INVESTIGATOR II, PD-EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT/HOMELESS INITIATIVE

Position/Program Information

THIS IS A POSTING TO REOPEN THE FILING PERIOD, UPDATE THE POSITION/PROGRAM INFORMATION, AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

EXAM NUMBER:

L2901M-EA

RECRUITMENT TYP E :

OPEN COMPETITIVE JOB OPPORTUNITY - Emergency

FILING PERIOD :

Applications will be accepted starting Thursday, August 21, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. (PT).
This examination will remain open until the needs of the service are met and is subject to closure without prior notice.

WHO WE ARE
The Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office is the finest client-centered criminal defense firm in the nation, providing a beacon for evolutionary and revolutionary changes in the justice system. Our Offices are headed by innovative and progressive leaders collaboratively working towards our agency’s mission of reducing the incarceration rate for our indigent clientele. Our office is seeking passionate professionals to join its team of investigators dedicated to advancing the Investigations Division in support of the Public Defender's 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.

Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment.

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.

Essential Job Functions

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS INCLUDE (BUT MAY NOT BE LIMITED TO):

• 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.

Requirements

REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY :
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.

* 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.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
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

EXAM CONTENT
Before the end of your initial work assignment, the department will evaluate your performance. If you achieve a passing score on this evaluation, you will be considered for permanent appointment. If permanently appointed to the position, you will be subject to a probationary period based on the classification.

VACANCY INFORMATION Applicants under this Emergency Appointment recruitment effort will be appointed to fill vacancies within the Los Angeles County Public Defender' Office. 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 & FiLING INFORMATION

• Apply online by clicking on the green "Apply" button. Only online applications will be accepted and reviewed for interview consideration on an ongoing basis. If you are not contacted for an interview within 60 days of submitting your application, 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.
• At log-in, you will be required to verify your email address. This enhances the security of your application and prevents incorrectly entered email addresses. You can track the status of your application in the application menu of your Governmentjobs.com account.
• Notifications such as application notices and initial appointment letters will be sent to the email address provided on the application. Add the following email addresses Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov , Personnel@pubdef.lacounty.gov , noreply@governmentjobs.com , and info@governmentjobs.com to your list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk mail.
• Fill out the application completely. When prompted, provide relevant job experience which includes employer's name and address, job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, and description of work performed.
• We may verify information provided at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. Falsification of information could result in refusal of the application or rescission of the appointment. Copying verbiage from the Requirements or class specification does not substitute your work experience and is not sufficient to demonstrate meeting the requirements. Doing so may result in an incomplete application.

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
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
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 existing profile information.

ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI)
The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. The Department of the Los Angeles County Public Defender is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst races. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.

Department Contact Name: Hector Moreno
Department Contact Phone: (213) 460-8068
Department Contact Email: Exams@pubdef.lacounty.gov
California Relay Service Phone (Voice Carry Over [VCO]): (800) 735-2922

For detailed information, please click here

• 

• Los Angeles County

• (800) 970-5478

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