INVESTIGATOR ASSISTANT - PUBLIC DEFENDER

THE JOB: Under close supervision this classification will use investigative methods and techniques employed by the Public Defender's Office during investigations of criminal cases including conducting routine investigations, serving subpoenas, and related work as required.

THE REQUIREMENTS: Any combination of training and experience which would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain these knowledge and abilities would be:

Successful completion of at least 60 semester or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university with a major or units in Journalism, Social Science or Behavioral Science, Administration of Justice, Criminology, or a closely related field.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: License/Certificate Requirement: Possess and maintain a valid California Class C Driver License.

Fingerprint/Background Investigation: At a minimum, this process will include fingerprinting and is subject to additional background standards established by appointing authority.

Special Working Conditions: Possibility of exposure to bodily injury, heights (such as roofs of buildings), areas containing free silica or asbestos dust, toxic fumes, offensive odors, explosives, electrical hazards, infections which may cause chronic disease or death, and hostile and/or combative persons.

Other Special Requirements: Availability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays and on an emergency, as needed basis.

Knowledge: Working knowledge of procedures used in gathering and compiling information; office procedures and practices; preparation of correspondence and reports; filing and record keeping systems; interviewing principles and techniques and telephone, office and online etiquette. Some knowledge of basic investigative techniques; legal terminology, forms and documents; bookkeeping and financial record keeping methods, practices and terminology; techniques of receiving, inventorying, safeguarding, storing and shipping of property; criminal and civil legal system and the role and responsibility of a public defender’s office in the criminal justice system.

Ability to: Interact and communicate well with persons of diverse ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, and with persons from all sectors of the criminal justice system, including hostile and reluctant witnesses, complaining witnesses, expert witnesses, law enforcement officials, and families of victims; accurately obtain information and conduct interviews to support the defense of persons represented by the Public Defender; serve legal documents; learn to conduct effective office and field investigations; learn and apply investigative principles and techniques; prepare factual reports in both written and oral formats; establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public and staff; obtain information through interview and observation; maintain accurate records and filing systems; learn and apply procedures of searching for and obtaining copies of public or private records; learn and apply procedures and principles of testifying in court; remain calm in difficult situations; take photographs; explain procedural information; understand and carry out verbal and/or written instructions; perform responsible bookkeeping and financial record keeping work requiring judgment and arithmetic calculations; safely lift and move heavy or bulky objects such as evidence, property or office equipment weighing up to 60 pounds and work in a difficult environment.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS:
ANNUAL LEAVE - 22 days first year, increasing to 37 days after 15 years of service.  Available for vacation and/or sick leave.
HOLIDAYS - 13 paid holidays per year.
BEREAVEMENT LEAVE - 3 days paid in California, 5 days paid out-of-state.
MEDICAL PLAN - The County contracts with CalPERS for a variety of medical plans.  For most plans, County contributions pay a majority of the premiums for employees and eligible dependents.
DENTAL PLAN - County pays for employee and eligible dependent coverage.
VISION PLAN - County pays for employee coverage. Employee may purchase eligible dependent coverage.
RETIREMENT - Pension formula 2% at age 60 or 2% at age 62 as determined based on provisions of the CA Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013(PEPRA). Pension benefit determined by final average compensation of three years.  County participates in Social Security. 
LIFE INSURANCE - County paid $20,000 term policy.  Employee may purchase additional life insurance.
DISABILITY INSURANCE - Employees in the General Representation Unit participate in the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program. This program is funded 100% by employee payroll deductions.
DEPENDENT-CARE PLAN - Employees who make contributions for child or dependent care may elect to have their contributions made utilizing “pre-tax dollars.”
H-CARE PLAN - Employees who pay a County medical premium may elect this pre-tax program.
HEALTH CARE FLEXIBLE SPENDING ALLOWANCE (HCFSA) - Employees may elect this pre-tax program to cover qualifying health care expenses.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION - A deferred compensation plan is available to employees

THE EXAMINATION: Your application and supplemental questionnaire will be reviewed to determine if you have met the education, experience, training and/or licensing requirements as stated on the job announcement. If you meet these criteria and are one of the best qualified, you may be required to compete in any combination of written, oral and/or performance examinations or a competitive evaluation of training and experience as described on your application and supplemental questionnaire. You must pass all components of the examination to be placed on the eligible list. The examination may be eliminated if there are ten or fewer qualified applicants. If the eligible list is established without the administration of the announced examination, the life of the eligible list will be six months and your overall score will be based upon an evaluation of your application and supplemental questionnaire. If during those six months it is necessary to administer another examination for this job class, you will be invited to take the examination to remain on the eligible list.

HOW TO APPLY: Apply Online Now!  Click on the link below; or print out an application and supplemental questionnaire and mail/bring them to: Santa Cruz County Personnel Department, 701 Ocean Street, Room 510, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060.  For information, call (831) 454-2600.  Hearing Impaired TDD/TTY: 711.  Applications will meet the final filing date if received in one of the following ways:  1) in the Personnel Department by 5:00 p.m. on the final filing date, 2) submitted online before midnight of the final filing date. 

Women, minorities and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.  If you have a disability that requires test accommodation, please call (831) 454-2600.

To comply with the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, Santa Cruz County verifies that all new employees are either U.S. citizens or persons authorized to work in the U.S.

NOTE: The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

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