The Texas Office of Capital & Forensic Writs (OCFW) is hiring an investigator to factually develop claims on behalf of our death-sentenced clients. The investigator will work as part of a team with attorneys representing clients sentenced to death in state habeas corpus and related proceedings. The ideal applicant will have investigation experience, familiarity with mental health and trauma-related issues, and / or experience working directly with indigent populations. Salary will be commensurate with experience.
This is an extraordinary opportunity to make a difference in Texas. The OCFW represents a substantial majority of persons sentenced to death in Texas in state habeas and related proceedings. We are committed to client-centered and excellent post-conviction representation, in accordance with the ABA Guidelines, Guidelines and Standards for Texas Capital Counsel (2006) and the Supplementary Guidelines and Standards for the Mitigation Function of Defense Teams in Texas Death Penalty Cases (2015).
Essential Functions:
Fact Investigation
• Investigation of the crime(s) for which a client was convicted by identifying and interviewing all eyewitnesses, complaining witnesses, surviving victims, informants, and law enforcement personnel, and gathering relevant documentary and other evidence concerning the circumstances of the crime and conviction.
• Identifying and analyzing forensic evidence, cause of death, circumstances of arrest.
• Investigation of defenses such as innocence/alibi, self-defense, misidentification, insanity, diminished capacity, law enforcement misconduct, etc.
• Investigation of all predicate offenses, and extraneous offenses relied on by the state as proof of future dangerousness.
• Drafting investigative memos on a variety of topics to the team.
Records, Documentation, and Social History
• Review and analyze all files from all prior counsel, mitigation specialists, investigators, and experts for areas of additional investigation.
• Request and analyze documentary evidence such as: school records; testing records; social service and welfare records; juvenile and child protective service and family court records; records relating to medical and psychiatric treatment; civil records; property records; employment records; criminal and correctional records (both local jails and prison); court documents; family vital records (birth, death, marriage); probation and parole records; drug and alcohol treatment records; immigration and citizenship records.
• Participate in the development of mitigation evidence.
Team Collaboration
• Identify and assist in locating appropriate experts relating to guilt-innocence issues.
• Work with the defense team and experts to develop comprehensive and cohesive case theories.
• Provide litigation support to counsel, including subpoenaing witnesses, helping to preparing witnesses to testify, and identifying potential exhibits.
Other details:
Closing Date: Until Filled
Job Identification Number: 215-19-02
Location: Austin, Texas
OCFW Job Title: Post-Conviction Investigator
FLSA Status: Exempt
State Job Title: Investigator IV
Type: Full Time
Salary: $ 45,000 - 60,000
Travel: Yes (50%)
Minimum Qualifications:
• College degree.
• At least two years of experience as an investigator or equivalent experience working directly with indigent populations.
• An organized and precise work practice with attention to detail and accuracy.
• A deep commitment to the representation of death-sentenced persons, and persons from low-income and other marginalized communities.
• Excellent at written and oral communication.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills.
• Experience working with people of different racial and ethnic backgrounds, and an awareness of the issues that must be overcome to successfully work with people who have varied life experiences.
• Strengths in teamwork, client relations and relationship building.
• Creativity and energy in approaching all tasks and responsibilities.
• Possess the training and skills to recognize and understand how biological, congenital, emotional, cognitive, and environmental factors may have affected clients’ development and worldview.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Bilingual in Spanish and English;
• Familiarity or experience with key areas such as: mental health; trauma; intellectual disabilities; forensic sciences; race, ethnicity and poverty within the criminal justice system or elsewhere.
• Computer literacy in software such as spreadsheets and databases.
Employment Conditions:
• Ability to operate standard office equipment and software.
• A valid driver’s license, and the willingness to operate a motor vehicle for client-representation purposes.
• Ability and willingness to travel throughout Texas, out of state, and on occasion, out of the country for client-representation purposes.
• The person hired for this position should expect to regularly travel 50% of the time on case work.
To apply for this position, send: (1) a letter of interest; (2) a resume; (3) a list of references; and (4) the mandated State of Texas Application for Employment to: [email protected].
State applications are available at: https://twc.texas.gov/files/jobseekers/texas-application-employment-twc.pdf.
Veterans, Reservist or Guardsmen with an MOS or additional duties that fall in the fields of 27A, 27B, 250X, LGL10, 04, 4402, 51JX, or other related fields pertaining to the minimum experience requirements may meet the minimum qualifications. Additional Military Crosswalk information can be accessed at: http://www.hr.sao.state.tx.us/Compensation/MilitaryCrosswalk/MOSC_Legal.pdf.
The Office of Capital & Forensic Writs is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability in employment or the provision of services. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, any request for reasonable accommodations needed during the application process should be communicated by the applicant to Sandra Justice, the Office of Capital & Forensic Writs Senior Accountant, at (512) 463-8520.