Investigator, Public Defender

UNCLASSIFIED POSITION THE ASSIGNMENT IS IN THE OFFICE OF THE P UBLIC DEFENDER Please refrain from attaching personal and identifiable information: Driver's License, Photo on Resumes, DD214, Vaccination cards, etc. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelors Degree in criminology, criminal justice, or a related field required; supplemented by three years of experience in law enforcement or other investigative fields; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job . Resumes without photos are welcome. Specific License or Certification Required : Must possess and maintain a valid Georgia driver's license. The Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Certification is not required but will be considered. Specific Knowledge, Skills, or Abilities : Must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the performance of the essential functions and learn, comprehend, and apply all county or departmental policies, practices, and procedures necessary to function effectively in the position. Requires knowledge of federal, state, and local criminal laws and statutes, court rules and procedures, and methods and techniques used to conduct criminal investigations. Requires knowledge of the geography of the metropolitan Atlanta area. Requires interpersonal and communication skills to effectively interview, interrogate, persuade, or otherwise interact in the course of investigative work. Veterans' Preference : Qualifying veterans will be given preference in the form of a guaranteed invitation to interview for any position to which they applied and have been found to have met the minimum qualifications. Veterans' preference provides for hiring preference on initial appointment only. To see the full Fulton County Veterans' Preference Policy and Procedure, please click here . ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE COMPLETED IN FULL BEFORE THEY ARE SUBMITTED. PLEASE REVIEW ALL APPLICATIONS FOR ACCURACY AND MAKE ALL CORRECTIONS BEFORE SUBMITTAL BECAUSE ERRORS CAN RESULT IN NOT MEETING THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AFTER ALLOCATIONS ARE RECEIVED BY THE PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT. Purpose of Classification: The purpose of this classification is to perform professional investigative work for the Office of the Public Defender to support the representation of indigent clients of Fulton County. Work involves providing support, resources, and security to assigned Assistant Public Defenders prior to, during, and after felony criminal, appeals, and juvenile cases. This classification is distinguished from the series by the level of casework assigned and the greater degree of supervision and guidance provided. Positions in the Investigator, P.D. classification typically investigate routine felony and juvenile cases. Essential Functions: The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned. Assists assigned Assistant Public Defenders in conducting investigations and preparing cases for hearings and trial: reviews case files and identifies investigative tasks; drafts and executes court orders for evidence; collects, secures, and analyzes evidence, ensuring chain of custody is maintained; utilizes various investigative tools, resources, and programs to obtain necessary information; photographs or draws crime scenes; assists with home evaluations; compiles witness lists; consults with Assistant Public Defenders regarding defense; and testifies in court. Identifies, locates, serves subpoenas, and ensures court appearances of clients, victims, and lay and professional witnesses involved in felony and juvenile cases; assists with interviewing clients, victims, and witnesses and obtaining their full cooperation; and serves as translator for attorneys. Transports and provides security for attorneys, transport attorneys, clients, social workers, and witnesses as needed. Provides assistance and advocacy to indigent clients: provides information and updates regarding case status and court proceedings; and provides referrals and information to assist clients. Communicates and collaborates with various groups and agencies including law enforcement, clients, victims, witnesses, families of clients and witnesses, judges, attorneys court personnel, and the general public to gather information and details about a case, coordinate investigative efforts, or raise public awareness. Prepares, gathers, reviews, compiles, and processes a variety of documents and information related to investigative activities: gathers and compiles necessary information including incident reports, certified prior convictions, criminal histories, crime lab information, defendant, victim and witness statements, interrogation/interview footage, and medical records; reviews financial records, crime lab reports, patient records, and other investigative information; drafts investigative reports, case summaries, evidence requests, and related documents. Stays abreast of criminal investigative techniques and practices, crime trends, and courtroom procedures; attends seminars and training courses; obtains various criminology certifications. Operates or uses various equipment, tools, and supplies in order to complete work assignments: operates motor vehicle, cameras, radios, surveillance equipment, and other power or motorized equipment; operates a personal computer to enter, retrieve, review or modify data, utilizing word processing, spreadsheet, database, presentation, Internet, e-mail, or other software; and operates general office or other equipment as necessary to complete essential functions. Additional Functions: Performs other related duties as required. For Applicants With Prior Military Service : We strongly encourage veterans, prior military and transitioning service members to apply. Many of the competencies and transferable skills developed through military service directly support success in this role, including: Leadership Under Pressure: Ability to remain calm, focused, and organized during high-stakes or rapidly changing case environments; Skill in prioritizing critical tasks and making sound decisions under tight deadlines; Capacity to guide witnesses, clients, and team members through stressful or sensitive situations with professionalism and clarity. Operational Planning and Execution: Strong ability to structure investigative plans, including evidence gathering, witness interviews, and fieldwork logistics; Competence in coordinating investigative activities with attorneys, administrative staff, and external agencies; Consistency in following legal procedures, documentation standards, and workflow timelines to support case strategy. Adaptability and Rapid Problem Solving: Quick assessment of complex situations to identify viable investigative paths or alternative approaches; Ability to respond effectively to unexpected developments, such as new evidence, unavailable witnesses, or changes in case direction; Resourcefulness in locating information, contacts, or records using multiple investigative methods. Team Cohesion and Communication: Clear communication skills when conveying findings to public defenders, clients, and court personnel; Ability to build rapport with diverse individuals, including reluctant witnesses, community members, and multidisciplinary staff; Effective collaboration in a legal team environment, supporting shared case strategy and maintaining open information flow. Safety and Risk Awareness: Awareness of personal and situational safety during field investigations, home visits, or interviews in volatile environments; Skilled in assessing potential risks and adjusting investigative plans to minimize harm to self, clients, and witnesses; Understanding of legal and ethical boundaries to ensure safe, compliant investigative practice. Technical and Equipment Proficiency: Proficiency with case management software, digital evidence tools, databases, and public records systems; Competence in using surveillance or recording equipment, maintaining chain-of-custody protocols, and documenting evidence accurately; Strong ability to analyze digital records, documents, and data sets relevant to case preparation. Performance Aptitudes: Data Utilization : Requires the ability to review, classify, categorize, prioritize, and/or analyze data. Includes exercising discretion in determining data classification, and in referencing such analysis to established standards for the purpose of recognizing actual or probable interactive effects and relationships. Human Interaction : Requires the ability to work with and apply principles of persuasion and/or influence over others to coordinate programs or activities of a project, and resolve typical problems associated with the responsibilities of the job. Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Materials Utilization : Requires the ability to operate, maneuver and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions. Verbal Aptitude : Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, advisory and/or design data and information. Mathematical Aptitude : Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; ability to calculate decimals and percentages; may include ability to perform mathematical operations with fractions; may include ability to compute discount, interest, and ratios; may include ability to calculate surface areas, volumes, weights, and measures. Functional Reasoning : Requires the ability to apply principles of influence systems, such as motivation, incentive, and leadership, and to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to resolve problems. Situational Reasoning : Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental, or subjective criteria, as opposed to that which is clearly measurable or verifiable. It is the policy of Fulton County that there will be equal opportunity for every citizen, employee and applicant, based upon merit without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, genetics, age, disability or sexual orientation.