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Description JOB SUMMARY:

Serves as the Mental Health Attorney in the judicial district for cases where mental health is driving force behind criminal behavior, including but not limited to staffing the competency docket. Serves County Attorney functions in conducting civil commitments, and seeking guardianships and conservatorships. Serves as creator and manager of programs to divert mental health cases out of the criminal justice system, including working with the Multi-Agency Collaborative (MAC) and the Bridges Liaisons. Serves as a legal advisor to law enforcement personnel providing legal advice during investigations of cases involving serious mental health issues. Trains law enforcement agencies on various legal issues ranging from report writing to specialized investigations.

Essential Duties ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

(The following duty statements are illustrative of the essential functions of the job and do not include other non-essential or marginal duties that may be required. Mesa County reserves the right to modify or change the duties or essential functions of this job at any time. All responsibilities may not be performed by all incumbents.)

Staff s the competency docket. This attorney will work with the court and public defenders to design the competency docket, and staff it. That may include team meetings to problem solve cases, court appearances and hearing on issues related to competency.

Assist other Deputy District and County Attorneys in navigating the competency statutes, and serving as a resource on our available community resources to address mental health and behavior health issues.

Perform functions on behalf of the County Attorney s Office to pursue civil commitments, when appropriate, as well as pursuing guardianship and conservatorship appointments, as needed.

Work to design programs with the MAC, Bridges and service providers to find solutions outside the criminal justice system for people whose driving criminogenic force is mental and behavior health needs.

Handle civil forfeiture of nuisance cases.

Do appellate work for the DA s Office, as time permits.

Researches legal issues involved in mental health and behavior health matters.

Serves as legal advisor to law enforcement and trains law enforcement personnel in various legal issues pertaining to the mental health caseload ranging from co-responders, report writing to specialized investigations involving this population.

Serves on executive boards and participates in appropriate task forces. Serves on promotional review boards as requested.

Presents facts to support appropriateness of a sentence in court; researches and presents laws to support the legality of a sentence; obtains victim impact statements and accumulates evidence to support restitution to the victim

Analyzes individual cases for appropriateness of bond; argues and presents facts and law in support of bond; argues and presents law to forfeit bond in favor of the State when appropriate; argues law and facts in support of revocation of bond when appropriate; prepares legal pleadings and documents appropriate for court action in all areas, as it relates to mental health and behavioral health matters.

Meets with judges, law enforcement, probation, and the general public to identify and, where possible, resolve judicial system problems as it relates to mental health and behavioral health matters.

Attends related ongoing continuing education opportunities.

Oral and written communications must be clear and effective.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Demonstrate professionalism, composure, and appropriate interpersonal skills during performance of tasks, duties and responsibilities that take place in this adversarial system.

This adversarial system includes contentious dealings (in person, by phone, electronically, or by written correspondence) with opposing counsel, upset indiv duals that may be defendants, victims, witnesses, law enforcement, or other members of the public, often resulting in mental and physical stresses.

Demonstrate professionalism, composure, and appropriate interpersonal skills in reviewing and/or discussing information pertaining to criminal cases. These criminal cases require frequent exposure to assaults and murders, including, but not limited to, physical assaults, verbal abuse, sexual assaults (upon adults and children), and child abuse. The discovery in the cases will also require frequent exposure to gruesome, disturbing, and/or sexually explicit photographs, images and recordings.

Minimum Requirements MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

Education and Experience:

Juris Doctorate. Five (5) years of related experience preferred,