Forensic Social Worker, Mitigation Specialist

Job Description

WAGE: $28.37

DEPARTMENT: Weber Public Defender Group

PERSONNEL STATUS: Full Time Grant Funded

BENEFITS: Health, Dental, Vision, Retirement, 401k match, Sick/Vacation, Life Insurance, Short-term Disability, Accident, Critical Illness; Parental Leave; Maternity Leave

IMPORTANT NOTE :

This position is grant funded.

The position will exist only so long as the funding from the grant is available.

JOB OVERVIEW:

The selected candidate will work directly under the Forensic Social Work Division Director of the Weber Public Defender Group in a growing county-based public defender office.

The position entails working as a core member of the defense team, directly with defendants, and generating written work product.

Candidates require effective diagnostic and clinical skill, in addition to operating under ABA and Utah State Bar ethical rules.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Weber Public Defender Group is looking for a social worker to provide Holistic Defense support and perform the role of Mitigation Specialist.

Exclusively serving indigent defendants, this position entails working as a core member of the legal defense team under ABA ethics and guidelines.

Operating on the front lines of social justice, applicants must have the ability to apply the NASW Code of Ethics in working with defendants accused of crimes ranging from misdemeanors drug offences to felony sexual assault, arson, homicide, etc.

Clinical skill is foundational to this role, including the ability to identify comorbid and differential diagnostics, and engage in direct client management throughout case adjudication.

Additional skillsets include a high degree of personal organization to maintain deadlines, self-directed task follow up, effective understanding of Utah Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure, understanding of death penalty mitigation standards, and the ability to coordinate within a multidisciplinary team.

Direct responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Psychosocial evaluation of defendants-both in and out of custody-to identify all potentially mitigating factors.

Follow-up investigation with collateral interviews and records review (e.g., medical, psychiatric, psychological, treatment, educational, vocational, etc.).

Carry out evidence-based assessments to quantify mitigating information, including criminogenic risk and needs, trauma history, family systems issues, ASAM assessments, etc.

Review relevant case discovery materials, which may include recorded interviews as well as autopsy and crime scene photos.

Refer and coordinate treatment and community support services as clinically indicated.

This may include addiction treatment, behavioral/psychiatric care, medical care, and relevant resources for intellectual disabilities.

Provide consultation to defense counsel regarding defendant competency, mental state at offence, and statute-driven mitigation options.

Identify, retain, and coordinate with appropriate forensic experts in the fields of ps...