Public Defender Investigative Assistant IIIIII

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT
The mission of the County of Ventura Public Defender is to ensure equal justice for our clients by providing exceptional legal representation. Our office recognizes the value of having a diverse and inclusive workforce. We are committed to the professional development of every employee on every team so they in turn can help each of our clients achieve the best outcome in their case. Our clients are a diverse community as well and many suffer from negative social impacts of systemic racism. We honor the inherent dignity in every client by fighting for their rights. We are holistic and take the time to find out how we can help both inside and outside the courtroom. Our staff includes experts in litigation and trial advocacy as well as professionals who can help people address mental health and substance use disorder issues. We represent each client at all stages of their case and our practice areas include Misdemeanor and Felony trial teams Immigration Writs and Appeals Juvenile and Mental Health plus a number of specialty courts including Conservatorship and Homeless Courts. Our office partners with community-based organizations in post-conviction litigation to clear records so our clients can avoid the stigma of a criminal conviction and find jobs. By helping people gain employment and reenter their communities we enhance public safety and demonstrate our dedication to this community.

ABOUT THE POSITION
Under general supervision incumbent performs limited to moderately complex general office and field duties in support of the investigation of criminal and conservatorship cases; assists in trial activities; and performs related duties as assigned.

Investigative Assistant I- This is the entry-level classification in the Investigative Assistant series and is distinguished from the Investigative Assistant II and III level of the series by the limited scope of responsibility and/or the limited variety and complexity of casework. The incumbent may be assigned to support a variety of defense efforts.

Investigative Assistant II - This is the journey-level classification in the Investigative Assistant series. The incumbent will work independently with a variety of moderately complex cases or with others on more difficult cases. It is distinguished from the Investigative Assistant III in that positions assigned to the advanced journey level classification work with a greater scope of responsibility.

Investigative Assistant III - This is the advanced journey level classification in the Investigative Assistant series. Incumbents at this level work independently with a greater scope of responsibility of complex casework and may be assigned to support a variety of defense efforts.

The Investigative Assistant classifications are distinguished from the Public Defender Investigator classification series in the scope and depth of assignments and responsibilities.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The ideal candidate will have the ability to work independently possess a strong commitment to persons accused of crimes and have excellent verbal and written communication skills.

PAYROLL TITLE AND APPROXIMATE SALARIES
Investigative Assistant I: $43680.00 - $61354.20 Annually
Investigative Assistant II: $48839.75 - $68612.43 Annually
Investigative Assistant III: $52179.67 - $73462.39 Annually

EDUCATIONAL/BILINGUAL INCENTIVE
Incumbents may be eligible for an educational incentive of 2.5% 3.5% or 5% based on completion of an Associates Bachelors or Masters degree that is not required for the classification. Incumbents may also be eligible for bilingual incentive depending upon operational need and certification of skill.

VETERANS POINTS
This is a trainee/entry level classification and Veterans Point may apply to eligible candidates for the Investigative Assistant I classification.

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill existing and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-Term) Intermittent and Extra Help vacancies for this and similar positions only within the Public Defenders Office. There is currently one (1) Regular vacancy.

The Investigative Assistant I/II/III is represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and is eligible for overtime compensation.

NOTE: If appointed at the lower level incumbent may be promoted to the higher level without further exam upon meeting the minimum requirements demonstrating sustained meritorious performance and in accordance with the business needs of the department.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Opening Date: Thursday February 05 2026
Closing Date: Friday February 20 2026 at 5:00 pm
Application Review Complete: Week of March 02 2026

Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Transports clients and witnesses to programs and/or other facilities including court.
• Interviews clients relatives and other witnesses to obtain and/or clarify statements documents and related factual evidence; prepares written reports of interviews conducted.
• Serves subpoenas and delivers legal documents.
• Researches information needed by investigators attorneys and others in defense of a legal case; reviews records for personal history or other information; prepares written reports of findings.
• Performs office or field data collection/investigations conducts limited surveillance identifies and locates witnesses contacts clients for signatures and takes photographs.
• Prepares charts and diagrams to provide information for court presentation; collects and organizes information and documents; may testify in court as necessary.
• Travels to facilities such as hospitals or locked psychiatric health facilities within and outside Ventura County to interview clients who have been classified as gravely disabled; interviews clients and witnesses to obtain information germane to the clients defense.
• Assists attorneys and investigators in court and
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

These are entrance requirements to the examination process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION TRAININGAND EXPERIENCE
Some (I) considerable (II) or extensive (III) experience in the investigation of civil and criminal cases which has led to the acquisition of the required knowledge skills and abilities. The required knowledge skills and abilities can be obtained by:

Investigative Assistant I

• Possession of the equivalent to an AA degree or sixty (60) semester units of academic coursework ANDone (1) year of full-time related experience.

• Possession of the equivalent to an AA degree or sixty (60) semester units of academic coursework ANDtwo (2) years of full-time related experience; OR
• One (1) year as an Investigative Assistant I with the County of Ventura.

• Possession of the equivalent to an AA degree or sixty (60) semester units of academic coursework ANDthree (3) years of full-time related experience; OR
• One (1) year as an Investigative Assistant II with the County of Ventura.

• Must possess and maintain a valid California drivers license as a condition of employment.
• May be required to work evenings weekends and holidays.
• Some positions allocated to this classification may require bilingual skills.

• Experience in the criminal defense field.
• Experience working with individuals and communities of various socioeconomic backgrounds including indigent and marginalized individuals.

• The criminal justice system and the California Penal Code.
• Investigative procedures and techniques.
• Principles and techniques of interviewing.

• Research and gather information.
• Analyze situations and adopt appropriate courses of action.
• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Serve subpoenas and legal documents in a timely and efficient manner.
• Work independently.

FINAL FILING DATE: Applications must be received by County of Ventura Human Resources in Ventura California no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday February 20 2026.

To apply on-line please refer to our web site at A paper application can be obtained by calling . Our address is County of Ventura Human Resources 800 South Victoria Avenue L-1970 Ventura CA 93009.

NOTE TO TRANSFER CANDIDATES: If presently permanently employed in another merit or civil service public agency/entity in the same or substantively similar position as advertised and if appointed to that position by successful performance in a merit or civil service style examination then appointment by Lateral Transfer may be possible. If interested please click here (download PDF reader) for additional information.

NOTE TO APPLICANTS: Sufficient information must be provided under the Education/Work experience portion of the application and supplemental questionnaire to thoroughly and accurately demonstrate your qualifications to determine eligibility. A resume may be attached to supplement your responses in the above referenced sections; however it may not be substituted in lieu of the application.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE - qualifying
All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this examination at the time of filing. The supplemental questionnaire may be used throughout the examination process to assist in determining each applicants qualifications and acceptability for the position. Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire may result in the application being removed from further consideration.

APPLICATION EVALUATION qualifying
All applications will be reviewed to determine whether or not the stated requirements are met. Those individuals meeting the stated requirements will be invited to continue to the next step in the examination process.

TRAINING & EXPERIENCE EVALUATION 100%
A Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E) is a structured evaluation of the job application materials submitted by a candidate including the written responses to the supplemental questionnaire. The T&E is NOT a determination of whether the candidate meets the stated requirements; rather the T&E is one method for determining who are the better qualified among those who have shown that they meet the stated a T&E applications are either scored or rank ordered according to criteria that most closely meet the business needs of the department. Candidates are typically scored/ranked in relation to one another; consequently when the pool of candidates is exceptionally strong many qualified candidates may receive a score or rank which is moderate or even low resulting in them not being advanced in the process.

NOTE: The established eligible list will be created from the scores resulting from a Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E). In a typical T&E your training and experience are evaluated in relation to the background experience and factors identified for successful job performance during a job analysis. For this reason it is recommended that your application materials clearly show your relevant background and specialized knowledge skills and abilities.It is also highly recommended that the supplemental questions within the application are completed with care and diligence providing all information requested. Examinees must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list.

ORAL EXAMINATION - 100%
A job-related oral examination may be conducted to evaluate and compare participating applicants knowledge skills and abilities in relation to those factors which job analysis has determined to be essential for successful performance of the job. Applicants must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list.

If there are three (3) or fewer qualified applicants a T&E will not be conducted. Instead a score of seventy percent (70%) will be assigned to each application and each applicant will be placed on the eligible list.

Candidates successfully completing the examination process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (1) year.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A thorough pre-employment post offer background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment education criminal background information and driving record may be required for this position.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all regardless of age ancestry color disability (mental and physical) exercising the right to family care and medical leave gender gender expression gender identity genetic information marital status medical condition military or veteran status national origin political affiliation race religious creed sex (includes pregnancy childbirth breastfeeding and related medical conditions) and sexual orientation.

For further information about this recruitment please contact Rigo Caballero by email at or by telephone at .