LIEUTENANT- STATE INVESTIGATOR, DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Code: 57092 State Unclassified Range: VI33 (FY 2027) Work week N4: FLSA exemptOvertime table (4A:3, Appx. A)

Salary: $127,549.09 - $186,099.49/year FY 2027 schedule (last updated 2026-07-27)

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 superior officer in the Division of Criminal Justice, Department of Law and Public Safety, supervises a section, function or program and is responsible for the administration of investigative activities conducted in compliance with state enforcement programs; is authorized to exercise all powers and rights of police officers, constables, and special deputy sheriffs in criminal matters, and is empowered to act as an officer for the detection, apprehension, arrest, and conviction of offenders against the law; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Oversees and directs investigations, including multimillion dollar investigations, conducted by assigned investigative personnel to prepare for prosecution cases involving alleged noncompliance with or violations of New Jersey state statutes.
• Exercises all powers/rights of police officers, constables, and special deputy sheriffs in criminal matters, and functions as a law enforcement officer for the detection, apprehension, arrest, and conviction of offenders against the law.
• Advises superiors on the results/progress of investigations which have state/national/international impact.
• Directs and coordinates work of subordinates engaged in organizing investigations at varying levels of difficulty/complexity concerning criminal/civil violations of state statutes.
• Plans, develops, and implements investigation procedures used to improve complex, specialized, and routine investigative functions, and updates the State Investigator's Manual accordingly.
• Plans, assigns, and directs work of subordinates to ensure efficiency and compliance with established laws.
• Advises staff on policies, procedures, regulations, precedents, accounting principles, investigative and auditing techniques, and other matters relating to the technical/administrative aspects of assigned work.
• Establishes and supervises uniform policies/procedures for investigative personnel and personally assumes control of complex/major phases of investigations when warranted by circumstances or directed by superior.
• Coordinates the supervision of reviews, searches, and seizures relative to certain investigations, and inventory of items seized pursuant to the authority granted by NJ statutes.
• Monitors investigative program needs and directs redeployment of personnel from various investigative sections to meet changing investigative priorities, deadline assignments, and to ensure attainment of investigative objectives.
• Supervises work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining of employees.
• Maintains liaison and working relationships with international/federal/state/local enforcement officials on matters of mutual interests, and advises superiors of possible impact of other enforcement actions of state investigations.
• Supervises and coordinates extradition of defendants from foreign jurisdictions.
• Reviews affidavits for search warrants, consensual authorization, and wiretap orders, and conducts their execution.
• Coordinates the presentation of matters and testifies before grand juries, courts of law, and other judicial bodies.
• Maintains liaison and working relationships with all state agencies which are required by the Attorney General to report information pertaining to criminal violations of their regulatory authority.
• Recommends budgeting, employment, promotions, training, and other personnel/administrative actions concerning State investigators and the Department of Law and Public Safety.
• 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.

Education

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree.

Experience

Seven (7) years of investigatory experience as a sworn law enforcement officer conducting investigations, collecting evidence, and/or preparing investigative reports related to criminal and/or civil matters involving acts of criminal and/or civil misconduct, three (3) years of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity.

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 business and investigative systems/methods/procedures including the continuous revision and alteration of methods/procedures as may be required.
• Knowledge of investigative techniques including both law enforcement and financial investigations.
• Knowledge of management principles and of supervisory techniques.
• Knowledge of law enforcement operations/procedures on a local/state/national/international level.
• Knowledge of principles of communications to achieve results desired.
• Ability to identify and pursue potential investigative areas.
• Ability to give and solicit testimony involving criminal/civil investigations for use before a court of law or any other investigative body as required.
• Ability to direct the investigation of white-collar methods (involving documents) of defrauding the public, corruption, and complicated civil/criminal antitrust matters.
• Ability to maintain and handle informants.
• Ability to evaluate intelligence information.
• Ability to interrogate and interview witnesses.
• Ability to testify in criminal/civil investigations before a court of law, or any other investigative body as required.
• Ability to make decisions and determine what decisions should be referred to superiors.
• Ability to prepare and direct preparation of technically sound/accurate financial and investigative reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Ability to qualify with firearms on a semiannual basis.
• 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 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.

Note

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.

Experience as a police officer performing criminal follow-up investigations (not preliminary investigations) may be substituted for the above non-supervisory experience on a year-for-year basis.

Applicants who do not possess the required education may substitute additional experience as indicated on a year-for-year basis with thirty (30) semester hour credits being equal to one (1) year of experience.

<b>AGE:</b>

Not less than 18 years of age

<b>CITIZENSHIP:</b>

Must be a citizen of the United States.

<b>MEDICAL EXAMINATION:</b>

As a prerequisite for appointment, appointees may be required to pass a thorough medical and psychiatric examination to be administered by the appointing authority. Any psychological, medical or physical condition or defect which would prevent efficient performance of the duties of the position, cause the appointee to be a hazard to himself/herself or others, or become aggravated as a result of performance of these duties, will be cause for rejection.

<b>SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS:</b>

Applicants must have successfully completed the police training commission course administered by the Police Training Commission. This training includes successful attainment of a required level of proficiency in the use of firearms.

Appointees to this position shall qualify semi-annually in the use of firearms.

<b>SPECIAL NOTE:</b>

Applicants accepting employment are required to adhere to employment restrictions that they not pursue outside gainful employment during their tenure with the Division of Criminal Justice unless approved by the Attorney General.