Deputy Prosecuting Attorney - Drug Court - Collaborative Justice Unit

Full Job Description

This position is under the supervision of the Collaborative Justice Unit (CJU) within the mainstream adult criminal division, but reviews and manages criminal cases assigned to other units and divisions.

CJU currently includes the following programs: King County Drug Diversion Court (KCDDC), Regional Mental Health Court (RMHC), Regional Veterans Court (RVC), Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD), Familiar Faces/Vital Initiative (FF), Community Diversion Program (CDP), Therapeutic Alternative Diversion (TAD), Survivors FIRST (SF) and other prosecutorial diversion and mitigation projects.

This role requires a two-year commitment to working in KCDDC or other collaborative justice programs.

After that time, the Deputy Prosecuting Attorney (DPA) will be able to rotate to other roles within KCPAO.

Drug Diversion Court Description:

King County Drug Diversion Court (KCDDC) is regarded as a national model among the more than 2,500 therapeutic courts established since its inception in 1994.

Using best practice standards, it is designed as a collaborative model with multiple disciplines working together to ensure public safety and participant recovery.

It is a voluntary program for adults charged with eligible felony drug charges or related property crimes that are also amenable to treatment and supportive services.

It provides a comprehensive set of resources; including inpatient and outpatient substance use treatment, mental health treatment and medication access, housing support, employment help and vocational services.

Those who complete the program can have a jail or prison sentence significantly reduced or charges dismissed.

About the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
Guided by our core values of Integrity, Compassion, Professionalism, and Leadership, our mission is to do Justice:

• We exercise the power given to us by the people with fairness and humility.
• We serve our diverse community, support victims and families, and hold individuals accountable.
• We develop innovative and collaborative solutions for King County and the State of Washington.

Our office is composed of six divisions that are further organized into specialized units:
We value diversity and strive to hire a workforce that reflects the community that we serve. It is essential to our mission that we create and maintain an office that is diverse and inclusive. All PAO employees are expected to participate in PAO equity work and attend equity trainings and discussions. PAO employees are expected to comply with equity and social justice principles, and to work with PAO colleagues and management to identify opportunities for improvement.

To learn more about the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (PAO), please visit our website.

Requirements

The DPA will play an active role as the prosecutor on the DDC Multidisciplinary Team.

When appropriate, this prosecutor role supports removing institutional barriers to treatment and recovery, encourages success of its participants, asks for accountability in behavior, while also advocating for public safety and honoring victim’s rights.

The DPA in this position will be required to:

• Serve as a member of the Drug Court Team, collaborating with the court, treatment, law enforcement, and defense representatives to support participant recovery while ensuring public safety.
• Manage a caseload of 150–200 participants with the support of two full-time paralegals.
• Attend and prepare for full-day calendars (Tuesday–Thursday in Seattle) and a half-day calendar (Friday in Kent).
• Participate in Monday meetings, regular staffings, and contested review and termination/discharge hearings (bench trials), including drafting briefs, motions, petitions, and presenting witnesses.
• Review and file new cases into DDC and engage in ongoing negotiations with defense, colleagues, and other jurisdictions.
• Prepare and facilitate meetings, give presentations, and represent the King County Prosecutor’s office internally and externally as a Drug Court Prosecutor.
• Be available to provide support and coverage for other programs within the Collaborative Justice Unit.

Qualifications

• A minimum of two years of experience in criminal law, ideally in handling felony matters.
• Strong organizational skills, with ability to prioritize and manage multiple court calendars, correspondence, and competing duties under varying deadlines.
• Ability to provide timely, reliable, and predictable attendance for court hearings and meetings during business hours.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to negotiate and collaborate effectively with co-workers and within a team environment.
• Excellent legal research and writing skills.
• Ability to analyze, innovate, and problem solve complex legal scenarios.
• Commitment to equity and social justice.

Additional Information

Salary: $89,416.91 - $148,165.68 annually commensurate with experience

Application Process:

1. Fully complete King County application*
2. Attach Cover Letter addressed to the Hiring Committee
3. Attach Resume

4. Attach a three page or more writing sample, preferably related to a motion in criminal practice.
5. Answer supplemental questions

*Applications or supplemental questionnaires that state "see my resume" or that are blank are considered incomplete and will not be considered competitive.

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:

Selene Poulsen (she/her)

Sr. Human Resources Analyst

spoulsen@kingcounty.gov

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The King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office is dedicated to making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.