Criminal Investigator (Direct Hire)
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Posted: March 12, 2026 (1 day ago)
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INVESTIGATOR II, PD-EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT/HOMELESS INITIATIVE
County of Los Angeles
PUBLIC DEFENDER
Location
Los Angeles, California, 90010
Salary
$8,624.64 - $12,270.10
per month
Type
Full-Time
More Other jobs →Closes
Open until filled
SES Pay Grade
Base salary range: $147,649 - $221,900
Typical requirements: Executive-level leadership experience. Senior executive qualifications required.
Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).
Job Description
Summary
This role involves investigating cases for the Public Defender's Office in Los Angeles County, with a focus on helping homeless individuals by diverting them from jail to treatment services for issues like mental health and substance use.
It supports the county's emergency response to homelessness through legal work that protects housing and social services.
A good fit would be someone passionate about social justice, experienced in investigations, and committed to reducing incarceration for low-income communities.
Key Requirements
- Experience in criminal investigations or related fieldwork
- Knowledge of legal processes in criminal defense
- Understanding of homelessness, mental health, and substance use issues
- Strong skills in client interviewing and evidence gathering
- Ability to work collaboratively in a public sector team
- Successful performance assessment during initial work period
- Commitment to reducing incarceration and supporting indigent clients
Full Job Description
**THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR A CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION**
RECRUITMENT TYPE:
OPEN COMPETITIVE JOB OPPORTUNITY - Emergency
FILING PERIOD:
The application filing period will begin on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time (PT) until Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 5:00 p.m. (PT). All applications must be received before 5:00 p.m. (PT) on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, to be accepted.
EXAM NUMBER:
L2901M-EA
REPOSTING INFORMATION:
This announcement is being reposted to reopen the filing period
WHO WE ARE:
The Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office is the finest client-centered criminal defense firm in the nation, serving as a beacon for both evolutionary and revolutionary changes in the justice system. Our Offices are led by innovative and progressive leaders working collaboratively towards our agency’s mission of reducing the incarceration rate for our indigent clientele. The Office is seeking dedicated individuals that support our mission and values.
We are an essential contributor to Los Angeles County’s homelessness emergency response. Through its legal services, the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office works to facilitate the diversion of thousands of low-income community members annually from LA County’s jails and into treatment services and works to reduce the collateral social and economic impacts of contact with the criminal legal system, such as losing employment, social services, and housing. The collective services provided and supported by our workforce have a direct and indirect positive impact on our local homelessness crisis.
The LA County Board of Supervisors recently declared a local state of emergency for homelessness, and the County is working to revise and expand our response to help all who are affected. We are looking for qualified and passionate individuals to help us in the mission of addressing issues like housing, mental health, and substance use. If you are looking for a new career that will directly benefit the population of LA County, this may be the opportunity for you.
Before the end of your initial work period, you will be assessed on your work performance. The assessment will be weighted 100%.
The candidate who successfully passes the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to Investigator II, PD.
WHO CAN APPLY:
The Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office is seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency Investigator II, PD vacancies related to the homelessness crisis.
ABOUT THE POSITION:
Positions allocable to this class work in the Public Defender's Office under the technical and administrative direction of an Investigator III, Public Defender. Incumbents are assigned to conduct difficult investigations under basic investigation guidelines where they act independently analyzing evidence using a broad range of investigative techniques to develop basic or additional evidence in support of the defense. Incumbents must possess skills in applying a thorough knowledge of investigative procedures, court and legal proceedings, interviewing, and obtaining information from various sources, both public and private. They must also possess a thorough knowledge of the California Penal Code, California Vehicle Code, and the rules of evidence.
Positions allocable to this class work in the Public Defender's Office under the technical and administrative direction of an Investigator III, Public Defender. Incumbents are assigned to conduct difficult investigations under basic investigation guidelines where they act independently analyzing evidence using a broad range of investigative techniques to develop basic or additional evidence in support of the defense. Incumbents must possess skills in applying a thorough knowledge of investigative procedures, court and legal proceedings, interviewing, and obtaining information from various sources, both public and private. They must also possess a thorough knowledge of the California Penal Code, California Vehicle Code, and the rules of evidence.
Requirements
- Independently conduct criminal defense investigations in the field to support the defense in a wide variety of criminal cases,
- Thoroughly examine crime scenes and evidence, locate and identify material evidence, and record findings,
- Obtain information concerning the whereabouts of witnesses by interviewing employers, public agencies, families, neighbors, etc.,
- Interview and obtain information from witnesses and determine whether there is sufficient basis for the witness to be subpoenaed for court testimony,
- Consult with attorney, supervisor, and/or members of the defense team,
- Provide trial support to facilitate trial adjudication and testify in court as the investigator of record,
- Prepare detailed reports of completed investigation findings in a timely and organized manner, and
- Maintain case file information on all investigations and other information relevant to the defense.
Qualifications
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
You MUST meet ONE of the requirements listed below to be appointed to fill any vacancies related to this recruitment:
You MUST meet ONE of the requirements listed below to be appointed to fill any vacancies related to this recruitment:
- One year of full-time equivalent criminal justice investigative experience at the level of Los Angeles County's class of Investigator I, Public Defender*
-OR-
- Three (3) years of law enforcement experience as a full-time equivalent police officer as defined in Section 830.1 of the State of California Penal Code.
*Investigative experience at the level of Investigator I, Public Defender involves conducting investigations (e.g., criminal investigations, administrative-financial crimes, medical or insurance fraud, digital forensic investigations, and private investigations), including examining crime scenes, locating and/or identifying evidence and witnesses, conducting surveillances, testifying in court to support trials, and preparing reports of completed investigations.
LICENSE:
A valid California Class C* Driver License is required to perform job-related essential functions.
A valid California Class C* Driver License is required to perform job-related essential functions.
*Successful applicants for positions that require driving must obtain and present a copy of his/her driving record form the California State Department of Motor Vehicles before final appointment. Applicants should not present a copy of their driving history until asked to do so by the hiring department. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether an applicant's driving history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job. License must not be currently suspended, restricted, or revoked.
PHYSICAL CLASS IV - ARDUOUS:
This position requires frequent heavy lifting of over 25 pounds, often combined with bending, twisting, or working above ground on irregular surfaces. Additional physical requirements are detailed at the following link: Investigator II, Public Defender Classification Specifications.
This position requires frequent heavy lifting of over 25 pounds, often combined with bending, twisting, or working above ground on irregular surfaces. Additional physical requirements are detailed at the following link: Investigator II, Public Defender Classification Specifications.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
VISION:
VISION:
(1) Acuity - At least 20/70 in each eye without correction, correctable to 20/30 in each eye.
(2) Color perception - Anything other than minor hue impairment is disqualifying.
HEARING:
There may be no greater than a 25 dB loss in the better ear as averaged over the test frequencies of 500, 1000, 2000, and 3000 Hz. There may not be a peak loss at any of the test frequencies greater than:
30 dB at 500 Hz
30 dB at 1000 Hz
40 dB at 2000 Hz
40 dB at 3000 Hz
Additional Information
ASSESSMENT PROCESS:
During your initial work period, the department will evaluate your work performance. Candidates who achieve a passing score will be considered for permanent appointment to Investigator II. If permanently appointed, you will be subject to a probationary period based on the classification.
SPECIAL INFORMATION:
Appointees to this position MUST BE WILLING to work any shift and in any Los Angeles County location and may be subject to transfer at any time.
APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION:
Applications must be filed online only and will be reviewed for interview consideration on an ongoing basis. If you have not been contacted within 60 days and the recruitment remains open or reopens for filing, we encourage you to submit a new application. This will allow you to reaffirm your interest and update any relevant information.
Many important notifications will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application, so it is important that you provide a valid email address. Please add the following email addresses to your list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk/clutter mail.
mherrera@pubdef.lacounty.gov
Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov
Personnel@pubdef.lacounty.gov
noreply@governmentjobs.com
info@governmentjobs.com
You have the ability to opt out of emails from LA County. If you unsubscribe, you will not receive any email notification for any examination for which you apply with Los Angeles County. Regardless of whether you choose to unsubscribe, you can always check for notifications by logging into governmentjobs.com and viewing your profile inbox, which saves a copy of all emailed notices.
Plan to submit your online application well in advance of the deadline as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty, you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.
Many important notifications will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application, so it is important that you provide a valid email address. Please add the following email addresses to your list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk/clutter mail.
mherrera@pubdef.lacounty.gov
Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov
Personnel@pubdef.lacounty.gov
noreply@governmentjobs.com
info@governmentjobs.com
You have the ability to opt out of emails from LA County. If you unsubscribe, you will not receive any email notification for any examination for which you apply with Los Angeles County. Regardless of whether you choose to unsubscribe, you can always check for notifications by logging into governmentjobs.com and viewing your profile inbox, which saves a copy of all emailed notices.
Plan to submit your online application well in advance of the deadline as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty, you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER:
Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.
COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES:
COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES:
For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.
NO SHARING OF USER ID AND PASSWORD:
NO SHARING OF USER ID AND PASSWORD:
All applicants must file their application online using their user ID and password. Using a family member's or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.
Department Contact Name: Minoja Herrera
Department Contact Phone: (213) 460-8075
Department Contact Phone: (213) 460-8075
Department Contact Email: Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov
California Relay Service Phone (Voice Carry Over [VCO]): (800) 735-2922
California Relay Service Phone (Voice Carry Over [VCO]): (800) 735-2922
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