You will conduct and/or lead mitigation investigation through bio-psycho-social field investigation in the trial, post-conviction, federal habeas and clemency phase of capital cases, and conduct mitigation investigation for non-capital cases, including but not limited to cases that involve juveniles being tried as adults and who receive lifelong prison sentences. You will also conduct fact investigations on trial and post-trial litigation, and conduct and/or act as lead on complex and specialized criminal investigations on felony, capital and juvenile cases at the trial, post-conviction, and federal levels as well as at clemency.
Essential duties performed by the position include but are not limited to:
Locate, contact, and interview witnesses, other suspects, family members, employers, medical or psychological service providers, and others to obtain information pertaining to the case.
Conduct lengthy interviews with clients, client’s immediate and extended family members, spouses/partners, friends, and education, medical, mental health, legal and agency personnel who encountered the client and their family.
Gather and analyze records (including but not limited to school, medical, mental health, employer, legal, military, and social services documentation) to provide detailed medical, psychological, sociological, cultural or other insights into the client’s bio-psycho-social history.
Obtain and analyze other anecdotal and documentary evidence relevant to the client’s history and their environmental and cultural background.
Investigate the facts and circumstances of the alleged offense(s), gather documentation to support the testimony of expert and lay witnesses, and obtain and notarize affidavits and gather and organize physical documentary evidence.
Travel throughout Ohio and outside the state as necessary to locate, interview, and investigate witnesses, evidence, materials, and records; Identify, locate, contact and interview suspects, claimants, former employers and coworkers, attorneys, witnesses, federal, state and municipal agencies; assist with transporting witnesses.
Prepare complex reports of interviews and findings and prepare detailed timelines for use in trial and appellate level case preparations and presentations.
Identify the need for experts and assist in locating and working with defense experts.
Assist in the preparation and presentations for trials and hearings and also conduct interviews with clients for death row client clemency hearings.
Consult with internal and external attorneys and experts to develop trial and appellate sentencing-phase themes and theories of the case; assist with preparing witnesses or clients for testimony.
Lead brainstorming and strategizing discussions to develop mitigation presentation of defense.
Participate in mentoring and training, and assist in providing educational experiences for volunteer students.