Public Defender Investigator II Salary: $7,289.88 - $9,950.89 Monthly
Location: Government Center, 168 W. Alisal St, 2nd Floor, Salinas, CA
Job Type: Regular Full-Time
Job Number: 26/34D23/01GM
Department: Public Defender Division
Public Defender Opening Date: January 19, 2026
Closing Date: Continuous
Benefits: The County of Monterey offers an excellent benefits package. Please visit our website to view the Unit J Benefit Summary Sheet.
Position Description:
The Public Defenders Office provides legal representation to indigent persons charged with crimes in Monterey County, ranging from the simplest misdemeanor to complex capital cases. The guiding principle of the office is that each client is entitled to the best outcome legally attainable. Our attorney's, investigators, and support staff take great pride in providing a consistently high level of service.
Job Summary:
The Public Defender Investigator II is the full working level class in the Public Defender Investigator series. Incumbents independently conduct investigations of the more complex and sensitive misdemeanor and felony cases referred to the Public Defender's Office, such as murder cases. Incumbents must possess a working knowledge of pertinent laws, regulations, court procedures, and departmental policies.
Eligible List:
The Eligible List established by this recruitment process may be used to fill current and future vacancies on a regular full-time, part-time, or temporary basis. This classification is part of a flexible series. Incumbents appointed at the lower level of the career series may be promoted up to the higher level of the career series subject to their meeting the employment standards for the higher class and a recommendation for their promotion by the appointing authority.
Examples of Duties:
• Independently performs complex and sensitive investigations of misdemeanor and felony cases. • Evaluates various types of evidence and advises attorneys in investigative procedures and techniques, physical evidence matters, and information sources. • Assists attorneys in the preparation and presentation of defense evidence and testimony. • Locates and interviews defendants, complainants, and witnesses; interviews police and other public agencies, and others who may have official or professional information relevant to a legal defense. • Confers with the attorneys on the reliability and credibility of witnesses; helps prepare witnesses' testimony. • Locates and serves subpoenas for court appearances of defense witnesses. • Makes arrangements or transports witnesses to and from court or to court-ordered programs; arranges travel and lodging needs for out-of-county witnesses; attends to appropriate witness fee payments. • Locates, obtains, evaluates, and preserves documentary evidence from a variety of sources. • Prepares and provides oral and written reports and correspondence regarding investigation performed, contacts made, physical evidence found, which includes statements, scene descriptions, and analysis of physical evidence. • Gathers, marks, records, and preserves physical evidence; determines the importance and relevance of the evidence in investigations. • Operates and maintains a variety of photographic, tape, graphic, and projection equipment. • Photographs crime scenes, clients' injuries for use as evidence in cases, and prepares photographic line-ups for witness review. • Searches computer resources. • May testify in court regarding investigations and the evidence obtained.
Required Conditions of Employment:
• Possess and maintain a valid California Class C driver license or the ability to arrange necessary and timely transportation for field travel. • Be available to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and during times of disaster and/or emergency. • Travel out of County to attend meetings.
Benefits:
The County of Monterey offers an excellent benefits package. Please visit our website to view the Unit J Benefit Summary Sheet.
Application and Selection Procedures:
Apply online at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/montereycounty or hard copy applications may be obtained from and submitted during normal business hours Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM by contacting the Human Resources Department at:
Attn: Gabriela Munoz 168 W. Alisal Street Salinas, CA 93901 Phone: (831) 755-5899
The selection process is tentative, and applicants will be notified if changes are made. To assess applicants possession of required qualifications, the examination process may include an oral examination, pre-examination exercises, performance examination, and/or written examination. The competitive examination process includes submittal of required application materials.
Supplemental Questions:
Please describe your experience, education and/or training that demonstrates your knowledge, skill and ability in preparing and providing clear, concise and comprehensive oral and written reports and correspondence based on investigations, interviews, and/or research.
Please describe your experience, education and/or training that demonstrates your knowledge, skill and ability in interacting with individuals of varied socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. In your response, please be sure to describe any challenges you faced and how you approached them.
Please describe your experience, education and/or training that demonstrates your knowledge, skill and ability in independently conducting complex and sensitive investigations of misdemeanor and felony cases.
Please describe your experience, education and/or training that demonstrates your knowledge, skill and ability in gathering, documenting and preserving various types of physical and/or documentary evidence.
Please describe your experience, education and/or training that demonstrates your knowledge, skill and ability in gathering, documenting and preserving various types of physical and/or documentary evidence.
Veterans and Eligible Military Spouse Preference:
The County of Monterey is committed to honoring the service and sacrifice of veterans and eligible military spouses (i.e., surviving spouses of veterans, spouses of totally disabled veterans, and spouses of active-duty service members) and awards veterans' preference points for this recruitment. To obtain a Veterans and Eligible Military Spouse Preference Application, please visit the Human Resources website or click on the following link: Click Here to View the Veterans and Eligible Military Spouse Preference Application