Mitigation Specialist (Contractor)

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Job location
645 Griswold, Ste 3300
Detroit, MI 48226
United States
Organization information
Organization name: 
State Appellate Defender Office
Street address: 
645 Griswold, Ste 3300
City: 
Detroit
State: 
Michigan
ZIP: 
48226
Job type: 
Legal - Defender
Position Description: 

The Michigan State Appellate Defender Office (SADO) represents nearly two-thirds of Michigan’s 360 juvenile lifers currently serving unconstitutional sentences, and is responsible for developing mitigation and litigation strategies for resentencing hearings conducted pursuant to MCL 769.25a and Miller v Alabama, 567 US __ (2012). SADO seeks to contract with a Mitigation Specialist to assist in preparing clients for resentencing hearings by collecting and presenting mitigating facts aimed at reducing a client’s sentence. The Mitigation Specialist will work with staff from SADO’s Juvenile Lifer Unit in its Detroit and Lansing locations.

The contract is for up to one year, pays $40 per hour for approximately 20-40 hours per week, and starts immediately; fringe benefits are not provided.

Specific services needed include:

• Travel to correctional institutions to visit with incarcerated clients to learn about their background, the facts of the offense, current experiences while incarcerated, and the client’s specific needs upon release and write detailed follow-up reports;
• Locate and interview family members and other relevant people in the client’s life and write detailed follow-up reports;
• Prepare written social history reports;
• Request, review, analyze, and summarize records and information from a variety of sources;
• Provide support for case attorneys, including the preparation of a sentencing memorandum/recommendation and client counseling;
• Attend in-house and external trainings;
• Network and collaborate with probation officers, the Michigan Department of Corrections, circuit courts, and social services organizations to implement the mitigation specialist’s sentencing recommendations.

Requirements: 

Preferred qualifications:

• Education in social work, social science, psychology, forensic psychology, criminal justice or a related field;
• Knowledge of the criminal justice system, preferably in Michigan;
• Experience in investigation;
• Excellent communication, interviewing, and interpersonal skills;
• A commitment to working with indigent criminal defendants;
• The ability to work as part of the defense team, follow the instructions of the case attorney, and maintain the confidentiality of all information obtained while working on the case.

To apply: 

Submit a cover letter and resume by September 5, 2017 (early applications encouraged) to:
Attn: Wendy Dealca
State Appellate Defender Office
645 Griswold, Ste 3300
Detroit, MI 48226
Email: [email protected] Fax: 313-965-0372

Notes: 
Equal Opportunity Employer
Salary range: 
The contract is for up to one year, pays $40 per hour for approximately 20-40 hours per week, and starts immediately; fringe benefits are not provided.
Submission deadline: 
Tuesday, September 5, 2017