what does a state attorney investigator do

An Investigator with the State Attorney’s Office is responsible for investigatory work, and conducting criminal investigations into felony and misdemeanor cases.

Full Answer

What does a lawyer’s investigator do?

These investigators analyze case law, evidence and discovery materials to find information that will help their firm win a case.

What does a state's attorney do?

A State's Attorney, along with a phalanx of Assistant State's Attorneys, prosecutes criminal and civil cases for the people. Prosecuting attorneys are the voice of the people in America's courtrooms, enforcing the law and representing the duly elected government at all levels.

What is the role of the investigating agency in a case?

The investigators at these agencies investigate the crime and obtain evidence, and help prosecutors understand the details of the case. The prosecutor may work with just one agency but, many times, several investigating agencies are involved.

What does a public defense investigator do?

Instead of taking on private clients, a public defense investigator works on cases given to public defenders. These are attorneys who represent clients who cannot afford private legal representation. It is the job of the investigator to work with the public defender.

What's the difference between a detective and an investigator?

The principal difference between these two careers is simply the type of cases they investigate. Detectives usually handle homicide and missing persons cases, while investigators might conduct an investigation on anything from fraud to terrorism.

What are the duties of an investigator?

What responsibilities does the investigator have?Identifying lines of enquiry​Securing material​Recording information ​Producing a report​Giving evidence​Retaining records​FIM considerations.

What is the role of the investigators when working with the prosecutor?

Locates and interviews suspected persons, witnesses, employers, representatives of business and governmental organizations and other individuals, and evaluates their testimony. Gathers, preserves and reports facts, statements or affidavits and other evidence for use in criminal prosecution.

What does the US attorney general investigate?

AGs investigate and bring actions under their states' respective unfair, deceptive, and abusive practices laws (“UDAP laws”). UDAP laws tend to broadly prohibit “deceptive” or “unconscionable” acts against consumers.

What are the four objectives of an investigator?

2. What are four other objectives of investigation? The four additional objectives of an investigation are establish that a crime was actually committed, identify and apprehend the suspect(s), recover stolen property, and assist in the prosecution of the person(s) charged with the crime.

What skills are needed to be an investigator?

Criminal Investigator Skills and QualificationsGood communication and interview skills. ... Ability to use various forms of equipment or technology. ... Thorough knowledge of the law. ... Honesty and good ethics. ... Critical thinking, deductive reasoning, social perceptiveness and problem-solving skills.

Can a prosecutor investigate a crime?

Prosecutors shall perform an active role in criminal proceedings, including institution of prosecution and, where authorized by law or consistent with local practice, in the investigation of crime, supervision over the legality of these investigations, supervision of the execution of court decisions and the exercise of ...

What are the things that the investigator must do to best prepare for a jury trial?

The investigator should spend some time, a head of the trial, preparing to be a witness by reviewing the evidence and reports from the case in trial. By reviewing these materials, the investigator's memory of the crime are refreshed, which in turn ensures that testimony on the stand is well done.

Can an investigator be a witness?

Locating and Interviewing Witnesses All licensed private investigators can interview a witness and secure the statement in order to be admitted in court proceeding. Private Investigators have extensive legal experience to secure witness statements.

Why would I get a letter from the Department of Justice?

Are You A Target Or Are You A Subject? The Department of Justice customarily sends target letters to individuals who are the target of a grand jury investigation and to those who are the subject of a grand jury investigation.

What is the job of an Attorney General?

The primary responsibility of the Attorney-General is to protect, preserve and promote the rule of law.

Why do prosecutors sometimes choose not to prosecute criminal cases?

Prosecutors may decline to press charges because they think it unlikely that a conviction will result. No matter what the prosecutor's personal feelings about the case, the prosecutor needs legally admissible evidence sufficient to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

What is the job of a criminal prosecutor?

Criminal prosecutions are the chief duty of most State's Attorney offices. In many states, such as Michigan, criminal prosecutions follow a predetermined series of steps [source: Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan ]. First, police file a warrant or charging request with the State's Attorney following an investigation.

How are state attorneys elected?

In general, State's Attorneys are elected by the people they represent. Their duties are spelled out in the laws of the local governments they represent, and they're held accountable by the voters for how well they do their jobs and how well their performance matches up with the local politics of the area. But a State's Attorney hardly ever does ...

How do police arrest a suspect?

First, police file a warrant or charging request with the State's Attorney following an investigation. Attorneys review the request and may decide to issue a warrant, which allows the police to arrest the suspect. An arraignment in court follows, at which the suspect is formally charged with a crime and enters a plea.

How many states have grand jury indictments?

About half the 50 states use grand jury indictments in criminal prosecutions. Grand juries hear cases brought by State's Attorneys, and only the evidence and witnesses presented by the State's Attorney are considered.

What is a Commonwealth's Attorney?

States that refer to themselves as commonwealths, such as Virginia and Kentucky, refer to them as Commonwealth's Attorneys [source: Commonwealth's Attorneys Services Council ]. State's Attorneys generally represent a defined geographic area, such as a county, judicial district or judicial circuit. These generally hold the title ...

What is a prosecutor?

A State's Attorney is the most common term for a prosecutor, someone who represents the people in criminal and civil legal matters. But while the most iconic image of a State's Attorney is ...

What happens before a trial?

Before a trial takes place, the process of discovery takes place, at which the State's Attorney and the defense attorney share information they intend to introduce as evidence at trial.

What is the purpose of the Court Investigative Division?

The Court Investigative Divisionrenders assistance to felony and misdemeanor prosecutions at the intake stage and in case preparation for trial. The investigators act as liaisons between prosecutors and other law enforcement agencies and also assist prosecutors during trial. Qualifications.

What is the contact number for a legal internship?

Legal Internships. Contact Us (239) 533-1000 . Investigators. As the chief law enforcement officer of this jurisdiction, charged with the duty to see that laws are fairly enforced, the State Attorney has the responsibility to investigate certain illegal activities throughout the Circuit.

What Does an Attorney General Investigator Do?

An attorney general investigator works for a state or national attorney general's office. In this position, you investigate criminal activity and collect evidence that attorneys can use to prosecute suspected criminals. Your duties can vary from case to case. An attorney general investigator may collect audio, video, or images to use as evidence.

How to Become an Attorney General Investigator

The qualifications that you need to become an attorney general investigator vary, but may include a degree or training, investigative skills, and experience. Academic requirements vary by state.

What is a district attorney investigator?

A district attorney investigator carries out investigations under the jurisdiction of the district attorney's office. District attorney investigators investigate felony and misdemeanor offenses. Also known as a county detective in some states.

What are the duties of a district attorney?

District Attorney Investigator Responsibilities: 1 Investigating cases assigned by district attorney independently or as part of a team. 2 Collaborating with district attorney's office attorneys to evaluate and prepare cases for court. 3 Documenting, reviewing and assessing information. 4 Serving subpoenas, show cause orders and summonses, executing search and arrest warrants, and locating witnesses. 5 Arranging extradition of relevant parties. 6 Interviewing, questioning and taking statements from suspects and witnesses. 7 Preparing, reviewing, evaluating reports. 8 Advising Chief District Attorney Investigator on course of action. 9 Delivering testimony in court. 10 Collaborating with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. 11 Representing District Attorney's Office in meetings and at conferences.

What is the job of a criminal investigator?

In the Federal Government, there are agencies that employ criminal investigators to collect and provide information to the United States Attorneys in the respective district. You may already know some of the agencies, such as: The investigators at these agencies investigate the crime and obtain evidence, ...

Is testimony of an eyewitness to a crime considered direct evidence?

Testimony of an eyewitness to a crime would be considered direct evidence because the person actually saw the crime. Testimony related to something that happened before or after the crime would be considered circumstantial.

What is the relationship between an attorney and an investigator?

The relationship between attorney and investigator is critical. Not only the fate of the case, but the reputations, careers and futures of both lawyer and investigator can hinge on the most seemingly insignificant acts or omissions.

What happens if an attorney becomes a fact witness?

If an attorney becomes a fact witness in his own case, he may be required to resign as counsel. While conversations between an attorney and his clients, and, to a lesser extent, clients’ “agents” may be privileged, interviews of witnesses or other third parties by the lawyer are not.

What is the meaning of "a lawyer shall proceed as is reasonably necessary in the best interest of the organization"?

“If a lawyer for an organization knows that an officer, employee or other person associated with the organization is engaged in action, intends to act or refuses to act… [In] violation of law which reasonably might be imputed to the organization, and is likely to result in substantial injury to the organization, then the lawyer shall proceed as is reasonably necessary in the best interest of the organization.”

Where can witnesses be located?

Investigations today almost invariably extend beyond the borders of one particular state. Witnesses or parties may be located anywhere, their mobility abetted by cell phones that can be carried, along with their phone numbers, from state to state, further complicating the one or two-party consent rules.

Does retaining outside assistance mean the lawyer abdicates responsibility?

Retaining this outside assistance, however, does not mean that the lawyer abdicates responsibility for how the investigation is handled. Lawyers have ethical and even legal responsibility for the actions of those they retain, especially investigators. The nature of investigative work, particularly the ever-shifting boundaries ...

Is it ethical to work with investigators?

Updated: June 09, 2020. For attorneys working with investigators, there are still ethical and even legal responsibilities for the actions of those they retain to help with a case.

What is legal investigator?

Legal investigators work for law firms by helping attorneys get their cases and evidence ready for trial. These investigators analyze case law, evidence and discovery materials to find information that will help their firm win a case. To be an investigator, you must not only be skilled at finding and analyzing information, ...

How much does it cost to become a legal investigator?

The requirements include being employed by a law firm or investigative agency, five years of full-time legal investigation experience, passing a Certified Legal Investigator (CLI) examination and paying a fee of ​ $200 ​ for members or ​ $300 ​ for non-members.

How much does a private investigator make?

In 2019, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the median annual private detective salary as ​ $50,510 ​, but a legal investigator may make more.

Do legal investigators work as lawyers?

Some legal investigators start out as law school graduates and may even work as a lawyer for awhile in order to understand the field better. Others may start out as paralegals, while still others may get bachelor degrees in journalism or criminal justice and proceed from there.

What does an investigator do for an attorney?

Beyond searching for and gathering evidence, an investigator will help the attorney organize it. A public defender investigator may help the attorney prepare legal documents, such as subpoenas. The investigator also must carefully document whatever evidence he finds, allowing an attorney to effectively use it in court.

What is a public defense investigator?

These are attorneys who represent clients who cannot afford private legal representation. It is the job of the investigator to work with the public defender. The investigator may get some direction from the public defender, but he is largely responsible for finding the evidence the defender needs. Unlike a private practice, the investigator and the attorney do not receive their compensation from the defendant. They are both paid by the government.

How much do federal investigators make?

Investigators working in the federal executive branch earned the most. The average annual salary for federal detectives and criminal investigators was $96,680.

What does the federal government do with public defenders?

The federal government also hires public defender investigators. Some states sponsor trainee programs for aspiring investigators who wish to work in public service. The training uses a combination of classroom instruction and practical experience. Classes cover firearms, witness interviewing, and criminal investigation techniques.

How many years of experience do public defenders have?

In the California county of San Bernardino, according to a state website, most public defender investigators have 21 or more years of experience. In addition to their legal experience, most investigators have experience with court testimony.

Who is responsible for finding evidence?

The investigator may get some direction from the public defender, but he is largely responsible for finding the evidence the defender needs. Unlike a private practice, the investigator and the attorney do not receive their compensation from the defendant. They are both paid by the government.

Do public defender investigators have experience?

As prior official witnesses for a defense or prosecution, investigators are familiar with this aspect of a court proceeding. Public defender investigators know what types of witnesses are appropriate for certain cases.