Job Description

The Office of the Ohio Public Defender is hiring for a Criminal Investigator 1 position. The position is headquartered in the Ross County Office of our Trial Services Division. As a Criminal Investigator 1, you will conduct criminal fact investigations of possible felonies and misdemeanors and assist in preparing and presenting cases at all levels of litigation including trials in Municipal, Juvenile, & Common Pleas Courts. The Trial Services Division provides client-centered representation to indigent clients facing criminal charges across the counties in Ohio. This position will conduct criminal investigations in cases in the courts of Ross and Jackson counties. You will be based in Chillicothe, Ohio, but will travel regularly throughout Jackson and Ross counties, and will spend time in the community, in jails, and in courthouses. You will work regularly with attorneys as a member of the defense team.

Successful candidates will have passion for working with a large team and assisting people who are facing the challenges of poverty. The preferred candidate will have professional or volunteer experience helping to pursue a fair justice system.

Essential functions of the position include but aren’t limited to:

• Investigate the facts and circumstances of the alleged offense
• Interview clients
• Review case materials
• Using a variety of tools, locate, contact, and interview witnesses in the field
• Locate, contact, and interview other suspects and family members as needed
• Gather physical and documentary evidence
• Prepare and complete reports of interviews, findings, and timelines for use in trial
• Gather documentation to support the testimony of expert and lay witnesses
• View and diagram crime scenes
• Assist in identifying records to put into evidence
• Travel throughout Ohio and outside the state as necessary to locate and interview potential witnesses
• Serve as a liaison to clients’ families, law enforcement, various defense witnesses, and attorneys to transmit information
• Meet regularly with others on defense team to provide updates on investigation and to collaborate with team members
• Assist with mail, court runs, or filings

The Criminal Investigator 1 Position is assigned to the State of Ohio’s OCSEA, Pay Range 30, presented below in table format. Starting pay will be at Step 1 unless required by contract/legislation; candidates with exceptional qualifications may be considered for higher starting pay. Our steps give a standard path for earnings growth: you move to the next step after 180 days and annually thereafter. We typically have fiscal year Cost of Living Adjustments as well.

FY26 Pay Range 30

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

Step 7

Hourly

25.77

26.76

27.92

29.22

30.55

31.88

33.52

Annual

$53,602

$55,661

$58,074

$60,778

$63,544

$66,310

$69,722

The Office of the Ohio Public Defender complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact us at 614-466-5394 or HCM@opd.ohio.gov

Why Work for the State of Ohio

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

• Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

Qualifications

12 mos. trg. or 12 mos. exp. in conducting investigations of complaints or possible violations of laws & rules or agency/company policies & procedures.

• Or completion of associate degree program core coursework in law enforcement. Note: Positions in Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation may require use of proficiency demonstrations to determine Minimum Class Qualifications For Employment.

• Or equivalent of Minimum Class Qualifications For Employment noted above.

Job Skills: Investigation; Interviewing; Critical Thinking; Building Trust; Attention to Detail; Establishing Relationships; Time Management Supplemental Information

Intentional omission of relevant information, falsification, or misrepresentation of information on the application will disqualify the applicant. In addition, such intentional acts are grounds for immediate termination of an employee.

Final candidates selected for this position will be required to undergo a drug test. An applicant with a positive test result will not be offered employment.

Final candidates selected for this position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicant's prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.

ADA Statement

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

Drug-Free Workplace

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.

Job Tags

Hourly pay, Full time, Contract work, Part time, Work at office, Immediate start,

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