INVESTIGATOR 3 PUBLIC DEFENDER
Career Family: INVESTIGATOR
To land Investigator 3 Public Defender in New Jersey you go through the competitive route: you sit an announced exam and the score puts you on the eligible list agencies hire from.
A bachelor's degree is the listed credential, and extra years on the job can be traded for it. The FY 2027 range lands between $91,628 and $134,900, and state payroll currently lists about 24 people in the title, most of them at Office of the Public Defender.
How to apply
This title is filled by competitive examination.
See every real route in, and where to apply. One agency employs it. We don't track live vacancies.
See where to apply for this title →Who employs this title
Investigator 3 Public Defender appears on the State payroll at one department, Office of Public Defender.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Office of Public Defender | 24 |
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Pay ladder: Investigator series
- Investigator 1 — $62,499 – $91,249
- Investigator 2 — $71,562 – $104,839
- Investigator 3 — $83,582 – $122,832
- Investigator 4 Law and Publc Safety — $83,582 – $122,832
Its top salary lands around the 80th percentile of all NJ civil service titles that publish a range.
Rungs are ordered by FY 2027 pay. NJ level numbers are not always sequential, so ordering follows salary rather than the title number.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 24 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $121,977. The agencies employing the most are:
- Office of the Public Defender (24)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.
Definition
Under direction of a Chief Investigator in the Office of the Public Defender, or other supervisory official, has charge of work programs and staff of a division, program, or regional office responsible for preparation of cases involving the representation of clients; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
Supervises investigators in the performance of all phases of field and office work and is accountable to the Chief Investigator, or other supervisory official, for the performance of assigned staff. Provides assignments and instructions to investigators. Directs the preparation and maintenance of records covering all phases of each case or investigation. Reviews recommendations from investigators concerning need for reform in legislation or administrative regulations, and/or detects patterns of complaints; recommends changes to new or proposed legislation or administrative regulations to alleviate the situation. Testifies in court concerning the findings of investigations, and gives testimony on technical matters. Supervises, and participates in, training for investigators. Administers and maintains an adequate and proper intergovernmental relationship between the Office of the Public Defender and other agencies. Organizes assigned supervisory work and develops effective work methods/procedures. Analyzes, reviews, and interprets reports, studies, charts, graphs, and other reference materials compiled by investigative staff. Supervises work operations and/or functional programs, and has responsibility for employee evaluations and for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining of employees. Develops methods, procedures, and protocol to be used in the compilation, organization, and presentation of data. Reviews laws, rules, regulations, and procedures of involved agencies. Prepares and supervises the preparation of clear, technically sound, accurate, and concise reports, summaries, and compilations containing findings, conclusions, and/or recommendations. Supervises establishment and maintenance of records and files. Prepares official correspondence. May be required to travel out of state to conduct and/or complete investigations. Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
License
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Knowledge of policies, programs, staff, functions, and standards of the Office of the Public Defender, and their application to specific situations after a period of training. Knowledge of techniques and procedures for gathering, assembling, and arranging extensive data for developing cases. Knowledge of procedures and precautions used in the investigation of matters of a criminal or civil nature. Knowledge of investigative methods and interview techniques. Knowledge of procedures involved in collecting and analyzing statistical data. Knowledge of methods and procedures involved in preparing legal proofs of fact for trial and/or hearing purposes. Knowledge of accepted and reliable research sources, methods, and techniques. Ability to organize assigned supervisory work and develop effective work methods. Ability to supervise the performance of office and field work of a complex nature involving criminal defendants, victims of abuse and neglect, clients with a variety of disabilities, and others with a variety of physical, emotional and/or social disorders. Ability to testify in administrative hearings and in court proceedings. Ability to perform complex field and office work. Ability to recommend changes to existing or proposed legislation and administrative regulations based on patterns or trends of complaints. Ability to write clearly and concisely. Ability to use necessary technical vocabularies. Ability to organize information in an understandable/efficient manner. Ability to conduct training seminars. Ability to prepare official correspondence. Ability to provide assignments and instructions to investigative staff. Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those interested in the work of the unit. Ability to develop methods, procedures, and protocols to be used in the compilation, organization, and presentation of data. Ability to train and instruct investigative staff. Ability to prepare instruction manuals. Ability to gather, assemble, and arrange extensive data for easy reference and ease in developing cases. Ability to analyze, review, and interpret reports, studies, charts, graphs, and other reference materials. Ability to supervise establishment/maintenance of records and files. Ability to supervise the use of investigative equipment and analyze the findings. Ability to prepare and supervise preparation of technically sound, accurate, and informative statistical, financial, and other reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units. Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication. Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
Note
Positions in the Office of the Public Defender, Division of Mental Health Advocacy are assigned caseloads involving individuals with mental illness or developmental disabilities. Due to the nature of this work, the duties of positions in this division may vary slightly from those listed below to include heavy caseloads, limited preparation time, and investigations of and communication with individuals with mental illness or developmental disabilities. These positions are subject to Selective Certification. The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed. Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience. Eight (8) years of professional experience in conducting field investigations, analyzing information, and preparing reports in a law enforcement, criminal defense, or social service agency, one (1) year of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and four (4) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, one (1 )year of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity. For appointments to positions in the Division of Mental Health Advocacy, selective certification appointments are permitted by the Appointing Authority. Appointments of this nature will be based on the following additional requirements: 1. Education: Thirty credits (undergraduate or graduate) in the following areas: a. Psychology courses (at least half of which are beyond survey level) in clinic practice or therapy, intelligence or projective testing, or abnormal psychology; and, b. Sociology/social work courses (at least half of which are beyond survey level) in social work theory skills and methods, or clinical practicum. OR 2. Experience: At least one year of experience in a setting which requires substantial interviewing experience of individuals with major psychiatric disorders such as, but not limited to, schizophrenia and bi-polar, as well as relevant Axis II diagnoses, for developmentally disabled individuals and sex offenders; and/or therapeutic interaction with special populations such as institutionalized children or adults, to include those individuals with the diagnoses stated above. Specialized education and experience may be combined to satisfy the prerequisite. Fifteen credits of course work (beyond the survey level) in psychology, sociology, or social work may be substituted for six months of specialized practice. "Professional experience" refers to work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession's principles, concepts, theories, and practices; and is performed with the authority to act according to one's own judgment and make accurate and informed decisions.