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Deputy Prosecutor

LaGrange County
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Incumbent serves as Deputy Prosecutor for the LaGrange County Prosecutor’s Office, responsible for prosecution of law offenders and for provision of legal services to County residents as required by statute and assigned by the Prosecutor.

 

DUTIES

  • Represents citizens of LaGrange County and the State of Indiana for prosecution of criminal law offenders, prosecution of juvenile offenders, establishment of paternity, establishment of child support orders, and the collection & enforcement of child support orders.  All said primary duties include the investigation and preparation of court cases and presentation of cases before the court.
  • Supervises assigned staff, including planning/delegating work assignments and special projects, and informing supervisor and staff of organizational developments.
  • Reviews information and conducts case investigations in preparing chargers, including interviewing law enforcement personnel, witnesses & victims, reviewing search warrants & arrest reports, taking depositions, and preparing affidavits and charging information.
  • Prepares for hearings and/or trials, including filing documents, reviewing case law, preparing witness lists, preparing for jury selection, preparing arguments, and organizing trial exhibits.  Researches and analyzes data from various sources in developing cases, such as court records and financial documents.
  • Appears in court for a variety of case-related proceedings, including, but not limited to, pre-trial conferences, paternity trials, civil contempt proceedings, change of pleas, initial hearings, probation violation hearings, sentence modification hearings, sentencing, suppression hearings, post-conviction hearings, and jury & bench trials.
  • Negotiates pleas and/or prepares & files responses to pleadings and motions made by defendants and/or their attorney.
  • Prepares correspondence and various legal documents, including discovery responses, subpoenas, search warrants, and restitution reports/contacts.
  • Continually researches changes and new developments in legal procedures and criminal & civil law.  Monitors procedures & practices of area law-enforcement agencies, advising them in policy & procedural updates/changes as appropriate.
  • Periodically attends professional education workshops and training seminars as needed.
  • Serves on 24-hour call, responding to legal inquiries, providing search warrants and assisting at crime scenes as needed.
  • Performs additional duties as assigned and/or required by law.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

  • Doctor of Jurisprudence with license to practice law in the State of Indiana.  Must be an active member in good standing with the Indiana Bar Association.
  • Complete knowledge of and ability to apply federal, state, and local laws and ordinances to a variety of individual situations and circumstances for the preparation and prosecution of cases before the court.
  • Complete knowledge of standard legal procedures and practices of LaGrange County Courts, ability to effectively prepare and argue cases before the court.
  • Working knowledge of standard office procedures and computer software programs used by the Prosecutor’s Office, with ability to apply such knowledge to a variety of interrelated processes, tasks, and operations.
  • Working knowledge of standard English grammar, spelling and punctuation, ability to prepare court/legal documents and detailed written reports as required.
  • Ability to operate standard office equipment, such as telephone, computer, transcriber/Dictaphone, copier, and fax machine.
  • Ability to conduct legal research and interview and/or investigate offenders, victims, witnesses, crime scenes, and other persons/areas as individual cases demand.
  • Ability to supervise personnel, including planning/delegating work assignments and special projects, and informing supervisor and staff of organizational developments.
  • Ability to effectively communicate, orally and in writing, with colleagues, other County departments, Courts, law enforcement personnel, and the public, including being sensitive to professional ethics, gender, cultural diversities and disabilities.
  • Ability to provide public access to or maintain confidentiality of department information and records according to state requirements.
  • Ability to comply with all employer and department policies and work rules, including, but not limited to, attendance, safety, drug-free workplace, and personal conduct.
  • Ability to competently serve the public with diplomacy and respect, including occasional encounters with hostile/argumentative persons.
  • Ability to understand, memorize, retain and carry out oral and written instructions.
  • Ability to compare or observe similarities and differences between data, people, or things.
  • Ability to compile, analyze, and evaluate data, make determinations, and present findings in oral or written form.
  • Ability to identify steps necessary to reach objectives, take action with a minimum of prompting, and reach rapid and sound decisions.
  • Ability to work independently and with other in a team environment, often amidst frequent distractions and interruptions, under pressure from formal schedules, deadlines, and high-volume operations.
  • Ability to apply knowledge of people/locations, plan/layout assigned work projects, and make simple arithmetic additions/subtractions.
  • Ability to regularly work extended hours and/or weekends, occasionally work evenings, and occasionally travel out of town for court hearings, but not overnight.
  • Ability to serve on 24-hour call, responding to legal inquiries, providing search warrants and assisting at crime scenes as needed.

 

DIFFICULTY OF WORK

  • Incumbent applies a broad scope of rules and regulations in developing effective approaches for prosecution of criminal offenders in LaGrange County.
  • Incumbent exercises independent judgement in adapting basic guidelines and accepted procedures to meet specific situations and fit highly complex or contradictory circumstances.

RESPONSIBILITY

Incumbent assures proper enforcement of criminal laws and legal requirements for LaGrange County, including working with or investigating members of the public, and preparing and arguing cases before the court.  Objectives of incumbent’s work are known, with highly sensitive and/or unusual cases discussed with Prosecutor as needed.  Work is periodically reviewed for attainment of objectives, soundness of judgement, and compliance with applicable practices, policies and legal requirements.

 

PERSONAL WORK RELATIONSHIPS

  • Incumbent maintains frequent contact with co-workers, other County departments, courts, law enforcement personnel, attorneys, victims, witnesses, and the public for purposes of preparing and arguing cases before the court, providing counsel, and resolving problems.
  • Incumbent is deputized by and reports directly to the duly elected Prosecutor of the 35th Judicial Circuit of the State of Indiana whose Office is authorized by and created by the Constitution of the State of Indiana.

 

PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

  • Incumbent performs duties in the standard office environment and in a courtroom, involving sitting, walking at will, lifting/carrying objects weighing under 25 lbs., pushing/pulling objects, bending, reaching, close vision, depth perception, speaking clearly, hearing sounds/communication and handling/grasping/fingering objects.
  • Incumbent maintains considerable contact with victims and defendants and may be exposed to hostile/argumentative individuals and/or physical violence.
  • Incumbent regularly works extended hours or weekends hours, occasionally works evenings, and may travel out of town for court hearings, but no overnight.

Incumbent regularly responds to emergencies on a 24-hour basis.