Torchora
Back to Home

Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Justice Investigator Assistant

💰 $ - $

InvestigationsLegalCriminal JusticeLaw EnforcementForensics

🎯 Role Definition

The Justice Investigator Assistant provides hands-on investigative support to prosecutors, investigators, probation/parole officers, and law enforcement units. The role focuses on case file maintenance, evidence collection and preservation, witness and victim liaison, records retrieval, and preparation of exhibits and documentation for hearings and trials. This position requires strong investigative instincts, attention to legal chain-of-custody procedures, case management system proficiency, and clear written and verbal communication to support case strategy across criminal justice and civil enforcement matters.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Court Clerk / Records Clerk
  • Paralegal or Legal Assistant
  • Police Records Technician or Administrative Support in Law Enforcement

Advancement To:

  • Justice Investigator / Investigative Specialist
  • Senior Investigator or Lead Caseworker
  • Criminal Investigator / Detective (with agency-specific training)
  • Supervisory Investigator or Case Supervisor

Lateral Moves:

  • Victim/Witness Advocate
  • Probation or Parole Officer
  • Compliance or Regulatory Investigator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Maintain, organize and index complex case files — including police reports, witness statements, digital evidence, discovery materials and chain-of-custody logs — to ensure rapid retrieval for prosecutors and trial teams while preserving evidentiary integrity.
  • Conduct targeted public records searches and background investigations using local, state and federal databases, court dockets, DMV records, property records, and open-source intelligence to produce comprehensive investigative reports.
  • Initiate, coordinate and document witness and victim contacts by phone, email and in-person interview; prepare detailed interview summaries that capture timelines, statements, inconsistencies and potential leads for prosecuting attorneys.
  • Assist with scene visits and on-site evidence documentation, photographing and cataloguing exhibits, documenting physical layouts, and preparing initial scene reports to support both investigative follow-up and courtroom presentation.
  • Serve subpoenas and legal notices under direction, track service attempts, obtain return-of-service documentation, and escalate non-compliance issues to supervisors for authorized enforcement action.
  • Prepare clear, trial-ready case packages and exhibit lists for arraignments, pre-trial conferences, motions, and trials; coordinate delivery of physical and digital exhibits to courtrooms and preserve chain-of-custody documentation.
  • Draft affidavits, witness contact logs, investigative memoranda and declarations under attorney guidance, ensuring legal sufficiency and chronological clarity in all written materials submitted to the court.
  • Support controlled surveillance operations by coordinating logistics, maintaining surveillance logs, operating non-confrontational observation assignments and preparing detailed surveillance reports for investigators.
  • Retrieve, review and summarize discovery materials — including police bodycam, dashcam and CCTV footage — identifying relevant clips and time codes for disclosure and evidentiary review.
  • Liaise with law enforcement agencies, medical examiners, forensic labs and social service providers to request records, coordinate interviews, and expedite evidence processing while ensuring appropriate legal authorizations are obtained.
  • Maintain and audit evidence storage and property room inventories; label, secure, and transfer exhibits following agency policies and legal requirements to maintain unbroken chain of custody.
  • Conduct social media and internet investigations using open-source investigative techniques to corroborate witness statements, identify additional witnesses, locate suspects or assets, and preserve web-based evidence.
  • Assist in preparation of court calendars, coordinate witness availability, schedule interviews, and manage travel logistics for witnesses and staff for hearings, depositions and other legal proceedings.
  • Monitor case status, prepare status updates and case trackers for attorneys, and escalate time-sensitive deadlines such as statute of limitations, filing deadlines and evidence preservation notices.
  • Execute records requests, subpoenas duces tecum and FOIA requests; track responses, follow up on incomplete returns, and summarize returned documentation for attorney review.
  • Provide courtroom support by preparing exhibits for admission, marking evidence, coordinating witness arrival and delivering witness summaries and timelines to attorneys during trials.
  • Create detailed investigative timelines, maps and visual aids that synthesize complex facts, dates and relationships for use in case strategy meetings and courtroom presentations.
  • Support digital evidence handling by coordinating forensic extractions with IT/forensic vendors, maintaining forensic intake logs, and facilitating secure transfer of electronic devices and data images for analysis.
  • Manage routine administrative functions such as data entry in case management systems, drafting correspondence, maintaining contact databases, and ensuring accurate billing or timekeeping for investigative activities.
  • Assist attorneys and senior investigators in legal research related to charges, statutes, case law and procedure to inform investigative priorities and identify legal constraints on investigatory actions.
  • Identify and recommend investigative leads and resource allocation to supervising investigators, contributing context and prioritized action plans based on document review, interviews and records analysis.
  • Participate in debriefs, case reviews and training sessions; document lessons learned and update standard operating procedures to improve investigative workflows and evidence handling practices.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.
  • Provide cross-training to new staff on evidence handling, database searching and case management protocols.
  • Respond to public inquiries and assist community outreach efforts related to victim-witness services or public information requests.
  • Assist with procurement and maintenance of investigative equipment (cameras, recording devices, evidence kits) and coordinate vendor interactions for forensic services.
  • Maintain confidentiality and compliance with privacy laws and agency policies when handling sensitive case information.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Case management systems (CMS) proficiency: experience maintaining cases and documenting investigations in systems such as IAPro, Odyssey, EnCase, Tracker, or agency-specific databases.
  • Legal documentation and technical writing: drafting affidavits, investigative reports, witness summaries, subpoenas and court-ready memoranda with correct legal terminology and citation.
  • Evidence collection & chain-of-custody protocols: knowledge of evidence packaging, labeling, storage procedures and audit processes to preserve admissibility.
  • Open-source intelligence (OSINT) and social media investigations: using tools and methodologies to capture, preserve and analyze online content and metadata.
  • Records retrieval and public records searching: working with court clerks, DMV, property and criminal history databases, NCIC/NCIS, and other public record repositories.
  • Digital evidence handling: basic understanding of forensic imaging, mobile device extraction coordination and secure transfer of digital artifacts to forensic labs.
  • Surveillance documentation: maintaining detailed observation logs, time-stamped notes, photography and video documentation standards.
  • Microsoft Office suite and document management systems: advanced Word (pleadings and exhibits), Excel (timelines and trackers), PowerPoint (trial visuals) and Adobe Acrobat (redactions).
  • Evidence/photo/video processing and basic multimedia editing for trial presentation: exporting clips, creating compilations and marking exhibits.
  • Knowledge of subpoena processes, service procedures and FOIA/records request workflows.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional written communication and report-writing skills suitable for legal audiences and courtroom presentation.
  • Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to interact empathetically with victims and witnesses while maintaining professional boundaries.
  • Critical thinking and analytical reasoning to synthesize disparate pieces of information into logical investigative leads and case strategies.
  • High attention to detail and methodical organizational ability to manage voluminous case documents and strict deadlines.
  • Time management and prioritization in high-volume or high-stakes caseload environments.
  • Discretion, integrity and the ability to handle confidential and sensitive information in compliance with legal and ethical standards.
  • Resilience and composure under pressure, including exposure to stressful or traumatic case materials.
  • Collaborative mindset to coordinate effectively with attorneys, law enforcement partners and external agencies.
  • Problem-solving orientation with the initiative to identify gaps in evidence and propose actionable next steps.
  • Cultural competency and sensitivity when engaging with diverse communities and victims of crime.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or GED; equivalent combination of relevant experience and training will be considered.

Preferred Education:

  • Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, Paralegal Studies, Forensic Science, Psychology, Sociology, or a related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Criminal Justice
  • Paralegal / Legal Studies
  • Forensic Science
  • Social Work
  • Criminology
  • Information/Computer Science (for digital evidence specialties)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 1–4 years of investigative support, law enforcement, paralegal, victim/witness advocacy, or legal administrative experience.

Preferred:

  • 2–5+ years supporting criminal investigations, prosecutorial offices, law enforcement agencies, or working as a paralegal in criminal practice, including demonstrated experience with evidence handling, witness interviews, and case management systems.
Explore More Careers