Social Worker - Public Defender

Under the direction of the Public Defender and Chief Assistant Public Defender, works directly with clients appointed adult indigent defense services within the Eaton County Trial Court. Works collaboratively with Eaton County Assistant Public Defenders to assist clients in connecting with housing, substance abuse, mental health, employment and other services during client-centered representation. Provides support for Assistant Public Defenders to advocate for reduced sentences and/or alternatives to incarceration.

Starting pay is dependent on an applicant's relevant experience.  

**Applications are accepted until there are sufficient numbers of qualified applications or a qualified candidate is identified.  This position could close at any time.**

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS 

1. Provides clinical expertise to support the legal position being presented in court.
2. Facilitates comprehensive psychosocial assessments in the community and local jails to determine clients’ basic demographic information, living situation, relationship and family dynamics, legal status, education history, employment history, physical health, mental health, substance use history, and self-identified goals and needs.
3. Attends collaborative meetings with the client and attorney, reviews case service plans, assists, coordinates and initiates facilitated referrals to community treatment and other services for clients prior to sentencing to ensure rapid engagement in services.
4. Gathers factual mitigation data through interviews, and obtaining and analyzing records.
5. Identifies and conduct interviews with family, friends, employers, and other support system members in the community who can aid in clients’ success.  
6. Based on a clinical review of assessment outcomes and interviews with family and other support systems, develops individualized alternative sentencing plans that, in consultation with the case attorney and client, recommends and advocates for community-based sentences and alternative community treatment as indicated.
7. Researches and recommends alternatives to incarceration through memoranda prepared for submission to judges and prosecutors through Assistant Public Defenders.
8. Accompanies clients to court and participates in hearings as requested by the defense attorney.  Provides additional information and support, as required.
9. Maintains ongoing pre-trial or pre-sentence updates on clients’ progress through communication and collected documentation from community service providers and by conducting routine check-ins with clients.
10. Fosters communication and connections with a wide array of community service providers while sustaining a comprehensive community referral network.
11. Completes special projects and other duties as assigned by the Assistant Public Defenders and/or the Public Defender.
12. Performs other duties as assigned.
     

OTHER FUNCTIONS 
13.  Must be able to work on-site at the Eaton County Governmental Complex.
 
This list may not be inclusive of the total scope of job functions to be performed.  Duties and responsibilities may be added, delet­ed or modified at any time.Education:  Master’s Degree/1-2 years graduate work.  Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or Marriage and Family Therapy from an accredited institution.
 
Experience:  One to two years of related experience.
 
Other Requirements: 
 

• Possess a valid professional license from the State of Michigan in one of the above disciplines.

 

• Ability to access clients and witnesses in correctional facilities (may preclude employees and applicants arrested and jailed).

 

• Ability to testify in court without impeachment (may preclude employees and applicants convicted of certain crimes within the prior 15 years).

 

• Ability to travel to the courthouse or other criminal justice system facilities to see clients and witnesses, or to testify in court.

 

• Possess a valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle in order to access clients and witnesses.

 

• Ability to work compassionately and respectfully with clients in crisis.

 

• Experience working with individuals from multi-ethnic communities.  

 

• Possess excellent interpersonal, analytical, writing, and communication skills.

 

• Possess a demonstrated commitment to social justice issues and/or indigent defense.

 

• Ability to utilize services of interpreters as necessary to communicate with clients, witnesses and other persons related to the case.

 

• Ability to maintain confidentiality with highly sensitive information.

 

• Ability to accept direction and follow office policies and procedures.

 

• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a legal services team atmosphere.

 

The qualifications listed above are intended to represent the minimum skills and experience levels associated with performing the duties and responsibilities contained in this job descrip­tion.  The qualifications should not be viewed as expressing absolute employment or promotional standards, but as general guidelines that should be considered along with other job-related selection or promotional criteria.Physical Requirements: {This job requires the ability to perform the essential functions contained in this description.  These include, but are not limited to, the following requirements.  Reasonable accommodations will be made for otherwise qualified applicants unable to fulfill one or more of these requirements}:
 
Working Conditions: 

•  Exposure to clients; independent investigators and experts; police and law enforcement personnel; witnesses and victims. 

• Exposure to the pressures of representing adult defendants charged with various criminal acts, most of which entail the potential for incarceration, while the resolution of these cases are under significant time constraints placed there by the court.

Salary : $57,158 - $74,172