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Mitigation Investigator Specialist

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Mitigation Investigator Specialist

Salary

$65,435.86 Annually

Location

IN 46203, IN

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

09129

Department

Marion County Public Defender's Agency

Opening Date

07/08/2025

Closing Date

7/20/2025 11:59 PM Eastern

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Position Summary

*INTERNAL APPLICANTS ONLY*

Position is responsible for directing, investigating, developing and compiling a comprehensive and well-documented psycho-social history on clients charged with serious cases, including death penalty and life without possibility of parole, based on an exhaustive investigation; analyzes the significance of the information in terms of impact on development, including the effect on personality and behavior; finds mitigating themes in the client’s life history; identifies the need for expert assistance; assists in locating appropriate experts; provides social history information to experts to enable them to conduct competent and reliable evaluations; and works with the defense team and experts to develop a comprehensive and cohesive case in mitigation. Independent judgment may be utilized as long as it is performed at the request of the supervising attorney. Position reports to Social Work Division Leader.

Agency Summary

The Marion County Public Defender Agency provides legal representation for Marion County citizens who cannot afford to hire their own lawyer in matters involving liberty interests, including criminal cases. Our services are provided as a public service. We work with the felony, misdemeanor, Title IV D, civil commitment, and juvenile courts. We also work on cases related to termination of parental rights as well as appeals. Our agency also offers education, services, and programs focused on different ways to serve jail sentences. The agency is able to do this by cultivating a productive, collaborative, and compliant work environment in order for our workforce to meet the needs of the constituents of Indianapolis and Marion County.

Position Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

+ Responsible for conducting full background investigation of clients charged with capital offenses, as well as other major felonies when time permits

+ Maintains familiarity with the law governing the introduction of mitigating evidence in major cases, including familiarity with capital case law as it evolves locally and nationally

+ Identifies through observation and interview and the collection of personal life data evidence relevant to a determination of psychological, behavioral, and neurological diseases and disorders set forth in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders by a medical professional

+ Determines need for professional assessment and review by professional witnesses and other experts and coordinates the evaluation process

+ Identifies and recognizes, through use of clinical skills, such things as congenital, mental, or neurological conditions to understand how these conditions may have impacted the client’s development and behavior and to identify such on the client’s behalf

+ Arranges and assists in obtaining therapeutic services that render the client cognitively and emotionally competent to make decisions in his/her case

+ Directs, organizes, analyzes, and conducts interviews with the client and family members, relatives, friends, neighbors, teachers, employers, and other potential mitigation witnesses to obtain information regarding the client’s background and evidence to support statutory and non-statutory mitigating circumstances

+ Facilitates experts’ interviews of the witnesses as needed

+ Compiles, interprets, summarizes, analyzes, and inspects client records including educational, employment, medical, social services, military, and prison records

+ Gathers and analyzes voluminous amounts of psychological, psychiatric, and other mental health documentation and records, as well as police records, school records including service plans and family histories

+ Assists in writing and preparation of forensic social history

+ Prepares and provides a written summary of all interviews conducted with the client and the mitigation witnesses, compiles a comprehensive forensic social history, and prepares other relevant reports, materials or exhibits regarding the client or the penalty or sentencing phase of the trial

+ Participates and communicates as part of the defense team, anticipates, and follows through on instructions of defense counsel regarding the handling of the case, and exercises independent judgment on the direction of the mitigation evidence production

+ Supervision of staff

+ Participates in regular, ongoing training developed specifically for capital defense work and mitigation to maintain familiarity with the law and best practices of capital mitigation work

+ Prepares a sentencing memorandum, when needed, to be filed with the court for the Judge to rely on when determining the appropriate sentence for clients facing a term of years

+ Must maintain confidentiality at all times

+ This list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties or responsibilities that management may deem necessary from time to time

Qualifications

Minimum Job Requirements and Qualifications

A Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or a comparable degree in a related field and a minimum of four years of experience in assessment, investigation, and/or treatment relevant to the criminal justice system, and participation to completion in three accredited capital mitigation specialist seminars. A Master’s Degree in Social Work or a comparable degree in a related field and a minimum of two years of experience in assessment, investigation, and/or treatment relevant to the criminal justice system, and participation to completion in three accredited capital mitigation specialist seminars. The ability to communicate effectively with other employees, clients and the general public in a professional, courteous, and concise manner is required. Extensive experience in research and fact gathering, as well as knowledge of environmental, social psychological, medical, and economic factors that influence the behavior of individuals. Have the ability to interact with people in varying positions and from different walks of life and a strong desire to work with the indigent and a willingness to work under pressure while dealing with unexpected situations and deadlines. Deep knowledge of collaborating with unpredictable clients who suffer from various mental illnesses is also necessary. A valid driver’s license.

Preferred Job Requirements and Qualifications

Licensed Clinical Social Worker or Juris Doctorate or equivalent degree in a related field and a minimum of two years of experience in assessment, investigation, and/or treatment relevant to the criminal justice system, and participation to completion in three accredited capital mitigation specialist seminars.

Independent Judgment

Working Conditions

Essential functions are regularly performed in an office setting without exposure to adverse environmental conditions.

Physical Conditions

+ Sitting at a desk the majority of the day

+ Some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (5-10) pounds

+ Tasks may involve extended periods of time at keyboard or workstation

+ Tasks require the ability to perceive and hear sounds and see visual cues or signals

+ Tasks require the ability to communicate orally

Equal Employment Opportunity

The City of Indianapolis Marion County is an equal opportunity employer . All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status. We value diversity in perspectives and experiences among colleagues and the residents of this city of whom we serve.