Holistic Defense Mitigation Specialist

Job Summary

Under general direction, the Public Defender Holistic Defense Mitigation Specialist provides specialized social work, mitigation investigation, advocacy, and case management services as part of an interdisciplinary defense team within the Mono County Public Defender’s Office. This position supports indigent clients involved in the criminal and juvenile justice systems by identifying and addressing behavioral health, social, medical, educational, and environmental factors contributing to justice system involvement.

The Mitigation Specialist conducts comprehensive assessments and mitigation investigations, prepares reports and recommendations, coordinates community-based services, and collaborates closely with attorneys to support defense strategies and positive client outcomes. Responsibilities include client advocacy, reentry and diversion planning, court support, and resource coordination for individuals experiencing mental health conditions, substance use disorders, trauma, and other complex challenges. This position plays a critical role in promoting rehabilitation, reducing recidivism, and connecting clients to services that support long-term stability and successful community reintegration.
To see the full job description, click here.

Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate for the Public Defender Holistic Defense Mitigation Specialist position is a compassionate, client-centered professional who is passionate about advancing justice through advocacy, social work, and collaborative defense. This individual brings experience working with justice-involved populations and understands the complex intersection of mental health, substance use, trauma, poverty, and systemic barriers that contribute to involvement in the criminal legal system. The successful candidate is skilled at building trust with clients and families from diverse backgrounds, conducting thorough psychosocial assessments and mitigation investigations, and connecting individuals to meaningful community-based supports and services.

The ideal candidate thrives in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment and can work effectively alongside attorneys, investigators, behavioral health professionals, and community partners to support positive legal and life outcomes for clients. They possess strong communication, research, and report-writing skills, maintain professionalism and confidentiality in sensitive situations, and demonstrate sound judgment when working in courts, custody settings, and the community. Candidates who are trauma-informed, culturally responsive, bilingual, and committed to holistic public defense and reducing recidivism are strongly encouraged to apply.
Department Summary
The Mono County Public Defender’s Office is dedicated to protecting the constitutional rights of individuals who cannot afford legal representation while advancing a client-centered approach to public defense. Through a holistic defense model, the department recognizes that legal challenges are often connected to broader social, behavioral health, and economic factors. The office works collaboratively to support clients not only in the courtroom, but also in addressing the underlying issues that contribute to justice system involvement.

The Public Defender’s Office brings together attorneys, investigators, mitigation specialists, and community partners to provide comprehensive advocacy and meaningful support to adults and youth navigating the criminal and juvenile justice systems. The department values integrity, compassion, collaboration, and equitable access to justice, while fostering partnerships with behavioral health providers, treatment programs, social services, and community organizations throughout Mono County.

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

Any combination of training and experience which would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Education:

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Social Work (MSW) or a closely related field.
• Possession of a valid license issued by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), or Clinical Psychologist license.

Experience:

• Two (2) years of professional social work experience is desirable, preferably in one or more of the following areas:
• Criminal justice or forensic social work
• Behavioral health or substance use treatment
• Community-based social services
• Mitigation investigation or legal advocacy
• Work with justice-involved populations

About the County

Mono County, California's Great Beyond

Mono County offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact through public service while enjoying an exceptional quality of life. As a small, collaborative county organization, employees work closely with leadership, take on diverse responsibilities, and see the direct results of their work in the community.

What employees value about working at Mono County: Employees appreciate Mono County’s location and lifestyle benefits, strong benefits package (including CalPERS retirement and health coverage), collaborative teams, and the opportunity to make a direct impact in public service. Our smaller, close-knit work environment fosters meaningful connections and supports work-life balance.

Mono County, California’s Eastern Sierra

Mono County is a rural region with a dynamic community of 13,000 residents located in the eastern side of California’s Sierra Nevada range. Development is increasing in the area due to the consistent growth of the town of Mammoth Lakes. Known as “California’s Great Beyond” this natural playground offers a complete range of amenities and activities making it an ideal place to live and work. Enjoy fine shops, restaurants, and cafes. Snowboard, ski, or bike down mountain trails, fish for trout, explore the backcountry, play a round of golf, relax in soothing hot springs, or paddle a kayak along the shores of Mono Lake.

The town of Mammoth Lakes is the most populated region of Mono County, hosting Mammoth Mountain Ski area and various resort-community amenities. On the quieter side, June Lake, Lee Vining, Bridgeport, Walker, Coleville, Chalfant, and Benton offer a more rural atmosphere, unlimited outdoor adventures, and small-town charm.

Benefits Highlights

• Retirement: CalPERS retirement and 457/401(a) Plans available.
• Medical: CalPERS health plans
• Dental & Vision
• Generous vacation and sick pay
• Discounted gym membership

Click the benefits tab to see full details.

Mono County Summary of Benefits

The following information is intended to provide a summary of benefits and does not include full details of coverage. Service limitations and restrictions may apply depending on coverage levels and services rendered.

Pay Periods and Payroll Deductions

County employees are paid on a bi-weekly basis, which consists of 26 pay periods per year. Payroll deductions including medical and most voluntary deductions will occur on a semi-monthly basis or 2 times per month. Retirement contributions will always be deducted on all 26 pay periods.

Medical Mono County Contracts with CalPERS

To provide health insurance for its employees and currently offers several Preferred Provider (PPO) Plans which are administered by Anthem Blue Cross. Employees have the option to choose from PERS Gold, PERS Platinum, and PORAC. The PORAC Plan is currently only available to members of the Safety group employee's. Medical plan costs vary based on the plan and coverage you select. The employee and the County share the cost of the plan, which is deducted on a pre-tax basis. The employee’s cost is in accordance with the applicable Memorandum of Understanding with each bargaining group. For more information regarding health plans, please visit: https://www.calpers.ca.gov/page/active-members/health-benefits/plans-and-rates

Dental Mono County

Offers a self-insured dental plan administered by Ameritas.
Dental premium coverage is provided to eligible Mono County employees at 100% employer paid.

Vision

Vision Service Plan is our Vision Insurance provider. Our plan is VSP Signature. Benefits include:

• well/vision exam every 12 months, carries a $10 copay.
• $160 allowance for frames and 20% off amount over allowance.
• $180 allowance for contacts and contact lens exam and 15% off contact lens fitting and evaluation. Currently Vision coverage is provided to eligible Mono County employees at 100% employer paid.

Basic Life Insurance
Administered by Madison Life, Mono County Employees are entitled to Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment.

Mono County also offers coverage to employee’s spouse and dependents. Life Insurance is administered by Voya Insurance.

• Coverage for General Employees is $5,000.00
• At-Will/Elected Employees/Paramedic Coverage is $50,000.00
• Coverage for Employee’s Spouse is $1,000.00
• Coverage for Employee’s Children is also $1,000.00
• Coverage for Employee’s Children under six months is $100.00

Currently Basic Life coverage is provided to eligible Mono County employees at 100% employer paid.

Supplemental Life Insurance - Administered by Colonial Life.

Employees have the option of enrolling in a Supplemental Life insurance policy for themselves, their spouse and any dependent children. This policy is purchased by the employee with rates based on the age group at the time of enrollment.

Supplemental life insurance coverage can be enrolled in the first 31 days of employment without proof of good health, after 31 days proof of good health is required. Amounts available are as follows:

• For Employee up to $150,000 (guaranteed issue) or up to $500,000 with proof of good health
• For Spouse up to $50,000.00 and for the Employee’s Children for $10,000.00.

Flexible Spending Accounts and Optional Insurances

Provided by AmeriFLEX Flexible Spending Accounts for medical reimbursement and dependent care are available through a Section 125 account administered by AmeriFLEX . These accounts allow you to contribute pre-tax dollars to help pay for eligible medical and dependent care expenses.

Mono County Deferred Compensation 457/401(a) Plan

The County provides deferred compensation plan through Internal Revenue Code Section 401(a) Employees have the option to sign up for the 457-deferred compensation plan and contribute up to the maximum amount allowed by the IRS. If the employee contributes a total of 1-5% of their pre-tax salary, the County will match those contributions up to a maximum of 5% into a 401 (a) plan under the employee’s name. The employee may direct the investment of all contributions in accordance with the options or limitation provided by the 401(a) Plan.

CalPERS Retirement Benefits and Contributions

Mono County contracts with CalPERS for your retirement plan. Your retirement plan is a defined benefit plan determined by a set formula which uses your years of service, age at retirement, and highest one or three years of service. The Plan is funded by contributions from the employee, the County and investments from plan assets.

Mono County has a Local Miscellaneous group and a Local Safety group.

Your benefit formula will fall within one of these two groups

Most new members will fall within the new Pension Reform Formulas of 2 @ 62 for Miscellaneous & 2.7 @ 57 for all Safety Group. However, if you do have prior membership you may be eligible for the formulas that were in place on December 31st 2012, before Pension reform went into place. Our pre-pension reform formulas are:

Local Miscellaneous Group = 2.5% @ 55

Local Safety - Sheriff = 3% @ 55

Local Safety - Fire = 2% @ 50

Local Safety - County Peace Officer = 3% @ 50

Find out all about your CalPERS benefits at www.calpers.ca.gov

EAP - Employee Assistance Program

Mono County offers two different Employee Assistance Programs through Trindel Insurance Fund and NIS. Both programs include counseling and telephone consultation services addressing a variety of personal topics to promote a healthy family and work life balance.

Mono County Wellness Program

Mono County offers a discounted rate, as well as $25 towards Membership to local health clubs at the Double Eagle in June Lake or Snowcreek Athletic Club.

For employees living or working in Bridgeport, there is a County maintained facility in the Bridgeport Memorial Hall that employees have access to for a small one-time fee of $10.00

SICK & VACATION

Sick - (Unless an applicable collective bargaining agreement provides otherwise)

Eligible employees will accrue sick leave at the rate of 12 sick days per year. Permanent part-time employees accrue sick leave on a prorated basis.

Vacation- (Unless an applicable collective bargaining agreement provides otherwise)

Eligible employees shall be entitled to accrue vacation leave with pay for each year of full-time service as follows:

Initial employment ----------------------------------10 days vacation per year

After three years of continuous service------15 days vacation per year

After ten years of continuous service--------17 days vacation per year

After fifteen years of continuous service---19 days vacation per year

After twenty years of continuous service--20 days vacation per year

Permanent part-time employees accrue vacation on a prorated basis.

Mono County Holidays

Mono County recognizes 16 holidays as outlined in the Mono County Policies and Procedures and Personal Holidays according to the specific MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) according to your represented group.

“Welcome to Mono County - A great place to live and work!!”

Closing Date/Time: 6/24/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

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• County of Mono

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