Mitigation Specialist-JSDU

Defender Association of Philadelphia • Philadelphia, PA

3d

About The Position

The Mitigation Specialist in the Juvenile Special Defense Unit (JSDU) works with Direct File Juvenile cases, Decertified cases, gun possession cases, and other Special Defense cases requiring sentencing advocacy and/or social service intervention. Individuals who are interested and would like to be considered for this position must possess excellent oral and written communication skills and a solid foundation in interviewing and psycho-social assessment. A successful candidate is expected to have a working knowledge of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the MAYSI and other tests used by evaluating psychologists/psychiatrists, and be able to interact with professionals using testing terminology. A large part of the position includes identifying and interviewing significant social informants, performing reliable client social histories, and developing themes for mitigation based on a client’s psycho-social development. Applicants must be proficient in relationship building and working as part of an interdisciplinary team, as the position will require developing positive and sustaining relationships with clients and their families, as well as, working with a team of lawyers, investigators and other experts.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree, required
• Three years social work/mitigation related experience
• Familiarity with both the Adult and Juvenile Justice Court Systems and dispositional alternatives
• Ability to work independently while maintaining regular and effective communication with attorneys
• Ability to analyze and evaluate facts, evidence and related information and engage in creative thinking and problem solving
• Ability to conduct thorough, multi-generational psychosocial investigations
• Ability to locate and interview mitigation witnesses and produce persuasive psychosocial summaries/sentencing reports
• Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills and the ability to engage with and establish rapport with people from a variety of background
• Experience in preparing full psycho-social summaries
• Working knowledge of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and the ability to interact with professionals using DSM terminology
• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds
• Must be able to travel to courtrooms, community placements, state hospitals and local and statewide prisons if needed

Nice To Haves

• Master’s Degree, in Social Service or a related human services field, preferred

Responsibilities

• Conducting client assessments in the office, at the various state and county prisons, as well as the JJSC, and field investigations, to determine competency, alcohol/drug dependence, legal sanity, and preparation of reliable social histories and themes for mitigation based on client's psycho-social development
• Referring to and negotiating with community resources to service client needs.
• Contacting family and other support persons to gather information to assist with assessment, treatment planning, and penalty phase mitigation.
• Preparing written reports/memoranda on all clients to trial Attorneys.
• Providing court testimony on behalf of clients when needed.
• Maintaining well documented and dated files on all clients.
• Preparing social summaries and sentencing reports.
• Referring clients to appropriate forensic psychologists and/or psychiatrists to evaluate and prepare for Decertification Hearings.
• Assisting attorneys in preparation of theories of mitigation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level