Investigator (Fact & Mitigation)

About PJI

The Promise of Justice Initiative (PJI) is a New Orleans-based organization that stands at the forefront of the fight for the liberation, freedom, and autonomy of Black people and all those targeted and touched by the criminal legal system and mass incarceration.

PJI moves life-changing work:

Because racism and mass incarceration are entrenched and pervasive foes, PJI’s approach is multifaceted, including collective action, legislative advocacy, civil and criminal litigation, and reframing narrative discourse.

We challenge the notion that prisons keep us safe and that people with convictions should have no rights. We fight for freedom for people sentenced to die in prison. PJI blocks harmful legislation and pushes for dignity-advancing legislation. PJI partners on and co-strategizes social movement work with hundreds of currently incarcerated people. We advance the voices of survivors of violence and challenge the death penalty. Our work builds powerful authentic stories, pushes counter-narratives, and changes discourse.

The world that PJI pushes for is one where the legal system recognizes freedom and dignity as universal rights and embodies an ethos of transformation, restoration, and safety.

Summary of Position

PJI’s legal department has a tremendous track record of securing landmark wins and releases from prison for people sentenced to die in prison. The investigator (both fact and mitigation) is a critical component to building civil and criminal legal claims and developing the meaningful lived experience of our clients to enhance PJI’s criminal litigation work overall and to challenge the harmful discourse that drives policy in Louisiana.

Who We Are Looking For

This work is hard on every level. PJI optimistically and strategically fights for a better future and requires staff who are committed to one another and to people who are incarcerated or otherwise harmed by the criminal legal system.

PJI is committed to hiring smart, talented, skilled people who have directly experienced the issues that we fight against. People who are formerly incarcerated, survivors of violence, working class, LGBTQ+, and people of color, particularly Black, are all strongly encouraged to apply.

Individuals who are Louisiana natives or who are otherwise from rural communities in the South are encouraged to apply.

You will be a great fit if you are a skilled rapport builder, creative, thorough, persistent, organized, and a solid team player. The investigator will assist with the full scope of our legal work. The primary responsibility of the investigator is to interview clients and witnesses and assist in document requests, collection, review, and management across the criminal and civil litigation teams. The investigator also builds the biopsychosocial history and experience of our clients. Most of the work is with the criminal litigation team.

• This position is open to entry-level applicants; training will be provided if hired.

Responsibilities of the Position

• Locate and interview witnesses in the community
• Document all investigative actions in written memos and reports; write affidavits
• Gather records from courts, government agencies, attorneys, and other sources
• Meet with clients and witnesses to gather comprehensive personal histories, including family background, mental health, trauma, and other information.
• Conduct investigation with irregular hours under often challenging conditions
• Draft investigative plans in conjunction with supervisor attorneys
• Provide client, witness, and investigation support in hearings or depositions

Key Qualifications

• An understanding of issues bearing on criminal justice, social justice, racial justice, and wrongful convictions and, most importantly, the desire to learn more
• The willingness and ability, once trained, to knock on strangers’ doors unannounced and interview them about difficult topics
• Strong written and rapport-building skills
• Self-motivated, able to work independently and within teams
• The ability to communicate and work cooperatively with a wide range of people
• Superb organizational skills, including organizing and maintaining large case files
• Willingness and desire to travel for investigation.
• Commitment to upholding mitigation best practices as outlined in the ABA Guidelines for Mitigation Function of Defense Teams
• Valid driver’s license and reliable car

Exceptional candidates will be:

• Familiar with or have ties to Louisiana
• Able to demonstrate a commitment to racial and social justice
• Fluent in:
  • Using case-organizing master documents
  • Records collection and digesting
  • Interviewing clients and social history witnesses
  • Multi-generational investigations
  • Identifying signs and symptoms of mental health and cognitive impairments
  • Working with various experts, including mental health experts
  • Creating mitigation tools, such as genograms, family trees, and chronologies
  • Conducting social history research
  • Developing mitigation evidence to challenge the State’s case
• Familiar with the DSM-5-TR and the AAIDD Manual

Union representation: The National Organization of Legal Services Workers (NOLSW) represents eligible employees at PJI. This role is a bargaining unit position.

Deadline: Priority will be given to applications received by EOD January 17, 2025.