Supervising Investigator - CAFL/YAD - Statewide

Commonwealth of Massachusetts•Boston, MA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Children and Family Law and Youth Advocacy Divisions of the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), the Massachusetts public defender agency, are seeking a full-time Supervising Investigator. This newly created position will assist in creating a robust Investigator program throughout the Commonwealth. Supervising Investigators assist in the hiring, training, and supervision of staff Investigators in addition to their own reduced caseload. Investigators are key members of the defense team who assist in developing defense strategies for indigent persons by interviewing witnesses, investigating allegations made by the Department of Children and families and District Attorney’s Office, and documenting crime scenes. CPCS is committed to protecting the fundamental constitutional and human rights of our assigned clients through zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense, and the fullness of excellent legal representation. CPCS is the state agency in Massachusetts responsible for providing an attorney when the state or federal constitution or a state statute requires the appointment of an attorney for a person who cannot afford to retain one. The agency provides representation in criminal, delinquency, youthful offender, family regulation, guardianship, mental health, sexually dangerous person, and sex offender registry cases, as well as in appeals and post-conviction and post-judgment proceedings related to those matters. The Children and Family Law Division (“CAFL”) of CPCS, is committed to ensuring that every indigent child, parent, and/or guardian in Massachusetts has access to zealous legal representation in family regulation/child welfare cases, including care and protection, child requiring assistance, termination of parental rights, guardianship-of-a-minor cases, and other types of custody and adoption proceedings. CAFL provides a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to client representation, bringing together attorneys, social workers, and support staff to improve outcomes for the clients they serve. The Youth Advocacy Division (YAD), the juvenile defender division of CPCS, is committed to ensuring that every indigent child in Massachusetts has access to zealous legal representation in delinquency, GCL Revocation, juvenile murder, juvenile appeals, and youthful offender cases from a diverse and ever improving community of juvenile defenders consisting of both private assigned counsel and staff public defenders. YAD provides leadership, training, support, and oversight to the indigent juvenile defense bar in Massachusetts. The Supervising Investigator will be based in any CAFL or YAD office with available space depending on the needs of the Divisions and the selected candidate. The Supervising Investigator will report to a CAFL Managing Director and will collaborate with the other CAFL and YAD Managing Directors, Attorneys in Charge, and staff attorneys, and others as appropriate.

Requirements

A Bachelor’s degree and at least three years of experience as a criminal investigator or criminal defense attorney, preferably in cases involving the provision of defense services to indigent defendants; or an equivalent combination of education, training, experience, and skills;
Insured, reliable, and available transportation, and a valid MA driver’s license;
Access to home internet access sufficient to work remotely.

Nice To Haves

A demonstrated commitment to anti-racism and to reducing racial and ethnic disparities in the criminal legal system;
A demonstrated commitment to the principles of zealous advocacy and community-oriented defense and the ability to promote the provision of excellent representation by staff members;
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, internet databases, social media, online searches and databases, surveillance technology, imaging and audio and video equipment;
A demonstrated knowledge of the principles, methods, and techniques of criminal investigations, including gathering, preserving, and presenting evidence, basic identification techniques, creating and utilizing demonstrative evidence, and methods of operation;
Strong leadership skills and qualities;
Strong written and oral advocacy skills, and analytical, interpersonal, communication, negotiation, and decision-making skills;
Proven ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team;
A demonstrated ability to develop, support, and mentor staff;
Ability to work successfully with courts and other personnel in the Juvenile Court;
A demonstrated knowledge of civil and criminal law and courtroom procedures; interviewing and interrogation techniques; and, forensics, including scientific developments used for investigation and prosecution of crimes;
Flexibility to work outside of regular business hours, e.g. on nights and weekends, if required;
Bilingual language skills preferred.

Responsibilities

Monitoring investigator caseloads to ensure that each investigator’s caseload is appropriate;
Maintaining statistics relative to investigator caseloads;
In-the-field supervision, including accompanying supervisees on witness interviews, examining and photographing crime scenes, jail visits, and court appearances;
Reviewing report writing of Investigators;
Attending regular one-on-one meetings with individual Investigators, as well as group meetings with Investigators and other defense team staff to ensure quality investigations are occurring;
Working with the Attorneys-in-Charge to assign cases to investigators;
Collaborating with Attorneys-in-Charge of trial offices in the region on annual performance evaluations of supervisees;
Assisting the recruiting and hiring of staff Investigators to ensure quality and diversity of staff;
Working with the PDD Director of Investigations, CAFL and YAD Leadership Teams, and the Training Unit in the training of Investigators;
Meeting regularly with the PDD Director of Investigations and PDD Supervising Investigators as well as they Deputy Chief Counsel and Managing Directors to review compliance with responsibilities and to discuss regional and statewide issues;
Making and maintaining personal contact with individuals in various agencies (e.g., police, DCF, DYS, hospitals, ambulance services, courts) and community organizations to facilitate Investigators’ access to witnesses and records;
Developing familiarity with Massachusetts child welfare laws and regulations, criminal laws and rules of civil and criminal procedure;
Other duties as assigned.
Locating and interviewing cooperative and, at times, uncooperative witnesses and/or alleged victims
Investigating and documenting allegations made by the Department of Children and Families and the Suffolk and Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office, as well as crime scenes, commonly located in neighborhoods that have been designated as ‘high crime areas’ by local law enforcement agencies;
Preparing and presenting oral and/or written reports based upon interviews and/or information obtained during the course of the investigation;
Conducting surveillance;
Measuring, diagramming, and photographing locations where crimes may have taken place and/or any location appropriate to the defense strategy;
Utilizing computers for on-line access to the Registry of Motor Vehicles, public records, databases, social networking sites, and various online searches;
Keeping accurate records of all phases of the investigation, and being accountable for all aspects of the investigation;
Networking and maintaining personal contact with individuals in various agencies, including, but not limited to, police departments, courts, state agencies, private sector agencies, and others to facilitate access to information necessary to the defense of a case;
Reviewing and analyzing police reports and witness statements;
Maintaining open lines of communication with attorneys as to investigative updates and case strategy and meeting all deadlines associated with cases;
Maintaining professional and productive relationships with attorneys and other staff members;
Evaluating individuals and factual situations to aid the attorney in preparing and presenting a defense to the criminal charges;
Advising attorneys regarding changes and developments in investigative tools and techniques;
Developing familiarity with Massachusetts child welfare laws and regulations, criminal laws and rules of criminal and civil procedure;
Serving summonses on witnesses and document record keepers;
Arranging timely appearance of witnesses at court by keeping them “on call” and when necessary, providing transportation for clients and/or witnesses to court or other facilities;
Preparing exhibits for trials and hearings;
Ability to work independently and outside of normal business hours as needed;
Participating in training programs for attorneys, as well as investigators;