SALARY INCREASES
3% Effective February 2025
3% Effective February 2026
(Salary increases contingent upon Property Related Revenue and/or
statewide Realignment Sales Tax Collections performance.)

STEP ADVANCEMENTS
Bi-annual step increases of approximately 2.5%

The Office of the Public Defender is recruiting for Public Defender Investigators who conduct difficult and complex investigations in support of Public Defender operations. Incumbents manage an assigned investigative caseload and perform a full range of criminal investigations, including those of a complex nature requiring a broad scope of investigative techniques and a high degree of initiative, judgment, and independence of action. The Law Offices of the Public Defender adopts a holistic approach to its client representation. To learn more about the Office of the Public Defender click here.

Public Defender Investigator Trainees ($64,792 - $86,985 annually) work under training conditions while acquiring the knowledge and skills required for promotion to Public Defender Investigator ($74,464 - $102,502 annually).

Your application will be reviewed for eligibility for the Public Defender Investigator and Public Defender Investigator Trainee levels. Job offers for the initial appointment may be made at any level based on qualifications and department needs. It is to your advantage to be explicit with your work history on your application. You may indicate your levels of interest on the supplemental questionnaire.


CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
1) A background investigation will be conducted, including a DOJ/FBI fingerprint check and drug screening.

2) A major portion of all investigations are conducted in the field. Travel throughout the County is required. A valid California Class C driver license is required throughout employment and must be maintained. Employees in this class will need to show proof of automobile liability insurance.

3) All position locations are subject to rotation based on the needs of the department. Offices are located throughout the County.

4) Trainees must demonstrate successful work performance to qualify for promotion to Public Defender Investigator within 9 months or be terminated.

5) Sponsorship: Please note San Bernardino County is not able to consider candidates who will require visa sponsorship at the time of application or in the future.
Minimum Requirements:
Applicants must qualify under one of the following options:

Public Defender Investigator
Option A:
Two (2) years of full-time investigative experience as a Public Defender Investigator.

A Public Defender Investigator is defined as a paid full-time criminal defense investigator employed by a county, state or federal public defender. To qualify under this requirement a candidate must have accrued the requisite years of experience as a government employee.

Option B:
Three (3) years of full-time investigative experience with primary responsibility for conducting investigations for a local, state or federal government agency.

Option C:
Three (3) years of full-time licensed investigator experience AND possession of a current private investigator license issued by the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs, Bureau of Security and Investigative Services.

Substitution:
A bachelor's degree or higher in Criminology, Criminal Justice, Administration of Justice, Police Science, Psychology, Behavioral Science or Law may substitute for up to one (1) year of the required experience.


Public Defender Investigator Trainee
Option A:
One (1) year of full-time investigative experience with primary responsibility for conducting investigations for a city, county, state or federal government agency.

Option B:
Two (2) years of experience working in a Public Defender's Office with confidential clients as an Investigative Technician or Social Worker.

Option C:
Possession of a current private investigator license issued by the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs, Bureau of Security and Investigative Services.

Option D:
Completion of a Bachelor's degree or higher in Criminology, Criminal Justice, Administration of Justice, Police Science, Psychology, Behavioral Science or Law.


Desired Qualifications:
The ideal candidate will have excellent oral and written communication skills as well as exceptional interpersonal skills, with the ability to interview withdrawn, hostile or otherwise challenging persons. The ideal candidate will have high ethical standards and outstanding collaborative skills. Superior computer skills and experience with iPads and tablets are also highly desirable.

Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply and may receive additional compensation for bilingual skills. (Testing may be required.)

Selection Process:

There will be a competitive evaluation of qualifications based on the information provided in the Application and the Supplemental Questionnaire. You are encouraged to include detailed descriptions of your qualifying experience and skills, as only the most highly qualified applicants will be referred to the Department.

All communications regarding the selection process will be via email. Applicants are encouraged to check their e-mail frequently to learn additional information regarding this recruitment. Check your Government Jobs account for notifications. Update your firewalls to allow e-mails from San Bernardino County through (link removed). Update your Spam, Junk, and Bulk settings to ensure it will not spam/block/filter communications from email addresses with the following domain "@hr.sbcounty.gov". Finally, be sure to keep your personal information updated. Taking these steps now will help ensure you receive all communications regarding this recruitment.

Application Procedure: Please complete and submit the online employment application and supplemental questionnaire by 5:00 pm on the filing deadline. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the application and/or supplemental questionnaires.



Apply by 9/9/2024 at 5:00 PM Pacific Time