Culture of the Organization: The Public Defender of Marion County (PDMC) strives to provide legal representation using the holistic defense model.
- In a profession that leads to early burn out, we prioritize the wellbeing of our employees and their families.
- We offer a flexible work from home/work from office balance for our attorneys.
- We operate using a modern case management system providing our attorneys with maximum support in managing their day-to-day workload.
- We train monthly as an organization in Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and are committed to antiracist work.
- The community at PDMC is strongly rooted in equity and compassion.
Ethical Workloads: We strive to provide high quality representation; within workable levels based on the Sixth Amendment study and the ABA Workload study.
- We refuse to participate in unethical public defense practices and only agree to handle matters where we can guarantee constitutionally sound representation.
- This requires a healthy team atmosphere, and transparency. Mindful communication is necessary to analyze attorney’s workload levels on a weekly basis.
Salary and Benefits: Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience.
- Salary range for qualified candidates is $75,000/ year to $80,000/per year.
- 5% pay differential given to candidates fluent in the Spanish language.
- Generous employee benefits package, 100% employer paid health and dental insurance, paid vacation, sickand personal time off, a 401(k) plan with a 5% annual contribution and a matching contribution of up to 5% of payroll.
Job Overview:
TYPICAL JOB DUTIES
Provide direct supervision and management over investigators, including hiring, training and discipline.
Review incoming investigation requests from attorneys and assign to investigators. Monitor workflow and review and evaluate work products, methods, and procedures.
Monitor investigator timekeeping and make any necessary changes or additions to timestamps.
Coordinate with other departments, including attorneys, discovery unit and staff, as needed to develop and maintain PDMC operations.
Attend and participate in weekly Manager Meetings.
Use PDMC assigned credit card to pay for routine expenses of the Investigation department. Maintain a record of those expenses and submit OPDS routine expense reimbursements on a monthly basis.
Maintain DMV access for PDMC, including making payments as necessary.
Participate in strategic planning for PDMC and draft policies and job descriptions for the Investigation department.
Report to PDMC Executive Director on a monthly basis regarding the overall operations of the investigation department, including growth, progress and concerns.
Conduct complex investigations as outlined in the Investigator 3 Job Description.
Investigator 3 Job Description:
Investigates suspected violations of Oregon State laws. The Investigator 3 gives primary investigative or trial support to an attorney.
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES
This class is the third of a three level series. The diversity of issues investigated (e.g.,
financial fraud, major felonies including JLaw and Measure 11) and higher level of experience distinguish it from the lower levels. The Investigator 3 regularly helps attorneys prepare a variety of cases.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The duties listed below are not inclusive but characteristic of the type and level of work associated with the class. Individual positions may do all or some combination of the duties listed below as well as other related duties.
Coordinates with attorneys and provides suggestions as to the steps necessary to perform the investigation.
Completes investigation including addressing each distinct issue and any new issues that arise during the investigation.
Reviews investigation request, police reports and relevant discovery.
Prioritizes items on the request with a view to balancing time-sensitive issues and investigator caseload.
Gathers and preserves evidence (including photographs and surveillance video) and conducts fact finding according to the rules of evidence.
Drafts subpoenas for attorney signature and serves subpoenas.
Reviews business, medical and financial records as needed.
Constructs, organizes and details complex financial transactions from disorganized or incomplete records.
Interviews witnesses as soon as practicable to minimize the loss of detail over time. Any request to canvas the area for previously unknown witnesses should be done ASAP
Takes good notes, either physical or electronic. Except in specific and pre-authorized situations, recordings should not be made.
Contacts the attorney to let them know the interview in complete, and you are ready to debrief. Follows up if they don’t get back to you within a few days.
Prepares reports of findings if requested by the attorney as soon as possible after completing the interview. Reports should include:
a. The date, time and place or manner of the interview or other event. (e.g. “on 07/16/21 at 3:40 p.m. I reached the AV by telephone at his place of employment.”)
b. Name and identify any other parties present, including their relationship to the witness and/or the defendant.
c. Note that you properly identified yourself as a representative of the defendant’s lawyer.
d. If the interview consisted of specific questions intended to draw out a specific answer, record both the question and answer as close to word-for-word as possible.
e. If the interview technique involved asking a general question to elicit a narrative response, be sure the question is asked and reported with enough specificity to put the answer into the proper context. (e.g. “I asked the witness to tell me in her own words what she saw happen between the client and the AV in the parking lot of the Ox-Bow tavern on the night of the incident.”) Following the narrative, ask appropriate follow-up questions for clarification. (e.g. “in response to my questions she told me the area was well lit by overhead lighting in the parking lot, that she was approximately fifteen feet away, and there was nothing obstructing her view when the person later identified as the AV threw the first punch at the client.”)
f. Where appropriate, include your observations and impressions verbally to the attorney. (e.g. the witness would/would not make a good impression on a jury; she seems to have been coached; may have cognitive difficulties; etc)
Follows up on additional leads generated by the interview.
Testifies in court, when needed.
RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS
The Investigator 3 has regular daily telephone and in-person contact with the public, clients and attorneys to collect and exchange information. The employee has occasional in-person and telephone contact with staff of law enforcement agencies, federal and state agencies, and other businesses to collect information. Frequent contact with hostile individuals and/or individuals with mental health or substance abuse issues.
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
General knowledge of the principles, methods, and laws of investigation such as determining plan of inquiry, interviewing, and surveillance.
General knowledge of the rules of evidence, including legal sources of obtaining information, search and seizure, chain of custody and legal sufficiency of evidence.
General knowledge of common business practices and records, including financial records.
Basic knowledge of applicable State laws and case law.
Basic knowledge of applicable terminology, practices, and procedures of professional fields other than legal (e.g., medical, dental, accounting).
Basic knowledge of the judicial system.
Basic knowledge of corporate and governmental organizational structures and interrelationships.
Skill in evaluating legal documents and identifying legal issues.
Skill preparing subpoenas, including subpoenas duces tecum.
Skill in interviewing and questioning witnesses.
Skill in preparing written reports.
Skill in testifying.
Skill in orally describing the development of an investigation.
Skill in reading and interpreting technical or professional records and reports.
Skill in reconstructing business transactions.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $75,000.00 - $80,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Mileage reimbursement
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
- 8 hour shift
- Monday to Friday
License/Certification:
- Private Investigator License (Required)
Ability to Relocate:
- Salem, OR 97301: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person