Conviction Integrity Unit – Administrative Investigator

Performs professional duties in investigation of allegations of suspected violations of criminal statutes and possible legal defenses to and mitigation against those allegations and use their findings to provide information to help guide the course and outcome of client representation.

Distinguishing Characteristics

This job is in the Court Services job family. It is distinguished from the Investigator job in that it does not require TCOLE certification. Requires working irregular hours and/or occasionally traveling out of town/state and stay overnight as individual investigations demand.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Plans and conducts complete investigations of criminal allegations and circumstances of clients lived experiences. Identifies, evaluates and collects information, data and evidence. Visits scenes, develops leads, contacts and sources of information and interviews clients. Locates and interviews witnesses, complainants, family members, law enforcement officials, representatives of agencies and others across a wide variety of settings to gather statements and information on events surrounding allegations and/or relevant mitigating circumstances. Serves subpoenas, takes photographs and measurements; and collects and evaluates physical and testimonial evidence.
• Presents orally and in writing findings of investigation and discusses and consults with attorney and other members of the defense team. Maintains complete and accurate records of investigative activities. Prepares written reports and statements. Draws diagrams to scale.  Prepares demonstrative evidence for use in proceedings related to allegations such as diagrams, charts, and photographs.
• Appears as a witness in proceedings related to the criminal allegations to present facts and information discovered during investigation, including facts and information relevant to legal defenses to and mitigation against the allegations.
• All other duties as required.

Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Criminal Justice, Forensics, Sociology, Political Science, Psychology, Journalism, History or related field.  Verifiable training or work/internship experience (cumulative minimum of 300 hours) performing investigative duties or intensive research in the field of law, media/journalism, public health/welfare, human/civil rights, education, social sciences, public policy/government/community development or related field.

OR,
Four years of verifiable experience as a licensed investigator or licensed administrative investigator. Experience must include performing investigative work in connection with administrative, juvenile petitions, criminal and/or civil crimes, complaints and/or violations.

OR,
Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:
Valid driver’s license.
Must be at least 21 years of age.

Preferred:
Ability to fluently speak and write in Spanish.
Mission-aligned experience (work or lived) engaging people/communities directly impacted by the criminal/immigration/indigent civil legal systems.

Knowledge of:

• Departmental purpose and mission.
• Interviewing and investigative techniques and procedures.
• Elements of criminal/civil offenses and legal defenses.
• General rules of evidence.
• Laws and practices relating to the service of subpoenas and the treatment of witnesses.
• Ethical standards.

• Critical analysis and evaluation.
• Clear written and oral communication.
• Basic data analysis.
• General computing, word processing, and data entry.
• Use of measuring devices and/or film/digital photographic equipment.
• Organization and time management.
• Socially and culturally competent interaction with people from a wide variety of backgrounds, professions, and cultures, including people from marginalized communities.

• Recognize, collect, gather, and preserve evidence, including taking witness statements.
• Be objective in fact finding.
• Evaluate and analyze evidence, including forensic or scientific evidence, against elements of criminal offenses and legal defenses.
• Determine priorities and importance of various types of evidence.
• Quickly and consistently exercise sound judgment.
• Adapt to many different environments.
• Communicate effectively across lines of difference with others.
• Keep accurate records.
• Prepare written reports and documents of varying lengths.
• Navigate databases and access Internet resources.

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 50 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment.  Subject to standing, walking, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, climbing stairs, driving, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, client/customer contact, squatting to perform the essential functions.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

Work Hours: 8 am - 5 pm, Monday-Friday. 

Location: 416 W. 11th Street, Austin, Texas 78701

Department: District Attorney

Criminal, Driving, Education, and Employment Background Checks Required.

For updates or questions on this position, contact: Deborah.Kortan@traviscountytx.gov

This job description is intended to be generic in nature.  It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities.  The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.