Investigator – Office of the Public Defender

Salary : $65,038.93 Annually

Location : Lansing, MI

Job Type: Regular Full Time

Job Number: 202300129

Department: Public Defender’s Office

Opening Date: 07/28/2023

Closing Date: 8/11/2023 11:59 PM Eastern

Bargaining Unit: CNTY PROF

Description

Under the supervision of the Chief Public Defender, reviews, analyzes and provides feedback for cases relating to criminal proceedings. Locates and interviews individuals, serves subpoenas, and assists in developing supportive legal documents. Conducts investigations, aids in trial preparation and collects evidence.

Essential Functions

1. Conducts investigations by reviewing and examining all forms of discovery. Analyzes, documents, and provides feedback of discovery including identifying areas of insufficient police procedure by applying a strong criminal legal understanding. Investigations include, but are not limited to, visiting crime scenes, interviewing witnesses, locating experts, collecting records and other pertinent evidence. Required to take photos, create drawings or models, and to preserve other evidence or interviews. Locates witnesses and other parties of interest. Performs a variety of functions relating to case management and the compiling of evidence.
2. Reviews and analyzes legal and technical documents relating to cases including, but not limited to, transcripts, depositions, motions, Center for Forensic Psychiatry evaluations, and Michigan State Police laboratory reports.
3. Participates in client meetings, with or without attorneys, to assist with the client relationship. Promotes office/client relationship, collects information and materials and helps build rapport. Meets with client’s family as liaison, providing support as needed.
4. Assists attorneys with case development and trial preparation by providing input to defense strategy, explaining the dynamics of the investigations.
5. Prepares and submits detailed written reports, outlines and timelines. Gives recommendations resulting from investigative findings based on police procedure knowledge and witness statements.
6. Works autonomously, developing daily schedule to stay abreast of deadlines, meetings, appointments and court dates. Makes independent decisions on direction of investigations based on knowledge of criminal law. Maintains a close working relationship with other professionals including prosecutors, law enforcement, and experts. Provides advice in technical aspects of police procedures.
7. Serves subpoenas and coordinates the attendance of witnesses at court appearances.
8. Testifies in court as required regarding the content of investigative reports.
9. Provides insight regarding office security, and is assigned special duties in emergent situations.
10. Handles special projects and other duties as assigned.

Other Functions:

• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Must adhere to departmental standards in regard to HIPAA and other privacy issues.

(An employee in this position may be called upon to do any or all of the above tasks. These examples do not include all of the tasks which the employee may be expected to perform.)

Employment Qualifications

Education/Experience: Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and two years of experience in law enforcement or government investigations or a related area of study

or

A High school diploma and a minimum of five (5) years of experience in law enforcement or government investigations.

Individual qualifications of the applicant will be considered.

Other Requirements:

• Must have and maintain a valid State of Michigan driver’s license.
• Uses personal vehicle to perform tasks outside the office.

(The qualifications listed above are intended to represent the minimum skills and experience levels associated with performing the duties and responsibilities contained in this job description. The qualifications should not be viewed as expressing absolute employment or promotional standards, but as general guidelines that should be considered along with other job-related selection or promotional criteria)

Requirements and Working Conditions

Working Conditions:

1. This position works in both an indoor and outdoor environment. While indoors, there is no planned exposure to notable lights, noises, odors, temperatures or weather conditions. While outdoors, exposure to lights, noises, odors, temperatures or weather conditions cannot be controlled and may be extreme.
2. This position is exposed to individuals in crisis. These individuals may suffer from mental or emotional illness, have violent tendencies or be unconcerned with their personal safety and hygiene.
3. This position is required to travel for meetings and appointments. Some appointments may be held at personal residences where levels of cleanliness and safety vary.

Physical Requirements:

• This position requires the ability to sit, stand, walk, traverse, climb, balance, twist, bend, stoop/crouch, squat, kneel, crawl, lift, carry, push, pull, reach, grasp, handle, pinch, type, endure repetitive movements of the wrists, hands or fingers.
• This position’s physical requirements require periodic stamina in balancing, twisting, kneeling, crawling, pushing, pulling, handling and pinching.
• This position’s physical requirements require regular stamina in standing, walking, traversing, climbing, bending, stooping/crouching, squatting, lifting, carrying, reaching, and grasping.
• This position performs medium work requiring the ability to exert between 20-50 pounds of force in the physical requirements above.
• This position primarily requires far visual acuity to perform tasks significantly beyond arm’s reach such as making general observations about buildings, people or situations, etc.
• This position requires the ability to communicate and respond to inquiries both in person and over the phone.
• This position requires the ability to operate a PC/laptop and to enter & retrieve information from a computer.
• This position requires the ability to handle varying and often high levels of stress.

(This job requires the ability to perform the essential functions contained in this description. These include, but are not limited to, the requirements listed above. Reasonable accommodations will be made for otherwise qualified applicants unable to fulfill one or more of these requirements.)

ICEA Pro 08

April 2023

This position is benefited and is subject to the iCEA COUNTY PROFESSIONAL GROUP CBA.

Ingham County offers a wide range of benefits to support you in your career. View the for more information.

The current group contract can be viewed

01

Do you have either a High School Diploma or equivalent education and a minimum of Five (5) years of experience in law enforcement or government investigation or a Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Criminal Justice and a minimum of Two (2) years of experience in law enforcement or government investigations?

• Yes
• No

02

Please indicate if you have a degree and what it is in, if not applicable type N/A

03

Please indicate how many years of experience in law enforcement or government investigations do you have and briefly describe your experience, if not applicable type N/A.

04

Did you submit your transcripts if applicable?

05

Did you submit your cover letter and resume?

• Yes
• No

06

Please list 3 people who have direct knowledge of your skills, experience and fitness for the position or field for which your applying for. Please include their name, email address and phone number.

Required Question