STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

DCJ Deputy Assistant State's Attorney

(Apprentice Prosecutor)

Recruitment #240131-2609DP-001

Introduction

The Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) is responsible for the investigation and prosecution of all criminal matters in the. It is an independent agency of the executive branch of state government, established under the Constitution of the State of Connecticut. The Division of Criminal Justice is composed of the Office of the Chief State's Attorney, located in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, and the Offices of the State's Attorneys for each of the thirteen Judicial Districts in the State of Connecticut.

We are recruiting for a full-time DCJ Deputy Assistant State's Attorney (DASA) OR Apprentice Prosecutor (AP) at the Office of the Chief State's Attorney in Rocky Hill, CT, with core hours of 8:00am - 5:00pm, Monday - Friday. *Salary Information: Starting salary for DCJ Deputy Assistant State's Attorney is $91,000 annually; Apprentice Prosecutor is paid at $43.58/hour.

ABOUT THIS POSITION:
This position will serve as the DCJ's Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor (TSRP).  The TSRP works with various state agencies as well as with the national TSRP Forum on impaired driving litigation, legislation, and traffic safety issues.  The TSRP is a member of the statewide Impaired Driving Task Force.  This position also involves training prosecutors and law enforcement on the policing and prosecution of impaired driving.  The TSRP assists other prosecutors in the field with vehicular homicides and impaired driving cases.  This is a federally funded position.  The position number is 4943.

THE ROLES:
A Prosecutor is a high public official, who is ethically, honor, and duty bound to seek impartial justice for the guilty as well as the innocent and who, in doing so, is beholden to the law, which demands that no passions, prejudice or resentment be brought to bear in its faithful enforcement.  Through the lens of justice, prosecutors:
  • Have an immense ability to positively impact the criminal justice system.
  • Have the discretion to choose who to charge, what to charge them with, and determine the number and severity of the charges.
AS A DASA:
The incumbent, at the time of appointment, must be an attorney at law and must be a member of the Connecticut Bar in good standing.  Prior to employment, candidates will be required to complete a background check, and appointment to this position is made by the Criminal Justice Commission. The incumbent may be required to travel in the course of their daily work.  

AS AN APPRENTICE PROSECUTOR:
Any student of an accredited law school who is within five months of graduation from such law school and who is a certified legal intern pursuant to the rules of the Superior Court is eligible to be appointed as an Apprentice Prosecutor by the Criminal Justice Commission and shall advance to the position of Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney upon gaining admission to the Connecticut bar within one year of the date of graduation from such law school.  Prior to employment, incumbents will be required to complete a background check. The incumbent may be required to travel in the course of their daily work.  

ABOUT DCJ:
The DCJ and its employees are committed to the fair and equal administration of justice in Connecticut. To this end, the Division acknowledges its duty to investigate and prosecute matters within its jurisdiction diligently, ethically and impartially, honoring its constitutional and common law foundations. By ensuring that the criminal laws of the State of Connecticut are enforced fairly and constitutionally, the Division honors the rule of law upon which our nation is founded.  Accomplishing this mission depends upon skill, creativity, and constructive interaction of all Division employees with the law enforcement community and advocacy in the highest traditions of the Office of State's Attorney, the first public prosecutor in America.

NOTES:  Incumbents will be required to complete a background check, and appointment to this position is made by the Criminal Justice Commission.  

Selection Plan

For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.

NOTE: Individuals invited to interview may be required to submit additional documentation, which supports their qualifications for this position. These documents may include: writing samples, performance reviews, supervisory references, college transcripts, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.

In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.  Candidates invited to interview may be required to submit additional documentation which supports their qualification(s) for this position, such as a resume, performance reviews, supervisory references, college transcripts, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.

All communication with applicants will be through the JobAps system, so applicants are encouraged to check for updates to their JobAps portal account.  Please ensure that you are utilizing the correct email address for notices to be sent to you from the JobAps system.  Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.

All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period.  It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception.  Requests should be made to DCJ.HR@ct.gov.

Questions about this position should be directed to the hiring agency's human resources office: DCJ.HR@ct.gov, 860-258-5800.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Division of Criminal Justice this class is accountable for receiving training and representing the interests of the state in prosecution of assigned criminal and motor vehicle cases and infractions.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

  • Reviews all documentation relative to assigned criminal cases and infractions and directs supplemental or further investigation; 
  • Prepares cases for arraignment, selecting appropriate charges, preparing original statement of facts; 
  • Reviews outstanding defense motions and prepares responses or objections as appropriate; 
  • Interviews witnesses and victims; 
  • Evaluates strengths and weaknesses of case in light of above findings; 
  • Initiates and completes related legal research; 
  • Responsible for plea negotiation with defense attorneys; 
  • Conducts pre-trial conferences; 
  • Conducts jury selection; 
  • Tries cases before juries, three-judge panels, single judge or magistrate; 
  • Reviews applications for arrest warrants and, upon approval, signs and presents to presiding judge for final review and signature; 
  • Maintains liaison with and functions as resource to state and local police; 
  • Advises victims of crimes as to their rights and directs them to the appropriate supportive agencies; 
  • Defends petitions of habeas corpus including preparation of pleadings, argument of motions, and trial of action; 
  • If a member of the Appellate Unit, defends appeals brought by convicted defendants before the Appellate Court and Supreme Court; 
  • May prepare appellate material for submission to Chief State's Attorney's Office after conviction; 
  • May review applications for search and seizure warrants; 
  • Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

  • Knowledge of
    • and ability to interpret and apply relevant state and federal criminal law;
    • criminal law and legal process, legal principles and practice;
    • the statutory authority, operation and administration of the Division of Criminal Justice; 
  • Considerable
    • interpersonal skills; 
    • negotiating skills; 
    • trial and counseling skills; 
    • oral and written communication skills; 
  • Considerable ability to analyze legal problems, present statements of fact, law and argument; 
  • Ability to write legal briefs and supporting documentation.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Deputy Assistant State's Attorney shall, at the time of appointment be an attorney at law with membership in good standing with the Connecticut Bar. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

Any student of an accredited law school who is within five (5) months of graduation from such law school and who is a certified legal intern pursuant to the rules of the Superior Court of the State of Connecticut, shall be considered an Apprentice Prosecutor. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates with the following experience are preferred:
  • Trial experience in impaired driving or vehicular homicide cases
  • Teaching or training experience
  • Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with state and federal agencies
  • Considerable experience with legislative procedures
  • Extensive legal research and writing experience

  • Conclusion

    AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

    The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

    APPOINTMENT

    Prior to appointment to the Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney job class, Apprentice Prosecutor’s must be admitted to the Connecticut Bar within one (1) year of graduation from an accredited law school.

    ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

    As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.