INVESTIGATOR II, PUBLIC DEFENDER

Investigator II, Public Defender

Salary : $103,495.68 - $147,241.20 Annually

Location : Los Angeles County, CA

Job Type : Full Time

Job Number : 7-2901-J

Department : Alternate Public Defender

Filing Start Date : February 2, 2016 @ 8 : 00 a.m. (Until the needs of the service are met and is subject to closure without prior notice)

Exam Number : 7-2901-J

Type of Recruitment : Open Competitive Job Opportunity

Reposting Information : This announcement is a reposting to add COVID-19 vaccination information. Persons who have already applied need not to reapply.

Definition : Plans and conducts difficult criminal investigations to support the defense of persons represented by the Alternate Public Defender.

Classification Standards : Positions allocable to this class work in the Alternate Public Defender's Office under the technical and administrative direction of an Investigator III, Public Defender. Incumbents are assigned to conduct difficult investigations under basic investigation guidelines where they act independently analyzing evidence using a broad range of investigative techniques to develop basic or additional evidence support of the defense. Incumbents must possess skill in applying a thorough knowledge of investigative procedures, court and legal proceedings, interviewing, and obtaining information from various sources, both public and private. They must also possess a thorough knowledge of the California Penal Code, California Vehicle Code, and the rules of evidence.

Essential Job Functions : Plans and conducts investigations to support the defense in a wide variety of major adult and juvenile criminal cases such as those involving numerous defendants or multiple offenses. Examines the scene of the crime, locates and identifies material evidence, and records findings. Obtains information concerning the whereabouts of witnesses by interviewing employers, public agencies, families, neighbors, and others or by accessing a computerized data base; follows leads and locates witnesses by means of telephone inquiries and searches of directories, utility records, Department of Motor Vehicles records, and records of other organizations and other agencies. Interviews and obtains information from witnesses and determines whether there is sufficient basis for the witness to be subpoenaed for court testimony. Testifies in court as the investigator of record and makes subsequent in-trial investigations, as required. Prepares detailed reports of completed investigations to support the defense. Conducts a variety of other investigations including applicant employment verification with department, financial background of clients and persons applying for rehabilitation and pardon certificates as needed.

Selection Requirements :

Option I : Three years of full-time investigative experience at the level of Los Angeles County class of Investigator I, Public Defender

Option II : Five years of law enforcement experience as a full-time paid police officer as defined in Section 830.1 of the Penal Code of the State of California, one year of which must include criminal justice investigative experience. All qualifying experience must be within 10 years of the application date.

License : A valid California Class C Driver License is required to perform job-related essential functions. Applicants will be required to provide a personal automobile and drive them in the County service at the rate of compensation allowed by the Board of Supervisors.

Physical Class : 4 - Arduous : Involves frequent heavy lifting over 25 pounds, often combined with bending, twisting, or working on irregular surfaces; and occasionally requires extraordinary physical activity.

Other Requirements :

Physical Requirements : Applicants must be in good general physical condition, free from disease or defects that would interfere with the satisfactory performance of the duties of this position.

Vision : (1) Acuity - At least 20 / 70 in each eye without correction, correctable to 20 / 30 in each eye. (2) Color perception - Anything other than minor hue impairment is disqualifying.

Hearing : There may be no greater than a 25 dB loss in the better ear as averaged over the test frequencies of 500, 1000, 2000, and 3000 Hz. There may not be a peak loss at any of the test frequencies greater than : 30 dB at 500 Hz 30 dB at 1000 Hz 40 dB at 2000 Hz 40 dB at 3000 Hz There may be no greater than a 35 dB loss in the worse ear as averaged over the test frequencies, and no peak loss greater than 45 dB at any of the test frequencies.

In the case of a questionable, unusual, or borderline hearing loss, the applicant's record will be reviewed by the Occupational Health Service consultant in otolaryngology, who will make a recommendation as to the applicant's employability, and forward it to the Medical Director for final disposition.

COVID-19 Vaccination : All County workforce members must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Successful candidates for this position will be required to submit proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or request an exemption for qualifying medical or religious reasons during the onboarding process.

Desirable Qualifications :

Knowledge of California criminal law. Excellent verbal communications and interpersonal skills. Comprehensive knowledge of computer programs, including Microsoft Word, Internet Explorer, and LexisNexis.

Special Requirement Information :

License Information : Successful applicants for this position will be required to obtain a copy of his / her driving record from the California State Department of Motor Vehicles before being appointed. A copy of your driving record must be presented at the time of your appointment. License must not be suspended, restricted, or revoked. An applicant whose driving record shows four or more moving violations within the two years will not be appointed.

Examination Content :

This examination will consist of an interview weighted 100%. The oral interview will assess education, training, experience, personal fitness and general ability to perform the duties of the position. Candidates must achieve a passing score 70% or higher on the examination in order to be placed on the eligible register.

Fingerprinting and Security Clearance :

Before a final appointment is made to this position, successful candidates are subject to security clearance which includes to undergo and pass a thorough background investigation, including a Live Scan fingerprint search. An individual may be withheld from appointment, if he / she has a conviction record incompatible with the essential duties of the position for which he / she has applied. Any false statement or omission of material fact may cause forfeiture of employment rights. Information presented on employment applications, resumes and during the examination process is subject to verification. Example of disqualifying factors are :

• Poor employment history
• Any felony conviction or conviction of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude
• Job related misdemeanor convictions
• Certain serious traffic convictions or patterns of traffic violations such as three (3) moving violations in one year or failure to appear
• Substance abuse

Vacancy Information :

The eligible register resulting from this examination will be used to fill vacancies in the office of the Alternate Public Defender. Appointees for this position must be able and willing to work in any area of Los Angeles County and may be subject to transfer at any time.

Eligibility Information :

Successful candidates will be placed on the eligible register in order of their score group for a period of six (6) months following the date of promulgation. Passing this examination and being placed on the eligible register does not guarantee an offer of employment.

Retake Period :

No person may compete for this examination more than once every six (6) months.

Application and Filing Information :

All applicants are required to submit a standard County of Los Angeles Employment Application online (via NEOGOV electronic submission) ONLY. Applications submitted by US Mail, Fax, or in person will not be accepted. To Apply for this examination, click on the "Apply" tab located on the top right corner of the screen. Your application must be submitted electronically by 5 : 00 p.m., PST, on the last day of filing.

Visit the NEOGOV website at the following link : https : / / www.governmentjobs.com / careers / lacounty . Fill out your application completely. The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the requirements. Provide any relevant education, training, and experience in the spaces provided so we can evaluate your qualifications for the job. For each job held, give the name and address of your employer, your job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, description of work performed, and salary earned. If your application is incomplete it will be rejected. All information is subject to verification