Public Defender Investigator

Overview

Final Filing

Exam #: 26/34D22/01GM

Public Defender Investigator I

$35.851 – $48.939 Hourly

The County of Monterey is committed to honoring the service and sacrifice of veterans and eligible military spouses and awards veterans’ preference points for this recruitment. To learn more about the eligibility requirements and the process, read the Hiring Preference for Veterans and Eligible Military Spouses section located towards the end of this job flier.

The Public Defender's Office provides legal representation to indigent persons charged with crimes in Monterey County, ranging from the simplest misdemeanor to complex capital cases. The guiding principle of the office is that each client is entitled to the best outcome legally attainable. Our attorneys, investigators and support staff take pride in providing a consistently high level of service. The Public Defender's Office seeks qualified applicants to apply for the position of Public Defender Investigator I.

The Public Defender Investigator I is the entry level class in the Public Defender Investigator series. Incumbents conduct investigations of the less complex misdemeanor and felony cases referred to the Public Defender’s Office, initially under close supervision. As incumbents gain experience and proficiency in performing tasks, supervisory decreases. Incumbents must possess some knowledge of pertinent laws, regulations, court procedures, and departmental policies.

The Eligible List established by this recruitment process may be used to fill current and future vacancies on a regular full-time, part-time, or temporary basis.

This classification is part of a flexible series. Incumbents appointed at the lower level of the career series may be promoted up to the higher level of the career series subject to meeting the employment standards for the higher class and a recommendation for their promotion by the appointing authority.

• Participates in routine investigations of misdemeanor and felony cases.
• Evaluates various types of evidence and advises attorneys in investigative procedures and techniques, physical evidence matters, and information sources.
• Assists attorneys in the preparation and presentation of defense evidence and testimony.
• Locates and interviews defendants, complainants, and witnesses; interviews police and other public agencies, and others who may have official or professional information relevant to a legal defense. Confers with the attorneys on the reliability and credibility of witnesses; helps prepare witnesses’ testimony.
• Locates and serves subpoenas for court appearances of defense witnesses.
• Makes arrangements or transports witnesses to and from court or to court-ordered programs; arranges travel and lodging needs for out-of-county witnesses; attends to appropriate witness fee payments.
• Locates, obtains, evaluates, and preserves documentary evidence from a variety of sources.
• Prepares and provides oral and written reports and correspondence regarding investigation performed, contacts made, physical evidence found, which includes statements, scene descriptions, and analysis of physical evidence.
• Gathers, marks, records, and preserves physical evidence; determines the importance and relevance of the evidence in investigations.
• Operates and maintains a variety of photographic, tape, graphic, and projection equipment. Photographs crime scenes, clients’ injuries for use as evidence in cases, and prepares photographic line-ups for witness review.
• Searches computer resources.
• May testify in court regarding investigations and the evidence obtained.

Examples of Experience/Education/Training:

Any combination of training, education and/or experience which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities and required conditions of employment is qualifying. An example of a way these requirements might be acquired is:

Experience
:
Two years of experience performing duties requiring interviewing, researching and report writing.

Education
:
Successful completion of three college level courses which stressed independently gathering and analyzing data, using both oral interview and library research…