The Center for Criminal Legal System Research (CCLSR) is seeking a Violent Crime Cold Case Legal Specialist for the Court Systems Research Program. The successful candidate will support training and technical assistance for projects related to violent cold case crime response and the application of effective litigation strategies including addressing advanced forensic DNA testing in court to support resolving cold case crimes through sustainable policy and practice.
This position will enhance 1) collaboration between CCLSR and the Center for Forensic Science Advancement and Application, 2) the Court Systems Research Program's primary objectives and 3) capacity for the Investigative Sciences Program to pursue our functional core area of training and technical assistance within the criminal legal system. Specifically, this position supports our focus areas of 1) violent crime response to include homicides and sexual assaults, 2) evidence-based strategies that address the implementation of advanced forensic technologies to support investigations and prosecutions specific to violent crime, and 3) the implementation of national recommendations into policy that supports criminal justice objectives and improves community safety.
The successful candidate will primarily support the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)-supported Forensics Programs Training and Technical Assistance (Forensics TTA) project and the BJA-supported National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Training and Technical Assistance (SAKI TTA) project as well as contribute to business development and scientific stature in these areas and to the overall portfolio of work in CCLSR.
Forensics TTA uses evidence-based resources generated by the practitioner base at RTI to assist grantees from six different BJA programs (~900 grantees total) with addressing challenges associated with effective forensics laboratory practices, case resolutions and criminal justice outcomes. This candidate would support two specific programs from the portfolio, the Prosecuting Cold Cases with DNA Program, and the Postconviction Testing of DNA Evidence Program. The candidate will support these grantees by providing real-time insight and guidance to legal strategies that ensure the quality of convictions, the effective use of advanced forensics techniques including Forensic Genetic Genealogy and contribute to resources that inform the legal community with the strengths of forensics science applications to cold case crimes and exoneration cases.
SAKI TTA uses research-based methodologies and recommended practices to assist SAKI grantees nationwide with meeting their goals and objectives. The SAKI TTA cooperative agreement has multiple purpose areas (6) for which expertise in legal strategies to support an improved response to sexual assault and violent crime is needed. Topics include addressing forensic DNA testing applications, strategies for the effective identification and collection of lawfully owed DNA, developing and sustaining a multidisciplinary team and implementing improved policy and practice for resolving violent crime including sexual assault. Specifically, the successful candidate would support SAKI grantees with legal strategies addressing the nuances of cold case prosecutions and advanced testing applications, as well as understanding legislation addressing lawfully owed DNA including effective collection strategies and subsequent court proceedings.
Lastly, the candidate hired for this position will be responsible for assisting Prosecuting Cold Cases using DNA, Postconviction Testing of DNA Evidence, and SAKI grantees with developing strategic plans to effectively identify violent cold case crimes that would benefit from advanced DNA testing strategies, including both exoneration and unresolved cases.
Duties to include, but not be limited to:
Required Education and Experience:
The ideal candidate would have some experience related to any of the following:
Position located in the Research Triangle Park, NC area. Other locations and telecommuting will also be considered.
For San Francisco, CA USA Job Postings Only: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Further information is available .
The anticipated pay range for this role is listed below. Our pay ranges represent national averages and may vary by location as a geographic differential may be applied to some locations within the United States.
RTI considers multiple factors when making an offer including, for example: established salary range, internal budget, business needs, and education and years of work experience possessed by the applicant. Further, salary is merely one element to our offer.
At RTI, we demonstrate our commitment to rewarding individual and team achievement through a total rewards package. This package includes (among other things) a competitive base salary, a generous paid time off policy, merit based annual increases, bonus opportunities and a robust recognition program. Other benefits include a competitive range of insurance plans (including health, dental, life, and short-term and long-term disability), access to a retirement savings program such as a 401(k) plan, paid parental leave for all parents, financial assistance with adoption expenses or infertility treatments, financial reimbursement for education and developmental opportunities, an employee assistance program, and numerous other offerings to support a healthy work-life balance.