Court Investigator

Description

Examples of Duties

Court Investigators perform a wide variety of duties including, but not limited to: reviewing conservatorship, guardianship and termination of parental rights petitions and accountings; interviewing conservators, conservatees, guardians, wards and other persons necessary to obtain relevant case information; conferring with attorneys, physicians, teachers, therapists and other parties as deemed appropriate; researching criminal history (CLETS), Domestic Violence history and Children and Family Services history for all ex parte custody and change of custody applications, and preparing reports summarizing the data; checking references and reviewing criminal history information; reporting child abuse/neglect; writing reports for the Probate and Family Law Courts; and conducting special investigations as ordered by the court. Investigators are required to conduct home visits and field interviews.

Individuals appointed to these positions must be able to work well with others, as well as work independently, and must possess good interpersonal and oral communication skills. Regular and punctual attendance is essential.

Minimum/Desirable Qualifications

The IDEAL CANDIDATE should have the following knowledge and abilities:

Knowledge of:

• California codes pertaining to Probate Court matters;
• Court proceedings and legal and medical terminology and documents;
• Interviewing and investigative techniques and effective interpersonal communication skills;
• Cross-cultural issues, problems of the elderly, developmentally disabled and neurologically impaired, and of children’s needs and special interests; and
• General accounting procedures and basic word processing programs.

• Understand and apply relevant California code sections, as well as court rules and procedures;
• Understand complex issues, interpret information from various sources, analyze problems and documents, and make appropriate recommendations;
• Write comprehensive, factually accurate reports using available word processing software;
• Interview a variety of individuals including children, the elderly, and developmentally disabled and/or neurologically impaired persons;
• Plan and organize work to meet deadlines and work well under pressure;
• Function effectively in a variety of work environments including high crime neighborhoods, unsanitary conditions, hospitals, mental facilities and board and care homes; and
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with individuals from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds, often in difficult and strained circumstances.

• Possession of a high school diploma, a GED equivalency certificate or a high school proficiency certificate;
• Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a major in administration of justice, social sciences, or a behavioral science such as psychology or mental health with an emphasis on family and children’s issues, or a closely related field;
• Two (2) years of full-time or its equivalent professional experience in a legal/judicial, social services, or health services environment handling a caseload pertaining to family, children, the elderly and/or mental health issues; and
• Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator’s License.

• Bilingual – Ability to speak fluent Spanish.

Supplemental Information

Application and Selection Process:
Interested individuals must complete a Court application on-line and provide a valid email address. To apply, go to: http://www.cc-courts.org: click on the Careers tab then click on the Current Employment Opportunities link. After submitting your application, all subsequent communications will be via email. Please add contracosta.courts.ca.gov and info@governmentjobs.com to your email address book to ensure delivery of emails. For additional information email: jobs@contracosta.courts.ca.gov.
Depending on the number of applications received, an application evaluation committee may be convened to review and evaluate each candidate’s application package, and those deemed best qualified will be invited to an oral interview. The court reserves the right to make revisions to this process in accordance with Court Personnel Plan and accepted selection practices.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Conditions of Employment
Successful completion of fingerprint and a criminal record background check is required prior to appointment and is a condition of employment.

Because the Court operates in multiple branches, the employee may be required to travel to other court locations, and possession of a valid California driver’s license is therefore required. All employees of the court who operate a vehicle on court business must certify they possess a valid California Driver’s License and required levels of automobile insurance.