County of Alameda

DESCRIPTION

Under close supervision, to assist attorneys in the Public Defender's office by conducting fact-finding, pretrial and pre-sentence investigations of criminal cases and performing related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

This is a training-level class leading to the position of Investigator in the Public Defender's Office.  Incumbents learn and perform a wide range of investigative duties.  Work is closely supervised by a Supervising Investigator.  After two years of experience at this level, Investigative Assistants are eligible to promote to the Investigator level.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification.  However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level.  Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

1. Assists and conducts pretrial and pre-sentence investigations of less complex cases in which persons have been charged with crimes.
2. Examines and diagrams all necessary measurements at crime scenes.
3. Gathers, marks, records, and preserves evidence; determines the importance and relevance of physical evidence in investigations.
4. Photographs crime scenes; photographs clients’ injuries for use as evidence in cases; prepares photographic lineups for witness review.
5. Locates and interviews witnesses; interviews police and other public agencies, doctors, lawyers, and others who may have official or professional information relevant to a legal defense.
6. Examines and selects medical and pharmaceutical records and determines their applicability in pending case.
7. Reviews police dispatch tapes to determine pertinent and relevant case information; copies dispatch tapes for Public Defenders.
8. Searches computer resources, including DMV, CRIMS, CORPUS, CASP, and the Internet to locate witnesses, experts, professionals, and obtain other case information.
9. Compiles information from witness interviews and other record reviews relevant to the defense.  Generates written reports upon completion of the fact-finding process; submits written reports to Public Defenders on witnesses’ knowledge of material facts.
10. Confers with Public Defenders on the reliability and credibility of witnesses; prepares witnesses’ testimony.
11. Prepares, demonstrates evidence for use in court, such as diagrams, charts, photographs, and computer presentations.
12. Testifies in court regarding facts established by investigations.
13. Serves subpoena and legal process for the Public Defender’s Office.
14. 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 payment.  

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Either I

Education:

Possession of a Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, criminology, forensics, or a closely related field such as sociology, psychology or journalism from an accredited college or university.

Or II

Education:

Sixty (60) semester units, or ninety (90) quarter units, of college-level course work which included the equivalent of at least 24 semester units of administration of justice, criminal law, criminal evidence, police science, law enforcement, criminal investigation, psychology, sociology or journalism.

And

Experience:

The equivalent of one year of full-time paid experience in the criminal justice field.

License:

Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's License is required.

Special Requirements:

Willingness to work irregular hours as individual cases demand.  Must be 2l years of age.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the “Examples of Duties” section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

• Interviewing techniques and procedures, skip tracing techniques, California State laws as they relate to the service of subpoenas and the treatment of witnesses.
• California criminal court structure and procedures.
• The purpose and organization of the Public Defender's Office.
• Techniques employed in diagramming and making demonstrative evidence to be presented in court.

Ability to:

• Establish rapport with a great variety of people, judge the credibility of witnesses, be objective in fact finding.
• Diagram crime scenes.
• Operate a digital camera and other cameras.
• Maintain a congenial attitude under stressful conditions.

CLASS SPEC HISTORY

TT:kb/6-77
Rev. HBC:nt/1-82
Updated: BG/mad/5-89
Old doc:  0805h
New doc:  8541.doc
ys/10/01
CSC Date:  2/2/82
CH:cs  Revised 9/22/10
CSC Date:  10/20/10