2M91

                                                                                                                         PAY RANGE: EP17

 

PROSECUTION ASSISTANT 3

 

GENERAL DEFINITION

 

            This is specialized technical work, at the advanced level, providing staff or advisory assistance to attorneys charged with the prosecution of individuals accused of committing homicide.  The employee in this class prepares responses to motions, performs discovery, determines the need for additional information and may subpoena additional records.  The employee in this class has responsibility for performing the more complex tasks associated with providing assistance to prosecuting attorneys in the Homicide Unit, and for working in a lead worker capacity.  Contacts with attorneys, the judiciary, court personnel and 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 position in this class must be responsible for performing advanced-level technical work providing staff or advisory assistance to attorneys charged with the prosecution of individuals accused of committing homicide.

2.  The position must be located in the Homicide Unit of the District Attorney's Office.

 

TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF WORK (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)

 

            Receives and reviews requests from defense attorneys to attain discovery material relating to homicide cases; determines what is discoverable according to the Rule of Criminal Procedure 305; contacts appropriate laboratories, detectives, etc., to order physical testing of evidence and attain discovery material.

            Reviews prosecution trial files, official documents, and computerized records to determine charges, facts and circumstances of arrest, defendant's criminal record, behavior of defendant, and other pertinent information; orders copies of police and F.B.I. reports; evaluates findings and facts of case for applicability in specialty area; advises prosecution attorneys of findings and conclusions; presents petitions to the court; may suggest areas for questioning in court; maintains records of court decisions and dispositions.

            Prepares answers to motions filed in court; reviews trial folders to determine probable cause for arrest, defendant informed of constitutional rights, circumstances surrounding the confiscation of evidence or weapons, and conditions under which statements were given; replies to each allegation stated in the motion; submits to prosecution attorney for review.

            Maintains a 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.

            Accompanies attorneys to hearings and court appearances to assist in preparing information and to note the status of cases on case folders.

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

            Performs as a lead worker and assigns work to lower level employees.

            Performs related work as required.

 

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

 

KNOWLEDGE OF:

 

•           criminal justice processes as they apply to homicide cases

•           legal processes and practices involved in the prosecution of cases

•           the rules of evidence

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

•           report writing

•           basic legal concepts and vocabulary

•           sources and standards of legal research

•           interviewing techniques and methods used to elicit information from individuals requiring legal assistance

•           the laws, rules, and regulations governing the prosecution of criminal offenders

 

SKILL IN:

 

•           interviewing witnesses and detectives regarding criminal cases

 

ABILITY TO:

 

•           utilize computer hardware and software relating to work assignment

•           write narrative and technical English

•           prepare and post a variety of records and reports

•           make effective presentations of ideas and facts

•           understand and follow written and oral instructions

•           exercise tact, diplomacy, and judgement

•           establish and maintain effective working relationships with judicial and law enforcement officials, attorneys, associates, and the general public

 

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:

 

            Three years of experience providing technical staff assistance to attorneys charged with the prosecution of individuals accused of violating the criminal penal code.

 

AND

SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE:

 

            One year of experience as a Prosecution Assistant 2

 

Option 2:

EDUCATION:

 

            Education equivalent to the completion of twelfth school grade

 

AND

GENERAL EXPERIENCE:

 

            Three 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, one year of which has been as a Prosecution Assistant 1.

 

AND

SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE:

 

            One year of experience as a Prosecution Assistant 2.

 

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

 

OR

 

            Any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Office of Human Resources, which has included the specific experience as a minimum require­ment.

 

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:

                                                                                                                                         CSC - 6/98

                                                                                                                                Ad. Board - 9/98

Spec. Revision:

CSC: 08/19

Ad. Board: 09/19

Latest Spec. Revision:

CSC – 5/22

Ad. Board – 6/22

 

 

JA