District Attorney Investigator I/II

Salary : $101,887.46 - $172,158.33 Annually
Location : Ventura and may require travel in-county, out-of-county, or out-of state, CA
Job Type: Full-Time Regular
Job Number: 0645DAO-26AB(JAL)
Department: District Attorney
Opening Date: 09/28/2026
Closing Date: Continuous

The Bureau of Investigation (BOI) employs 60 investigators who provide professional investigative support in criminal and civil matters to prosecutors handling cases in those areas and play a critical role in preparing cases for prosecution. The Bureau is staffed with a chief investigator, a deputy chief investigator, 3 commanders, 8 supervising district attorney investigators, district attorney investigators, and investigative assistants.

Investigators serving within the Bureau are highly experienced and trained sworn peace officers who have been recruited from law enforcement agencies throughout California. Bureau investigators are available 24 hours a day and utilize the most advanced equipment to complete their assignments. Investigators within the Bureau may be called upon by their colleagues throughout the state and have been recognized as experts in a wide range of investigations from homicide to complex white-collar fraud schemes.

The Bureau of Investigation has three divisions: the Major Crimes Division, the Major Fraud Division, and the Administrative Division. The Major Crimes Division includes units that investigate major crimes, homicides, sexual assaults, officer-involved shootings, and domestic violence. The Major Fraud Division investigates child exploitation, financial crimes, child abduction, real estate fraud, consumer and environmental protection cases, workers' compensation fraud, and automobile insurance fraud. The Administrative Division includes the Cyber Forensics Unit and Government Fraud Unit, and handles various responsibilities, including training, background investigations, internal investigations, public integrity investigations, recruitment, and policies and procedures.

BENEFITS/INCENTIVES

Ventura County offers an excellent compensation and benefits package that helps support healthy peace officers and an effective work-life balance.The salary range for this position is $101,887.46 to $172,158.33 annually, DOQ.

• General Salary increases (GSI) - 3.5% effective December 20, 2026, and December 19, 2027.
• Market-Based Adjustments (MBA) - 1.00% effective January 3, 2027, and 1.50% January 2, 2028.
• Educational Incentive - 2.5%, 3.5%, or 5% based on the completion of an associate's, bachelor's, or master's degree or, if qualified, for POST certification; plus other premium/incentive/bonus payments.
• Annual Leave - A candidate selected for this position will earn up to 160 hours of annual leave per year, increasing to 200 hours after 5 years of service.
• Deferred Compensation - Eligible to participate in the County's 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 Plan. This position is eligible for up to a 2.5% match on your 401(k) contributions.
• Health Plans - Biweekly contribution towards a flexible benefits program (including medical, dental, and vision insurance options).
• Wellness Program - Virtual fitness classes, wellness profile, health coaching, health club discounts and online health education with opportunities earn Wellthy Rewards.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - provides professional and confidential mental health counseling support for employees and their immediate family, if needed.
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Pre-tax benefit towards eligible medical, dental, and vision care expenses.
• Pension Plan - Participation in the County's defined benefit pension plan. If eligible, you may establish reciprocity with other public retirement systems such as CalPERS.
• Bilingual Incentive - Proficiency levels by exam are $1.38 per hour (Basic) and $2.81 per hour (Advanced).
• Holidays - 12 paid days per year and a scheduled floating holiday.
• Uniform Clothing Allowance - An allowance of $1,106 on November 1st of each year.
• Textbook and Tuition - Up to a maximum of $2,000 per fiscal year in accordance with the memorandum of agreement.

For more details regarding the benefits offered by Ventura County, click here:

The PositionUnder immediate to general supervision, depending on the level in the series, assists in obtaining, preserving, and reporting admissible evidence for presentation in cases prosecuted by the District Attorney's Office; performs difficult criminal and civil investigations for the District Attorney's Office, Sheriff's Office, Municipal Police Agencies, and the Grand Jury; and performs related work as required.

Distinguishing Characteristics:
District Attorney Investigator I incumbents are given assignments which allow them to train for the more difficult assignments performed by the District Attorney Investigator II incumbents.

District Attorney Investigator II differs from District Attorney Investigator III in that incumbents in the latter classification perform more difficult investigations and act as lead persons.

NOTE: If appointed at the lower level, an incumbent may be promoted to the higher level without further exam upon meeting the minimum requirements, demonstrating satisfactory performance, and in accordance with the business needs of the department.

APPROXIMATE SALARIES
District Attorney Investigator I: $101,887.46 - $151,215.31 annually
District Attorney Investigator II: $122,797.76 - $172,158.33 annually

These salary amounts will be adjusted due to the 3.5% General Salary Increase (GSI) effective December 20, 2026 and the 1.0% Market-Based Adjustment (MBA) effective January 3, 2027.

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-term), Intermittent, and Extra Help vacancies within the District Attorney's Office. There are currently three (3) Regular, full-time vacancies.

District Attorney Investigators are represented by the Ventura County Deputy Sheriffs' Association (VCDSA) and are eligible for overtime compensation.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:
OPENING DATE: Monday, September 28, 2026
CLOSING DATE: Continuous and may close at any time; therefore, the schedule for the remainder of the process will depend upon when we receive a sufficient number of qualified applications to meet business needs.
APPLICATION REVIEW: Applications will be reviewed on a bi-weekly basis beginning the week of October 5, 2026.
Examples Of Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:
District Attorney Investigator I

• Conducts criminal, civil, and special investigations of average difficulty for the District Attorney's Office, Sheriff's Office, Municipal Police Agencies, and the Grand Jury; gathers, preserves, and analyzes evidence and prepares reports.
• Conducts field investigations, surveillances; searches crime scenes; interviews and interrogates complainants, suspects, witnesses, and other persons to obtain statements, documents, and related factual evidence.
• Assists attorneys in the preparation and presentation of cases during court or Grand Jury proceedings. Serves subpoenas; coordinates the appearance of witnesses at trial and explains court procedures.
• Testifies in court and other legal proceedings regarding evidence and investigative findings.
• Investigates the personal background of complainants, suspects, witnesses, and employee applicants.
• Arrests suspected criminals; writes and serves search/arrest warrants, and other court processes.
• Operates technical investigative equipment such as audio recorders, cameras, and electronic sound equipment.
• Acts as a liaison and coordinates investigative activities with law enforcement officers from various agencies.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

District-Attorney Investigator II
This level in the series may be assigned tasks performed by the District Attorney Investigator I in addition to the following:

• May plan and conduct more difficult and complex criminal, civil and special investigations for the District Attorney's Office, Sheriff’s Department, Municipal Police Agencies the Grand Jury; gathers, preserves, and analyzes evidence and prepares reports.

Typical Qualifications

These are minimum entrance requirements to the examination process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE:
District Attorney Investigator I
Some experience in criminal investigation which has led to the acquisition of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. The required knowledge, skills and abilities can be obtained by completion of a Bachelor's degree in criminal justice or a related field from an accredited college or university; and at least one (1) year of criminal investigation experience in a government law enforcement agency. Additional investigative experience in a government law enforcement agency may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis up to a maximum of four (4) years.

District Attorney Investigator II
Considerable experience in criminal investigation which has led to the acquisition of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. The required knowledge, skills and abilities can be obtained by completion of a Bachelor's degree in criminal justice or a related field from an accredited college or university; formal training in the California Rules of Evidence and in evidence accumulation and presentation at trial and at least two (2) years of criminal investigation experience in a government law enforcement agency. Additional investigative experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis, up to a maximum of four (4) years.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Candidates must:

• Be at least twenty-one (21) years of age at time of appointment as a District Attorney Investigator;
• Be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law;
• Possess and maintain a valid California driver license and POST certificate;
• Attach a legible copy of your Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, and/or Supervisory California P.O.S.T. certificate.

Supplemental Information:

• Must be willing to work at any of the District Attorney's Office locations throughout the County and must be able to work any shift including nights, weekends, and holidays, if needed.
• May be required to work under adverse conditions and must be prepared to successfully respond to unexpected and occasionally life-threatening events.
• Must have strength, endurance, and physical agility to restrain rebellious and/or violent offenders.

HIGHLY DESIRED:
Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Some (I) to considerable (II) knowledge of the: substantive and procedural California Criminal, Civil, and Juvenile laws, and the modern techniques and practices of criminal investigation; laws of arrest, search and seizure, warrant and subpoena service, rules of evidence, and the admissibility of confessions and witnesses' statements; functions and extent of authority of the District Attorney's Office; resources and techniques available in public and private criminal scientific laboratories and the latest medical-legal techniques in criminal investigation.

Some (I) to considerable (II) knowledge of: community-based policing and collaborative problem solving between community residents and law enforcement.

Skill and ability to: gather, analyze, correlate and evaluate observed facts and evidence; work effectively with co-workers, members of the public and members of other law enforcement and government agencies; to effectively communicate verbally and in writing.

Ability to: have accurate recall of investigated witnesses and situations; use good judgment and maintain a high level of mental alertness in the course of completing assigned work; establish and maintain effective relations with members of the Office, other agencies, the law enforcement community, and the public, including community policing, collaborative problem solving, and identifying/avoiding bias.

Knowledge and ability to: read and comprehend various written materials including legal documents.

Knowledge, skill and ability to: operate vehicles and electronic equipment.

Knowledge, skill and ability in: the use and care of firearms.

Recruitment Process

FINAL FILING DATE: This is a continuous recruitment and may close at any time; therefore, apply as soon as possible if you are interested. Your application must be r