Public Defender Investigator I

Final Filing Deadline: February 2 2026

Exam # 26/34D22/01GM

Public Defender Investigator I

The County of Monterey is committed to honoring the service and sacrifice of veterans and eligible military spouses and awards veterans preference points for this recruitment. To learn more about the eligibility requirements and the process be sure to read the Hiring Preference for Veterans and Eligible Military Spouses section located towards the end of this job flier.

The Public Defender Investigator I is the entry level class in the Public Defender Investigator series. Incumbents conduct investigations of the less complex misdemeanor and felony cases referred to the Public Defenders Office initially under close supervision. As incumbents gain experience and proficiency in performing tasks supervisory decreases. Incumbents must possess some knowledge of pertinent laws regulations court procedures and departmental policies.

The Eligible List established by this recruitment process may be used to fill current and future vacancies on a regular full-time part-time or temporary basis.

This classification is part of a flexible series. Incumbents appointed at the lower level of the career series may be promoted up to the higher level of the career series subject to their meeting the employment standards for the higher class and a recommendation for their promotion by the appointing authority.

• Participates in routine investigations of misdemeanor and felony cases.
• Evaluates various types of evidence and advises attorneys in investigative procedures and techniques physical evidence matters and information sources.
• Assists attorneys in the preparation and presentation of defense evidence and testimony.
• Locates and interviews defendants complainants and witnesses; interviews police and other public agencies and others who may have official or professional information relevant to a legal defense. Confers with the attorneys on the reliability and credibility of witnesses; helps prepare witnesses testimony.
• Locates and serves subpoenas for court appearances of defense witnesses.
• Makes arrangements or transports witnesses to and from court or to court-ordered programs; arranges travel and lodging needs for out-of-county witnesses; attends to appropriate witness fee payments.
• Locates obtains evaluates and preserves documentary evidence from a variety of sources.
• Prepares and provides oral and written reports and correspondence regarding investigation performed contacts made physical evidence found which includes statements scene descriptions and analysis of physical evidence.
• Gathers marks records and preserves physical evidence; determines the importance and relevance of the evidence in investigations.
• Operates and maintains a variety of photographic tape graphic and projection equipment. Photographs crime scenes clients injuries for use as evidence in cases and prepares photographic line-ups for witness review.
• Searches computer resources.
• May testify in court regarding investigations and the evidence obtained.

To view the complete classification description please visit the County of Monterey website: Public Defender Investigator I

Some Knowledge of:

• Principles methods and techniques of criminal investigations including gathering preserving and presenting evidence basic identification techniques and methods of operation.
• Laboratory procedures methods and uses of scientific investigative equipment and analysis incident to the investigation of crimes.
• Criminal law including the laws of arrest search and seizure subpoena service rules of evidence rules and regulations regarding juveniles laws regulations and procedures regarding conservatorship custody and mental health proceedings and courtroom procedures in felony misdemeanor and juvenile court or jury trial matters.
• Basic psychological principles interviewing techniques and interrogating witnesses of varied socio-economic and cultural backgrounds and mentally deficient clients.
• Current technology and trends in the profession.
• Telephone office and online etiquette.
• Location of and means to obtain information evidence records and reports including the use of skip tracing techniques.
• Techniques employed in diagramming and making demonstrative evidence to be presented in court.

Skill and Ability to:

• Gather assemble analyze and evaluate facts and evidence to draw logical conclusions and to formulate sound recommendations. Be objective in fact finding.
• Determine priorities and importance of various types of evidence.
• Effectively communicate in oral and written form by preparing reviewing and evaluating comprehensive reports on investigations.
• Obtain information through interviews.
• Work effectively under decreasing supervision over time.
• Communicate clearly concisely calmly respectfully effectively and diplomatically in dealing with clients management other employees subordinates professionals from other agencies and the public from diverse cultures and backgrounds.
• Maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for making observations communicating with others and reading and writing.
• Maintain mental capacity which allows the ability of making sound decisions and demonstrating intellectual capabilities.
• Exercise good judgment and tact in dealing with sensitive cases.
• Develop demonstrative evidence for use in court such as diagrams charts and photographs.
• Testify in court in a direct clear and concise manner.
• Read and comprehend legal material.
• Deal effectively with various levels of government law enforcement agencies judicial groups and individuals.
• Recognize potentially hostile situations; adapt to many different environments; function calmly in situations which require a high degree of sensitivity tact and diplomacy.
• Provide prompt efficient and responsive service to management the attorneys and/or the clients.
• Exercise appropriate judgment in answering questions and releasing information; analyze and project consequences of decisions and/or recommendations.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees other criminal justice agencies courts and the public.
• Use laptop and personal computers word processing programs and access the internet; learn computer programs and databases; use computer presentation software.
• Use film and digital photographic equipment; use measuring devices; draw diagrams to scale; operate various scientific investigation equipment.

Examples of Experience/Education/Training:

Any combination of training education and/or experience which provides the knowledge skills and abilities and required conditions of employment is qualifying. An example of a way these requirements might be acquired is:

Experience: Two years of experience performing duties requiring interviewing researching and report writing.

OR

Education: Successful completion of three college level courses which stressed independently gathering and analyzing data using both oral interview and library research methods and writing reports using data gathered.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The required conditions of employment include but are not limited to the following:

The following are highly desirable but not required:

BENEFITS:

The County of Monterey offers an excellent benefits package. Please visit our website to view theUnit J Benefit Summary Sheet. This information is not legally binding nor does it serve as a contract. The benefits listed in the Monterey County Personnel Policies and Practices Resolution or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) prevail over this listing.

NOTES:

Application and Selection Procedures

Apply On-Line at February:59 PM(PST)

OR

Hard copy applications may be obtained from and submitted during normal business hours

Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM by contacting:

Human Resources Department

Attn: Gabriela Munoz

168 W. Alisal Street

Salinas CA 93901

Phone:

The selection process is tentative and applicants will be notified if changes are made. To assess applicants possession of required qualifications the examination process may include an oral examination pre-examination exercises performance examination and/or written examination. The competitive examination process includes submittal of required application materials. A complete application package will include:

• Responses to the Supplemental Questions

Applicants who fail to provide all required materials by the final filing deadline will not be considered. Resumes cover letters letters of interest and other correspondence will not be accepted as a substitute for required application materials. All required application materials will be competitively evaluated. Those applicants that are determined to be the most appropriately qualified will be invited to participate further in the selection process.

HIRING PREFERENCE FOR VETERANS AND ELIGIBLE MILITARY SPOUSES

The County of Monterey is committed to honoring the service and sacrifice of veterans and eligible military spouses (i.e. surviving spouses of veterans spouses of totally disabled veterans and spouses of active-duty service members) and awards veterans preference points for this recruitment. To obtain a Veterans and Eligible Military Spouse Preference Application please visit the Human Resources website or click on the following link:Click Here to View theVeterans and Eligible Military Spouse Preference Application

To apply for veterans preference points veterans or eligible military spouses must complete and email a Veterans and Eligible Military Spouse Preference Application with supporting documentation of their eligibilityby the final filing deadlineto

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

The County of Monterey is a drug-free workplace and an equal opportunity employer. The County seeks candidates who can make contributions in an environment of cultural and ethnic diversity. The County is committed to providing access equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment its services programs and activities. To request reasonable accommodation please contact Gabriela Munoz Human Resources Analyst at or .