Investigator I - IV - Office of the Inspector General (Hutchins Unit)

Texas Department of Criminal Justice • Dallas, TX

3d

About The Position

INVESTIGATOR I
JOB SUMMARY
Performs entry-level investigative enforcement work. Work involves conducting investigations of criminal violations and administrative investigations of allegations of serious employee misconduct. Works under close supervision with minimal latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.
INVESTIGATOR II
JOB SUMMARY
Performs investigative enforcement work. Work involves conducting investigations of criminal violations; administrative investigations of allegations of employee misconduct; and investigations of waste, fraud, and abuse. Works under moderate supervision with limited latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.
INVESTIGATOR III
JOB SUMMARY
Performs investigative enforcement work. Work involves conducting investigations of criminal violations; administrative investigations of allegations of employee misconduct; investigations of waste, fraud, and abuse; and providing guidance to others. Works under general supervision with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.
INVESTIGATOR IV
JOB SUMMARY
Performs complex investigative enforcement work. Work involves conducting investigations; and providing guidance to others. Works under general supervision with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from a college or university accredited by an organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or by the United States Department of Education (USDE). Major course work in Criminal Justice preferred. Law enforcement or correctional custody experience in a state, county, or federal correctional system preferred.
• Semester hours from a college or university accredited by an organization recognized by the CHEA or by the USDE may be substituted with prior law enforcement or military experience in a municipal, county, state, or federal system, based on the following ratios:
• Four years full-time, wage-earning experience as a TDCJ supervisor of correctional officers.
• One-year full time, wage earning honorable service as a licensed peace officer.
• Valid Class C Driver license.
• Currently holds an active Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) Peace Officer license or meets the minimum standards for the initial Peace Officer licensure set forth in TCOLE Rule 217.1 inclusive of having passed the TCOLE Peace Officer licensing examination within two years of the commission’s receipt of license applications. Applicants must meet all the current TCOLE requirements.
• Applicants must successfully complete recruit and field programs.
• Applicants must pass the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Physical Performance Standards test in order to continue in the selection process.
• Employees must annually pass the OIG Physical Performance Standards test or OIG Job Simulation test for continued employment.
• Must maintain valid license(s) for continued employment in position.
• Knowledge of the criminal justice system functions and operations.
• Knowledge of investigative and law enforcement methods and practices.
• Knowledge of federal and state statutory and procedural law to include the Texas Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedures; and current case law that impacts the functions of the Investigations Division, legal and procedural rules of evidence, and the laws of arrest, search, and seizure.
• Knowledge of applicable state and federal laws, rules, regulations, statutes, and court orders.
• Knowledge of methods and procedures for defusing and managing volatile situations and violent and hostile offenders.
• Knowledge of agency and departmental organizational structure, policies, procedures, rules, and regulations preferred.
• Skill to communicate ideas and instructions clearly and concisely.
• Skill to coordinate with other staff, departments, officials, agencies, organizations, and the public.
• Skill in administrative problem-solving techniques.
• Skill in public address.
• Skill in the use of computers and related equipment in a stand-alone or local area network environment.
• Skill to develop and manage confidential informants.
• Skill to interpret and apply laws and regulations to complex investigative and enforcement situations.
• Skill to analyze and evaluate large amounts of facts and evidence to formulate defensible investigative conclusions.
• Skill to exercise legal authority, effect arrests, exercise reasonable force, and use firearms.
• Skill to secure and process crime scenes and to collect and preserve physical evidence.
• Skill to manage and contain hostile, volatile, and dangerous situations and to make difficult decisions and direct operations under stressful and dangerous circumstances.
• Skill to prepare comprehensive and detailed reports of investigations and to prepare criminal cases for prosecution.
• Skill to plan, coordinate, and manage extensive investigations involving diverse resources and multiple investigative initiatives.
• Skill to manage investigative caseloads and other diverse responsibilities.
• Skill to provide testimony in court and official proceedings.

Responsibilities

• Conducts administrative investigations and enforces agency regulations; evaluates allegations of serious employee misconduct to include allegations of excessive and unnecessary use of force, harassment, and retaliation against offenders; identifies investigative issues and administrative violations; and collects and evaluates evidence to formulate defensible investigative conclusions.
• Investigates criminal offenses occurring on Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) property or involving TDCJ interests; obtains and executes warrants; maintains liaison and assists outside law enforcement agencies; responds to crises and dangerous situations; makes arrests; conducts undercover investigations; pursues escapees and fugitives; provides special security; and testifies in criminal courts, before grand juries, and other official proceedings.
• Assists with managing investigative caseloads; prepares reports of investigations and criminal cases for prosecution; and maintains records of investigative cases, evidence, and property.
• Responds to law enforcement duties to include pursuit of offenders and criminals by foot and car; and assists in the restraint of offenders and criminals by using proven physical abilities of cardiovascular endurance, anaerobic power, muscular strength and endurance, explosive leg power, and agility.
• Serves as a Commissioned Peace Officer in the Investigations Division of the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ).
• Manages investigative caseloads; prepares reports of investigations and criminal cases for prosecution; and maintains records of investigative cases, evidence, and property.
• Conducts fugitive task force operations, polygraph examinations, and undercover investigative operations; and participates in joint homeland security initiatives with other governmental law enforcement agencies.
• Trains, directs, advises, and leads other investigators; and performs specialized duties to include fugitive task force operations, polygraph examinations, undercover and proactive investigative operations, field training responsibilities, instruction of firearms, and Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) mandatory in-service training.
• Organizes, assigns, and reviews the work of other investigators; and performs specialized duties to include fugitive task force operations, polygraph examinations, undercover and proactive investigative operations, field training responsibilities, instruction of firearms, and Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) mandatory in-service training.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees