Mitigation Investigation Specialist

State of Ohio • Columbus, OH

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Office of the Ohio Public Defender is hiring three Mitigation Investigation Specialists in the Mitigation and Investigation Department, Appellate Services Division. The department conducts thorough, ethical investigations to support quality representation of indigent clients. Specialists work independently and as part of defense teams, interacting with clients, witnesses, experts, attorneys, department members, and support staff.

The position conducts or leads bio-psycho-social mitigation investigations in trial, post-conviction, federal habeas, and clemency phases of capital cases, and mitigation investigations in non-capital cases, including cases involving juveniles tried as adults who receive lifelong prison sentences. It also conducts fact investigations for trial and post-trial litigation and leads or conducts complex and specialized criminal investigations involving felony, capital, and juvenile cases.

The role involves regular travel throughout Ohio and occasional travel outside the state. Weekly car travel averages two days but varies with investigative needs. Specialists may transport witnesses and team members. Agency fleet vehicles are available to reserve; using one requires a valid driver's license and personal auto insurance. Personal transportation may be required when a fleet vehicle is unavailable. The position is permanent and full-time, with work hours listed as 8–5.

Requirements

• At least 30 months of experience conducting mitigation or criminal fact investigations; or completion of an undergraduate core program in behavioral sciences (such as social work, sociology, criminal justice, or psychology) and at least 6 months of criminal-investigation experience; or equivalent qualifications.
• Evidence of a valid driver's license and personal auto insurance coverage is required to use an agency fleet vehicle.
• Ability to travel regularly throughout Ohio and occasionally outside the state, and to transport witnesses and team members when traveling together.

Nice To Haves

• Experience conducting both bio-psychosocial history and fact investigations.
• Knowledge of forensics, fact investigation, mitigation, mental-health disorders, intellectual disability, and youth.
• Strong interpersonal skills, attention to detail, meticulous recordkeeping, creativity, initiative, and critical-thinking ability.
• Passion for collaborative work and assisting diverse clients facing poverty and other challenges.

Responsibilities

• Locate, contact, and interview witnesses, suspects, family members, employers, service providers, and others to obtain case-related information.
• Conduct lengthy interviews with clients and people in their personal, educational, medical, mental-health, legal, and agency networks.
• Gather and analyze school, medical, mental-health, employment, legal, military, social-services, and other records to develop insights into clients’ bio-psycho-social histories.
• Obtain and analyze anecdotal and documentary evidence relevant to a client’s history and environmental and cultural background.
• Investigate alleged offenses and gather documentation supporting expert and lay witness testimony.
• Obtain and notarize affidavits and gather and organize physical and documentary evidence.
• Travel to locate, interview, and investigate witnesses, evidence, materials, and records; identify, locate, contact, and interview relevant people and agencies.
• Assist with transporting witnesses and team members during travel.
• Prepare complex interview and findings reports and detailed timelines for trial and appellate case preparation and presentations.
• Identify the need for experts and assist in locating and working with defense experts.
• Assist with trial and hearing preparation and presentations, and interview death-row clients for clemency hearings.
• Consult with attorneys and experts to develop trial and appellate sentencing-phase themes and case theories.
• Assist in preparing witnesses or clients for testimony.
• Lead brainstorming and strategy discussions to develop the defense mitigation presentation.

Benefits

• Medical coverage.
• Dental, vision, and basic life insurance premiums covered after completion of the eligibility period.
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal and sick leave, and 11 paid holidays per year.
• Childbirth, adoption, and foster care leave.
• Education and development opportunities, including employee development funds and Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
• Public retirement systems, including OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS, and optional deferred compensation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed