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Job Opportunities at PDS
Mitigation and Reentry Specialist
About The Job
PDS Overview:
PDS Overview: The Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia (PDS) is a federally funded, independent organization governed by an eleven-member board of trustees. PDS provides legal representation to individuals facing a loss of freedom in the local criminal, delinquency, and mental health systems in the District of Columbia. PDS’s approximately 280 employees, comprised of attorneys, social workers, investigative specialists, administrative, and technical staff, collaborate with each other to advance the PDS mission. PDS’s main office is located at 633 Indiana Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. District of Columbia residency is not a requirement for employment.
Employment at the Public Defender Service (PDS) is neither federal nor District of Columbia government employment, and all employees are at-will.
Position is telework eligible.Division Overview:
Major Duties:
Develop and draft detailed and comprehensive reentry plans geared to the specific and individual needs of each client, evaluate and recommend treatment options and community-based programs (where appropriate). Identify and make referrals for mental health and medical services, substance abuse treatment, education, and other services. Work with local social service agencies and reentry service providers to identify programs and resources for clients and their families, and keep abreast of and develop cooperative relationships with service organizations and legal agencies to assist clients with matters related to their rehabilitation and develop dispositional strategies.
Implement the reentry plan upon clients’ release by assisting clients’ connections with supervision, housing, employment, counseling or other support, and other reentry services. This will include serving as clients’ primary contact regarding coordination of reentry services, while working with other team members in implementing the reentry plan.
Work with the attorneys and investigators assigned to IRAA cases and work independently to develop a mitigation investigation plan and conduct the mitigation investigation. As part of the defense team, assist in developing mitigation strategies and themes. Write detailed and comprehensive mitigation reports for IRAA cases. The mitigation reports will be filed in court as an attachment to each client’s IRAA motion. Reports will focus on the specific IRAA factors that were gathered, identified, and analyzed by the incumbent, including: the client’s life history, including any abuse, trauma, or involvement in the child welfare system; the client’s community circumstances leading up to and at the time of the offense; the defendant’s health and mental health, both at the time of the offense and since the conviction; the defendant’s rehabilitative efforts since incarceration. Information will be gathered through records requests, research, and interviews of client, client’s family, community members, prison staff, service providers, and other incarcerated individuals.
Required Qualifications:
Required Qualifications: A master’s degree or higher in social work, counseling, or related degree, three years of post-graduate professional, advanced experience as a social worker/reentry case manager or other comparable experience, or advanced year graduate school internship placement at a public defender social work office that handles major felonies.
Other Requirements: Incumbent must have no convictions as defined in DC Code Section 14.305 (b) (1) (Impeachment by evidence of conviction of crime). Reliable transportation is necessary as travel is required in and around the DC area.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) Required: In addition to a traditional resume, candidates should submit a separate narrative statement addressing the following quality ranking factors. These factors will be used to distinguish the best-qualified applicants from a group of persons basically qualified for the position. Failure to submit your narrative response for this position will negatively affect your eligibility and/or rating for this position.
1. Experience working with adults in the criminal legal system.
2. Direct defense experience working with adult clients on rehabilitation and dispositional issues.
3. Knowledge of social work concepts and concepts related to rehabilitation and alternatives to confinement.
4. Demonstrated excellent writing and oral persuasion skills and ability to communicate effectively to a diverse range of people.
5. Demonstrated computer skills.
6. Knowledge of the criminal legal system.
Preferred Qualifications:
Application Evaluation:
How you will be evaluated: Your application package includes your letter of interest, resume and requested supporting documents. Please ensure your application package includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position. Failure to provide sufficient evidence in your application package and requested supporting documents can result in rejection of your application package.
Rating: Your application package will be rated and ranked among other applicants based on your experience, education, training, performance appraisals, and awards relevant to the duties of this position. Your rating can be lowered if your application package is not supported by the requested documents.
Referral: If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application package will be referred to a hiring manager for consideration at which time you may be invited to participate in a selection interview.
Non-local candidates (outside 60 miles) can request to be interviewed via WebEx.
Number of vacancies:
Pay Series:
Compensation:
$78,592 – $102,166 (equivalent to GS-11)
Promotion Potential: AD-13 (equivalent to GS-13)
The incumbent may be promoted without further competition upon completion of one year of exemplary performance, subject to approval of the PDS Director.
Benefits:
applicable). Benefits include:
Federal Employees Retirement Systems (retirement annuity) Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401K program)
Federal Employees Health Benefits (health insurance) Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (life insurance) Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program
Flexible Spending Accounts (for health care and dependent care) Long Term Care
Public Transportation Subsidy (funding contingent) Employee Assistance Program
Federal Occupational Health (access to health clinic and services)
Who May Apply:
How to Apply:
How to Apply: Applicants must submit the following (Materials should be consolidated as a single PDF)
• cover letter;
• a traditional résumé with day telephone and email contact information;
• graduate school transcripts;
• a narrative statement addressing above KSAs;
• a writing sample;
• a list of three references; and
• your most recent performance appraisal (if applicable).
Please submit your application package via email HR Specialist Brigette Carrington, Office of Human Resources, Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, Job Announcement PDS-2023-31, 633 Indiana Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004 as MS Word or PDF document attachments to the following email address [email protected]. Materials should be consolidated as a single PDF. Please include the Vacancy # and Position Title in your email subject line.
All application materials become property of PDS and will not be returned. For questions or concerns regarding this vacancy announcement, please contact HR Specialist Brigette Carrington at (202) 824-2237 or via the email address listed above.
If you have any questions about the position, application, hiring process or require during any part of the application process, please contact Brigette Carrington, HR Specialist at (202) 824-2237 or email [email protected].
PDS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and an e-Verify Participating Agency
Disclaimer
The Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia (PDS) is a federally funded, independent organization; governed by an eleven-member Board of Trustees, PDS provides legal representation to individuals facing a loss of freedom in the local criminal, delinquency, and mental health systems in the District of Columbia. PDS’s approximately 235 attorneys, social workers, investigative specialists, administrative, and technical staff collaborate with each other to advance the PDS mission. PDS’s main office is located at 633 Indiana Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. District of Columbia residency is not a requirement for employment. PDS is funded by federal appropriations, and all employees are entitled to participate in the federal health and life insurance plans, the federal retirement plans (FERS, FERS-RAE, FERS-FRAE, CSRS, CSRS-Offset), and the Thrift Savings Plan. Transferring employees will receive recognition of creditable federal service for leave accrual and retirement purposes. Employment at PDS is neither federal nor District of Columbia government employment, and all employees are at-will.
PDS is an E-Verify participating agency. Please see the Right to Work Poster and the E-Verify Participation Poster for more information.
PDS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and E-Verify Participant.