STATE INVESTIGATOR TRAINEE, LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY
State Investigator Trainee, Law and Public Safety is an unclassified role, so it is appointed at the discretion of the hiring authority and does not carry the usual exam-and-tenure track.
The one gate is a bachelor's degree. The FY2027 range lands between $58,222 and $60,876, and state payroll currently lists 6 people in the title, most of them at Law and Public Safety.
How to apply
This title is not filled by examination — agencies appoint directly.
See every real route in, and where to apply. One agency employs it. We don't track live vacancies.
How to apply for this title →Who employs this title
State payroll records show 6 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $56,253. The agencies employing the most are:
- Law and Public Safety (6)
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.
Definition
Under the immediate supervision of a State Investigator 4 or other supervisory official in the Division of Gaming Enforcement or New Jersey Racing Commission, Department of Law and Public Safety, as a trainee and productive worker, learns to assist in performing specific field and office work relative to financial, compliance, and enforcement functions, applicants for gaming licensure, or criminal/civil violations of other state statutes; participates in extensive field and office training on the operations, procedures, and policies of the division to which the trainee is assigned; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
Under immediate supervision, as a trainee and productive worker: Performs specified investigative work involving state enforcement programs. Prepares reports of routine nature during the course of an investigation. Participates in and observes the detecting, reporting, and following-up of criminal violations of NJ statutes and regulations. May assist in surveillance of certain aspects of investigative operations to gain knowledge of illegal activities in developing a case to prosecute violators of NJ laws for casino and racing operation. Learns proceedings in giving testimony before Grand Juries, Courts of Law, NJ Casino Control Commission, NJ Racing Commission, and other judicial bodies to perform in the future on behalf of the state's prosecution effort of criminal violators. Assists in the enforcement of state laws governing the casino and/or horse racing industries. May prepare clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Attends and participates in organized training programs essential for advancement in the State Investigator title series. Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Education
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree.
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 essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Knowledge of the NJ statutes concerning applications for gaming and/or racing licenses, after a period of training. Knowledge of the operations and procedures of the Divisions of Gaming Enforcement, NJ Racing Commission, after a period of training. Ability to learn surveillance techniques. Ability to learn how to utilize electronic communications equipment and data based software utilized during an investigation. Ability to learn to organize field and office work. Ability to learn to analyze investigative findings. Ability to learn to conduct interviews. Ability to learn to interpret results of investigations of routine difficulty for possible criminal/civil violations of NJ statutes. Ability to work with informants. Ability to work well with others. Ability to work under adverse conditions and at any hour of the day or night. Ability to learn how 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 if they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible. ADVANCEMENT: On the successful completion of the 12-month training period, appointees will be eligible for advancement to the title State Investigator 1, Law and Public Safety, in accordance with Civil Service Commission procedures. The inability of an employee in this title to attain a level of performance warranting advancement to the title listed above shall be considered cause for separation.
Note
Incumbents in this position are not police officers, may not perform law enforcement duties and have no law enforcement authority. 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 accepting employment as Investigators for the Division of Gaming Enforcement, Department of Law and Public Safety, are required to adhere to the employment restriction that they not pursue outside gainful employment during their tenure.