investigative responsibilities.
• Maintains and upgrades professional knowledge, skills, and development by attending seminars and training programs and reading trade and professional journals and publications.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:

• Principles, methods, and techniques of investigative procedures.
• Interviewing principles and techniques.
• Must be familiar with rules of confidentiality, conflicts, and ethical obligations.
• Principles of identification, preservation and presentation of evidence.
• Legal procedures and rules of evidence.
• Civil and criminal law.
• Knowledge of the legal rights of citizens as pertains to the judicial process.

• Sources of information used in locating persons.
• Recordkeeping and reporting requirements for criminal investigations.
• Basic accounting procedures and the application thereof to law enforcement and fraud investigations.

• Computers and software programs (e.g., Microsoft software applications) to conduct research, assess information, and/or prepare documentation.
• English language; its usage, syntax and grammatical structure.

Ability to:

• Investigate and analyze crime scene and other evidence, evaluate findings, and reach sound conclusions.
• Prepare clear, concise, and comprehensive investigative reports.
• Analyze financial and statistical data.
• Understand, interpret, and apply codes, laws, and court decisions regarding the proper gathering and preservation of evidence.
• Exercise good judgment in handling potentially hostile individuals and situations.

• Analyze situations and take quick, effective and reasonable courses of action, giving due regard to the surrounding hazards and circumstances of each situation.
• Write comprehensive reports and correspondence.

Licensing and Certification:

Valid Driver's License

Education and Experience:

Associates degree or equivalent from a two-year college in Criminal Justice, Public Administration, or a related field; and, one (1) year of responsible related investigative experience.

OR

Two years of recent, full-time paid law enforcement work including experience in criminal of civil investigation.

WORKING CONDITIONS, ADA, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

The County of Lake is an equal opportunity employer and will comply with its obligations under the law to provide equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Incumbents generally work in a typical office environment with adequate light and temperature. There may be occasional exposure?to?extreme temperatures, loud noise, fumes, noxious odors, dust, mist, gases, and poor ventilation; underground, confined, or restricted?workspaces; and heights more than five stories above ground level.?

Incumbentsmay interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures. Employees may need to visit crime scenes or accompany law enforcement personnel on assignment and may need to visit jails, hospitals or other mental health facilities for the purpose of interviewing victims, witnesses, accused or incarcerated individuals.

Incumbents may be required to work weekends, on-call, or outside of normal work schedule. Positions in this class may require local, statewide, and out of state travel as necessary.

Positions in this class typically require: sitting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions.

Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Light Work: Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for light work.

Positions in this class may require local and statewide travel as necessary.

A successful candidate will be required to submit to and pass a background check prior to the appointment. Depending upon the position and/or assigned department, the background check may include but is not limited to civil and criminal history check, reference check, Live Scan, and/or credit check (as allowed under state law).

Disaster Service Workers:As members of the County of Lake Emergency Services Organization, all Lake County employees are designated as Disaster Service Workers during a proclaimed emergency and may be required to perform certain emergency services at the direction of the department and / or County.

The contents of this class specification shall not be construed to constitute any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee, nor shall it constitute a contract of employment. The County of Lake assumes no responsibility beyond the general accuracy of the document, nor does it assume responsibility for any errors or omissions in the information contained herein. The contents of this specification may be modified or revoked without notice. Terms and conditions of employment are determined through a “meet and confer” process and are subject to the Memorandum of Understanding currently in effect.

PUBLIC DEFENDER INVESTIGATOR II

DEFINITION

Under direction, in the Office of the Public Defender, conduct criminal and civil investigations related to Public Defenders cases.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is the full journey level class in the Public Defender investigator series. Incumbents in this class Primarily conduct investigations of the more complex and sensitive cases referred to the Public Defender's Office. This class is distinguished from Public Defender Investigator I in that the latter is the entry level class and is generally assigned less complex cases.

The Public Defender Investigator class series is further distinguished from other investigative class in that positions in this class are not designated Peace officers and have no specialized standing in terms of powers of arrest or access to confidential law enforcement records.

This is not a remote position; Investigators are expected to remain in the office unless conducting their duties of investigation. Investigators must be accessible in person to meet and confer with lawyers and clients at the office.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Supervision is received from either a Chief Deputy Public Defender or the Public Defender who reviews work by means of conferences, written directions, and analysis of objectives and results accomplished.

May direct and review the work of junior level investigators; may confer with attorney staff regarding the preparation and processing of cases.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Conducts criminal and civil investigations, which includes interviewing witnesses, conducting surveillance, following up on potential leads, collecting and processing evidence, and preparing various court documents.
• Investigates cases referred to Public Defender by the Juvenile Court involving delinquent, dependent, and neglected children and obtains information regarding home conditions such as family composition, personality of parents, and family finances.
• Interviews defendants to obtain information concerning each case.
• Visits scenes of alleged crimes to ascertain and evaluate physical, material and environmental factors relevant to case investigations; investigates locations of evidence; photographs crime scenes, evidence and/or defendants.
• Prepares and serves subpoenas for witnesses or information/documents.
• Provides instruction and direction to witnesses.
• Prepares comprehensive investigative and/or other reports.
• Conducts computer and other file searches to locate transient clients and witnesses.
• Secures, reviews and analyzes police reports, written statements, depositions and other pertinent case material; examines various records and documents to secure information concerning alleged crimes or civil wrongs.
• Presents findings and evaluations to Public Defender or deputies; consults with Public Defender or deputies regarding case strategy in preparation for trials.
• Prepares court presentations and other demonstrative aids such as diagrams of crime scenes, photo enlargements and composites and/or other exhibits.
• Testifies in court as a case witness or an expert witness.
• Must be able to attend court hearings and/or trials as the designated investigator for the defense.
• Acts as liaison between attorneys, witnesses, experts and other pertinent parties.
• Confers with law enforcement and/or other appropriate representatives.
• Attends and/or conducts various internal and external meetings.
• Organizes and maintains records and files.
• Maintains custody of evidence; requests laboratory work on evidence.
• Maintains liaison between Public Defender's Office and clients, and governmental agencies.
• Maintains knowledge of current and/or new case laws and statute amendments affecting investigative responsibilities.
• Maintains and upgrades professional knowledge, skills, and development by attending seminars and training programs and reading trade and professional journals and publications.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:

• Principles, methods, and techniques of investigative procedures.
• Interviewing principles and techniques.
• Must be familiar with rules of confidentiality, conflicts, and ethical obligations.
• Principles of identification, preservation and presentation of evidence.
• Legal procedures and rules of evidence.
• Civil and criminal law.
• Knowledge of the legal rights of citizens as pertains to the judicial process.

• Sources of information used in locating persons.
• Recordkeeping and reporting requirements for criminal investigations.
• Basic accounting procedures and the application thereof to law enforcement and fraud investigations.

• Computers and software programs (e.g., Microsoft software applications) to conduct research, assess information, and/or prepare documentation.
• English language; its usage, syntax and grammatical structure.

Ability to:

• Conduct effective field investigations.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the general public, staff, attorneys, and law enforcement.
• Analyze situations and take quick, effective, and reasonable courses of action, giving due regard to the surrounding hazards and circumstances of each situation.
• Understand and follow written and oral instructions.
• Define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Write comprehensive reports and correspondence.

Licensing and Certification:

Valid Driver's License

Education and Experience:

Associates degree or equivalent from a two-year college in Criminal Justice, Public Administration, or a related field; and, two (2) years of progressively responsible related investigative experience.

OR

Three years of recent, full-time paid law enforcement work including experience in criminal of civil investigation.

WORKING CONDITIONS, ADA, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

The County of Lake is an equal opportunity employer and will comply with its obligations under the law to provide equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Incumbents generally work in a typical office environment with adequate light and temperature. There may be occasional exposure?to?extreme temperatures, loud noise, fumes, noxious odors, dust, mist, gases, and poor ventilation; underground, confined, or restricted?workspaces; and heights more than five stories above ground level.?

Incumbentsmay interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures. Employees may need to visit crime scenes or accompany law enforcement personnel on assignment and may need to visit jails, hospitals or other mental health facilities for the purpose of interviewing victims, witnesses, accused or incarcerated individuals.

Incumbents may be required to work weekends, on-call, or outside of normal work schedule. Positions in this class may require local, statewide, and out of state travel as necessary.

Positions in this class typically require: sitting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions.

Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Light Work: Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for light work.

Positions in this class may require local and statewide travel as necessary.

A successful candidate will be required to submit to and pass a background check prior to the appointment. Depending upon the position and/or assigned department, the background check may include but is not limited to civil and criminal history check, reference check, Live Scan, and/or credit check (as allowed under state law).

Disaster Service Workers:As members of the County of Lake Emergency Services Organization, all Lake County employees are designated as Disaster Service Workers during a proclaimed emergency and may be required to perform certain emergency services at the direction of the department and / or County.

The contents of this class specification shall not be construed to constitute any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee, nor shall it constitute a contract of employment. The County of Lake assumes no responsibility beyond the general accuracy of the document, nor does it assume responsibility for any errors or omissions in the information contained herein. The contents of this specification may be modified or revoked without notice. Terms and conditions of employment are determined through a “meet and confer” process and are subject to the Memorandum of Understanding currently in effect.