Mitigation & Reentry Specialist

Open Date: May 11, 2026
Close Date: Jun 19, 2026
Position Type: Permanent Full-time
Job Vacancy #: PDS-2026-18
Location: 633 3rd Street NW Washington, District of Columbia 20001

About The Job

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 230 employees, comprised of attorneys, social workers, professional counselors, mitigation specialists, investigative specialists, administrative, and technical staff, collaborate with each other to advance the PDS mission. PDS’s main office is located at 633 3rd Street, 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.

Division Overview:

The Office of Rehabilitation and Development (ORD) provides the clinical component of the defense in the representation of adult and/or juvenile clients. ORD assists staff attorneys and, at times, attorneys practicing under the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) develop least restrictive, individualized sentencing and rehabilitation plans for clients, in-depth mitigation reports, case-based counseling, case coordination, and collaboration with legal and/or juvenile justice agencies and other parties working with our clients,

Major Duties:

This position is located in the Office of Rehabilitation and Development and provides services to clients seeking reduced prison sentences via compassionate release or the Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act. Under the general supervision of the chief of the division, incumbent will have three primary duties, the ratio of which will vary depending on the needs presented by PDS’s IRAA caseload: Developing reentry plans, reentry coordination, and developing in-depth mitigation reports. Incumbent will perform the following duties: Work in concert with legal counsel on behalf of PDS clients. Visit and interview clients, family, and other collateral contacts to establish personal background and history summaries. Visit clients at their residence, jails, prisons (outside of the District of Columbia), group homes/halfway houses, and other similar locations. 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 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:

A master’s degree or higher in social work, counseling, or related degree, and two years of post-graduate professional experience as a social worker, reentry case manager, mitigation specialist OR other comparable related work experience.

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.

Experience working with adults in the criminal legal system.
Direct defense experience working with adult clients on rehabilitation and dispositional issues.
Demonstrated excellent writing and oral persuasion skills and ability to communicate effectively to a diverse range of people.
Demonstrated computer skills.
Familiarity with treatment and rehabilitation resources available in the D.C. metro area.
Knowledge of the criminal court systems in D.C.



Preferred Qualifications:

Experience with reentry plans, reentry coordinating, mitigation investigation and mitigation reports. Familiarity with DC area reentry services.

Application Evaluation:

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.


Number of vacancies:

1

Pay Series:

AD-11 (equivalent to GS-11)

Compensation:

$82,764 to $107,590/year 

Promotion Potential: AD-13 (equivalent to GS-13)

Note: The incumbent may be promoted without further competition upon completion of one year of exemplary performance, at the discretion of the PDS Director.

Benefits:

PDS is funded by federal appropriations, and employees are entitled to participate in federal benefits plans, federal retirement systems, and the workers compensation program. Transferring federal employees will receive recognition of creditable federal service for leave accrual and retirement purposes (as 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)
  • Public Transportation Subsidy (funding contingent)
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Federal Occupational Health (access to health clinic and services)

Work Schedule: This is a full-time permanent on-site position with limited remote work. 

Promotion Eligibility Requirements: This position is advertised at the PDS grade AD-11 (equivalent to a GS-11) will require a one full year performance level to be considered for a promotion to PDS grade AD-13 (equivalent to the GS-13).

Who May Apply:

This vacancy is open to US Citizens or those authorized to work in the United States.

How to Apply:

How to Apply: Applicants must submit the following (Materials should be consolidated as a single PDF)

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. Demonstrated excellent writing and oral persuasion skills and ability to communicate effectively to a diverse range of people.
  4. Demonstrated computer skills.
  5. Familiarity with treatment and rehabilitation resources available in the D.C. metro area.
  6. Knowledge of the criminal court systems in D.C.

Please send your application package in one combined PDF document documents in one PDF document. Applications MUST be emailed to [email protected]. To ensure your application receives proper consideration, the subject line of your application email MUST include the job announcement number and the position title (i.e.PDS-2026-18 Mitigation and Reentry Specialist). All application materials become property of PDS and will not be returned. PDS will not accept application packages by postal mail, fax, or personal delivery. 


Non-local candidates (outside 60 miles) can request to be interviewed via WebEx.

PDS will not accept application packages by postal mail, fax, or personal delivery.

For applicants with disabilities, this organization provides reasonable accommodations which will be decided on a case-by-case basis. To request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or interview process, please contact Megan Simmons, HR Specialist at (202) 731-5934 or the Office of Human Resources at [email protected].

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 275 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 3rd Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001. 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.