Defender Investigator Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $7,581.43 - $10,348.87 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: 01/19/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
Position Description
Open Until Filled
Priority Screening Date: February 2, 2026
Exam #: 26/34D23/01GM
All application materials must be received by the priority screening date of February 2, 2026, for a guaranteed review. Applications received after this date will be considered on an as needed basis until the position is filled.
The County of Monterey is committed to honoring the service and sacrifice of veterans and eligible military spouses and awards veterans' preference points for this recruitment. To learn more about the eligibility requirements and the process, be sure to read the Hiring Preference for Veterans and Eligible Military Spouses section located towards the end of this job flier.
The Public Defender's 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. The Public Defender's Office seeks qualified applicants to apply for the position of Public Defender Investigator II.
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.
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.

To view the complete classification description, please visit the County of Monterey website:
THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE
Will have a proven track record demonstrating the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:
Thorough Knowledge of:

• Principles, methods, and techniques of criminal investigations, including gathering, preserving, and presenting evidence, basic identification techniques, and methods of operation.

Working Knowledge of:

• Laboratory procedures, methods, and uses of scientific investigative equipment and analysis incident to the investigation of crimes.
• Investigative methods applied in the penalty phase of capital offense cases.
• Criminal law, including the laws of arrest, search and seizure, subpoena service, rules of evidence, rules and regulations regarding juveniles, laws, regulations, and procedures regarding conservatorship, custody, and mental health proceedings, and courtroom procedures in felony, misdemeanor, and juvenile court or jury trial matters.
• Basic psychological principles, interviewing techniques, and interrogating witnesses of varied socio-economic and cultural backgrounds, and mentally deficient clients.
• Current technology and trends in the profession.
• Telephone, office, and online etiquette.
• Location of and means to obtain information, evidence, records, and reports, including the use of skip tracing techniques.
• Techniques employed in diagramming and making demonstrative evidence to be presented in court.
• Various firearms, including identification, use, firepower, and ballistic patterns for the purpose of
  investigating cases involving the discharge of firearms.
• Mental defenses to a crime such as diminished capacity and legal insanity.

Skill and Ability to:

• Gather, assemble, analyze, and evaluate facts and evidence to draw logical conclusions and to formulate sound recommendations. Be objective in fact finding.
• Determine priorities and importance of various types of evidence.
• Effectively communicate in oral and written form by preparing, reviewing, and evaluating comprehensive reports on investigations.
• Obtain information through interviews.
• Work effectively under decreasing supervision, over time.
• Communicate clearly, concisely, calmly, respectfully, effectively, and diplomatically in dealing with clients, management, other employees, subordinates, professionals from other agencies, and the public from diverse cultures and backgrounds.
• Maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for making observations, communicating with others, and reading and writing.
• Maintain mental capacity, which allows the ability of making sound decisions and demonstrating intellectual capabilities.
• Exercise good judgment and tact in dealing with sensitive cases.
• Develop demonstrative evidence for use in court, such as diagrams, charts, and photographs.
• Testify in court in a direct, clear, and concise manner.
• Read and comprehend legal material.
• Deal effectively with various levels of government, law enforcement agencies, judicial groups, and individuals.
• Recognize potentially hostile situations; adapt to many different environments; function calmly in situations which require a high degree of sensitivity, tact, and diplomacy.
• Provide prompt, efficient, and responsive service to management, the attorneys, and/or the clients.
• Exercise appropriate judgment in answering questions and releasing information; analyze and project consequences of decisions and/or recommendations.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, other criminal justice agencies, courts, and the public.
• Use laptop and personal computers, word processing programs, and access the internet; learn computer programs and databases; use computer presentation software.
• Use film and digital photographic equipment; use measuring devices; draw diagrams to scale; operate various scientific investigation equipment.

Examples of Experience/Education/Training
Any combination of training, education and/or experience which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities and required conditions of employment is qualifying. An example of a way these requirements might be acquired is:
Experience
• Two years of experience performing duties comparable to the Monterey County Public Defender Investigator I class that included investigation of felony and misdemeanor cases referred to the Public Defender's Office; or Two years of experience as a law enforcement officer that included the investigation of suspected criminal activities.
• Work experience, continuing education in the field of criminal investigations, participation in statewide criminal defense investigator groups, and a California Private Investigator license may be considered in evaluating equivalent experience.
Additional Information
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
The required conditions of employment include, but are not limited to the following:

• Possess and maintain a valid California Class C driver license or the ability to arrange necessary and timely transportation for field trave
• 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 This information is not legally binding, nor does it serve as a contract. The benefits listed in the Monterey County Personnel Policies and Practices Resolution or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) prevail over this listing.
NOTES:

• As a condition of employment, prospective employees may be required to submit to a background review which may include a review of information concerning present and/or prior employment, driving record, and record of any criminal convictions.
• Employment is contingent upon acceptable documentation verifying identity and authorization for employment in the U.S.; a list of acceptable documents is available on the USCIS Form I-9.
• If you are hired into this classification in a temporary position, your rate of pay will be hourly, and you will not be eligible for the benefits listed in the summary.

Application and Selection Procedures
Apply On-Line at
or
Hard copy applications may be obtained from and submitted during normal business hours
Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM by contacting:
Human Resources Department
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. A complete application package will include:

• A completed County of Monterey Employment Application

• Responses to the Supplemental Questions

All application materials must be received by the priority screen date of February 2, 2026, for a guaranteed review. Resumes, cover letters, letters of interest, and other correspondence will not be accepted as a substitute for required application materials. All required application materials will be competitively evaluated. Those applicants that are determined to be the most appropriately qualified will be invited to participate further in the selection process.
HIRING PREFERENCE FOR VETERANS AND ELIGIBLE MILITARY SPOUSES
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
To apply for veterans' preference points, veterans or eligible military spouses must complete and email a Veterans and Eligible Military Spouse Preference Application with supporting documentation of their eligibility by the final filing deadline to
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
The County of Monterey is a drug-free workplace and an equal opportunity employer. The County seeks candidates who can make contributions in an environment of cultural and ethnic diversity. The County is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, please contact Gabriela Munoz, Human Resources Analyst, at (831) 755-5899, or
01
Please answer the following questions. Completion of the following supplemental questions is REQUIRED and is an integral part of the evaluation process. Your responses to the questions will be reviewed and scored in a Qualifications Appraisal evaluation process based on pre-determined rating criteria. Your answers should be as complete as possible, as this information will be critical in the competitive assessment to identify those candidates to be invited to continue in the examination process. A response of "see resume" or "see application" will deem your responses to the supplemental questions as