PROSECUTION ASSISTANT 2

GENERAL DEFINITION

This is technical work, at the full performance level, providing staff assistance to trial and/or investigative attorneys charged with the prosecution of individuals accused of violating the criminal penal code. Employees in this class perform a quasi-legal function through the review and extraction of data from court-related records and documents, the interview of complainants and witnesses, and/or the preparation of a variety of legal documents. Contacts with attorneys, the judiciary, court personnel and officials, complainants, institutional officials, witnesses and the general public are significant aspects of the work. Work is performed under the general supervision of a prosecuting attorney.

ALLOCATING FACTORS: (The following conditions must be met for a position to be allocated to this class.)

1. The positions in this class must be responsible for performing technical work providing staff or advisory assistance to attorneys charged with the prosecution of individuals accused of violating the crime code.

2. The positions in this class must be located in the District Attorney's Office.

TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF WORK (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)

Reviews prosecution trial files, official documents, and computerized records to extract information for prosecution attorneys; determines if necessary reports, records, and briefs are present; outlines charges against defendant, facts of arrest, previous continuances, motions presented, court dispositions, and other pertinent information; determines court-mandated expiration date for each case; insures witnesses are subpoenaed.

Provides information to individuals with potential legal problems; inquires as to type and nature of problem, facts of incidents, description of individuals involved, and whether or not any prior court actions have occurred; determines legitimacy of complaint and type of crime committed; provides information on judicial procedures, hearing dates, status of cases, and any problems involved; refers individuals to proper social agencies, court, or other sources of assistance; prepares private criminal complaints.

Maintains record of cases indicating expiration date, hearings, and dispositions; notifies the prosecution trial attorneys of approaching expiration date; discusses need for preparation of an extension petition; prepares extension petition indicating reasons for previous continuances, reasons for extension request, and length of extension requested; attends and notes disposition of petition hearings.

Discusses with witnesses their availability to appear on scheduled hearing dates, legal procedures, reasons for continuances, and facts of case; discusses with law enforcement officials facts of case, their availability, their opinion of case, and the reliability of witnesses; discusses with court officials or personnel the status of a witness, location of a witness, and previous court actions and dispositions; contacts penal or mental institution officials to determine status of individuals; inquires if individual is incarcerated, if detainers have been filed for present location of individual, and for tentative date of release; informs prosecution attorneys of findings.

May accompany attorneys to hearings and court appearance to note the status of cases on case folders.

Maintains a variety of reports and statistics; may perform legal research using law libraries or computer data banks to find information pertaining to a specific law, case or court decision; keeps and reports statistical tabulations of the various stages of the legal process.

May supervise clerical personnel.

Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• criminal justice processes as they apply in the area of specialization

• the legal conditions and considerations as they apply in area of specialization

• the rules of evidence

• basic legal concepts and vocabulary

• sources and standards of legal research

• the uses and applications of personal computers, as well as the software relating to databases and word processing

SKILL IN:

• eliciting information quickly and easily, and in providing information clearly and concisely

ABILITY TO:

• write narrative and technical English

• prepare and post a variety of records and reports

• exercise judgement

• make effective presentations of ideas and facts

• follow instructions

• exercise tact and restraint

• establish and maintain effective working relationships

• utilize a personal computer and the software relating to work assignments

MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE (The following statement represents the minimum training and experience standards which will be used to admit or reject applicants for tests. Applications submitted by candidates for this class will be reviewed based on training and experience requirements as approved on 5/22.)

Option 1:

EDUCATION:

Completion of an Associate's degree program in criminal justice, paralegal studies or a closely related field.

AND

GENERAL EXPERIENCE:

Two years of experience performing facilitating services for prosecuting attorneys.

AND

SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE:

One year of experience providing technical staff assistance to attorneys charged with the prosecution of individuals accused of violating the criminal penal code at the Prosecution Assistant 1 level.

Option 2:

EDUCATION:

Education equivalent to the completion of twelfth school grade

AND

GENERAL EXPERIENCE:

Two years of experience as a Legal Services Clerk or equivalent class experience in the District Attorney’s Office and possession of a Prosecution Assistant certificate as issued by the District Attorney’s Office.

AND

SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE:

One year of experience providing technical staff assistance to attorneys charged with the prosecution of individuals accused of violating the criminal penal code at the Prosecution Assistant 1 level.

Note: The completion of a Bachelor’s degree satisfies both the education and general experience requirements for both options.

PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS

Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.

Class Established - 7/76

Spec. Revised - 10/82

Spec. Revision:

CSC - 2/98

Ad. Board - 4/98

Spec. Revision:

CSC - 06/04

Ad. Board - 08/04

Latest Spec. Revision:

CSC – 5/22

Ad. Board – 6/22