Public Defense Investigator Supervisor bei King County, WA

About the Department

The King County Department of Public Defense (DPD) provides high quality legal representation to indigent clients in felonies, misdemeanors, juvenile defense, family defense (dependency cases), involuntary commitment (mental illness), and sex offender commitment proceedings.
 
As an organization we work with the community:

• To dismantle the systems that oppress our clients.
• To make the traditional systems that remain as restorative as possible.
• To advocate for pathways that will allow our clients to succeed.

We also advocate to reduce the harm and reach of the criminal legal system and civil legal systems that restrict our clients’ liberties and to address systemic racism. We strive to create a flexible workplace culture that is inclusive, respectful, and supportive, premised on a shared anti-oppression framework. To learn more about DPD, visit our website.

Position Duties

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES include but are not limited to the following:

• Supervise, coach, counsel, monitor, motivate, and mentor assigned investigator staff members.
• Serve as a member of the division management team and collaborate with other investigator supervisors to establish best practices and identify training needs for investigator staff. 
• Manage team of investigators, assigning investigation requests, monitoring due date compliance, compliance with time and record keeping policies; managing leaves and coverage; holding unit meetings; relaying operational and administrative information.
• Maintain centralized and up to date relevant investigation documents and information for the unit.
• Consult with attorney supervisors and managing attorney as to conflicts of interest, approaches to cases, prioritizing work, etc.
• Provide constructive and consistent feedback to investigator staff, including conducting mid-year and annual development reviews for each employee.
• Train and onboard new employees to the unit.
• Educate and model sensitivity to issues of race, equity, and social justice as it relates to the workplace and the work of Public Defense.
• Understand and model the mission and vision of the Department of Public Defense.
• Manage staff across work units, manage professional communication and provide conflict resolution.
• Understand and apply Human Resources policies and procedures, including discipline.
• Carry cases or work cases with investigator staff.
• Assist investigator staff and attorneys in analyzing cases from a defense perspective. This may include examination of discovery materials or other information to determine areas in which more factual information is needed, and attendance at pre-trial conferences.
• Conduct crime scene analysis and examination of other physical locations or objects to uncover and identify evidence that will assist in preparing the defense. This may include taking photographs and preparing diagrams, maps, charts and scale drawings to be exhibited in court. Communicate findings to attorneys.
• Identify and locate known or potential witnesses; assist attorneys in identifying appropriate expert witnesses.
• Conduct in-depth interviews with victims, witnesses, police personnel, medical personnel, clients, and others; develop and prioritize questions in order to obtain necessary information related to the case.
• Prepare comprehensive written summaries of interviews and other investigative findings; document contacts.
• Obtain and review reports, records and other information. This may include, but is not limited to: address verification, education and employment records, military records, medical records, private industry records, government agency records and criminal records of state and defense witnesses.
• Prepare, process, and serve subpoenas on individuals and organizations.
• Organize investigative case files: maintain and update time logs and calendar of due dates and court dates, confer with investigator staff and attorneys regarding investigation status.
• Provide trial assistance by communicating trial schedule to witnesses, responding to last minute investigation requests and testifying as necessary.
• Maintain current knowledge of related issues/standards in the legal environment.
• Willingness to actively participate in the division management team; join with the other unit managers to problem-solve and lead the office as a team; model teamwork for the supervisees.
• Handle special projects and assignments.
• The Department reserves the right to assign additional duties in support of DPD's mission.

Minimum Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice or a related field, two years' experience as a criminal investigator, or any equivalent combination of experience/education/training that demonstrates the knowledge of the principles and methods of relevant criminal and civil legal experience and criminal investigation, including gathering, preserving and presenting evidence.
• Supervisory experience or demonstrated ability to coach, counsel, and mentor investigator staff members.
• Familiarity with criminal law, the legal system and legal terminology to understand the basic steps of the legal system for dealing with relevant civil and criminal matters handled by DPD divisions.
• Have the ability to travel to required destinations around King County in a timely manner. 
• Must be at least 21 years of age.

• Interviewing methods, techniques and procedures; including ability to recognize and document facts, ascertain factual discrepancies and employ appropriate action and follow-up.
• The role of the attorney-investigator relationship and familiarity with the Washington State Bar Association Rules of Professional Responsibility and other ethical standards which govern investigators, in order to be able to interpret and abide by Constitutional amendments, U.S. Supreme Court decisions, and court-related issues for investigators.

• Working with diverse populations (including clients and witnesses) in the relevant civil and criminal legal systems, to effectively serve vulnerable clients from all walks of life.
• Preparing detailed narrative reports, correspondence and other written materials to support accurate case history accounts and positive outcomes for those we serve.
• Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Handling confidential information acquired during the course of an investigation to protect sensitive client and agency data.
• Identifying potential ethical issues and seeking advice/counsel when ethical issues arise or require clarification to ensure investigations are conducted in a principled manner.
• Working independently, making decisions with little guidance within a short amount of time, setting priorities, and meeting deadlines, to support timeliness and follow-through on legal items and scheduling affecting our clients.
• The management of teams, individuals, and conflict resolution.
• Professional and effective communication and listening skills.
• Analytical, organization, and problem-solving skills, to effectively utilize information.

• Lead, to implement policies and procedures from management and Human Resources.
• Have difficult conversations with supervisees, to provide constructive and timely feedback.
• Respond to inquiries from attorneys, clients, staff members and court personnel in a timely and accurate manner.
• Testify effectively at trial, sentencing or other hearings, to represent our clients in the best possible light.
• Assess potentially dangerous situations, and act accordingly, for personal safety and the integrity of the case.
• Quickly adapt to situations and to work well under pressure, to exercise good judgment in stressful circumstances.
• Work with computers and basic Microsoft Office suite of desktop applications (e.g., Word, Excel, and Outlook) Software; cameras, video equipment, tape recorders, and other relevant technology as appropriate.
• Search and analyze social networks and information databases preferred.
• Enter data efficiently and accurately to ensure accuracy and timeliness.
• Work with mapping/diagramming software programs to organize and access various records and information sources that can assist in an investigation.

Other Qualifications

WHY KING COUNTY?

At King County, our work is guided by our True North and values. Our True North is what we aspire to: Making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive.

King County offers great benefits, to include a pension plan, holidays, transit pass, plus training and education opportunities to promote growth and development. Our focus is to provide our employees with work life balance.

ARE YOU READY TO APPLY?
This recruitment is INTERNAL ONLY and open to current King County, Department of Public Defense employees. Please apply at www.kingcounty.gov/careers. DPD is currently accepting applications to fill one (1) Career Service Public Defense Investigator Supervisor position in our Associated Counsel for the Accused Division. 

This recruitment will also be used to create an eligibility pool to fill future Career Service vacancies that may occur over the next six (6) months. 

• An online employment application completed at www.kingcounty.gov/jobs.
• A cover letter no more than two pages summarizing your experience and how you meet the required qualifications, knowledge, and skills for the position.
• Resume.

• Dexter Horton Building, 710 Second Avenue, Seattle
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