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:

• Contribute to CCLSR project growth and business development by contributing to writing and developing proposals in the areas of violent crime response reform and the application of forensic DNA testing to inform policy and practice associated with an improved response to violent crime.
• Responsible for the conceptualization, development, and delivery of TTA resources for the Forensics TTA and SAKI TTA projects. Resources developed could include webinars, training presentations (virtual or in-person), technical assistance events (virtual or in-person), conference presentations (virtual or in-person), briefs, and technical documents.
• Responsible for the provision of subject matter expertise related to violent crime response reform and legal strategies to support cold case investigation and prosecution.
• Responsible for the provision of subject matter expertise with understanding legislation associated with lawfully owed DNA.
• Responsible or the provision of subject matter expertise associated with reviewing potential exoneration cases.
• Provide working knowledge of downstream impacts of forensic DNA testing on case resolutions and courtroom proceedings.
• Provide working knowledge of a multi-disciplinary response to violent cold case crimes, including sexual assault.
• Provide working knowledge of victim/family services and/or advocacy for violent crimes including sexual assault.
• Provide working knowledge of federal funding opportunities that support crime laboratories, investigative units, and prosecution agencies to include strategies for effective use of federal funds and building sustainable multidisciplinary approaches to resolving violent crime cases.
• Participate in the creation of TTA resources related to addressing lawfully owed DNA samples, including strategies for the collection of lawfully owed DNA samples and subsequent prosecutorial actions associated with newly identified cases as a result of testing lawfully owed DNA samples.
• Responsible for the provision of subject matter expertise and guidance on the application of effective strategies supporting case resolution, post-conviction DNA testing, and prosecuting cold cases.
• Respond to requests for technical assistance via telephone, email, and in writing to BJA grantees and criminal justice professionals.
• Exhibit personal leadership by communicating effectively inside and outside of the Forensics TTA and SAKI TTA teams, developing oneself and other staff, thinking and acting strategically, demonstrating innovation on projects and daily work, and collaborating effectively with internal and external colleagues.
• Work closely with a variety of staff and clients in various roles (e.g., project team member, project leader, client manager, support, etc.) that differ across projects.

Required Education and Experience:

• Juris Doctor degree and a Bachelor's degree in criminal justice or a related field.
• Minimum of ten years of experience as a trial attorney in a prosecutorial setting as first chair in a cold case unit, sexual assault unit, violent crime unit or homicide unit.
• Specific experience with DNA forensic testing as applied to support criminal justice objectives to include multidisciplinary approaches to case review, testing strategies and addressing lawfully owed DNA samples.
• Experience with and/or knowledge of the BJA Forensics Programs portfolio, TTA, SAKI, and multidisciplinary response to sexual assault desired.
• Ability to manage projects, including staffing, scheduling, and budget.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with demonstrated capability to present work at conferences.
• Attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment with staff in different geographic locations and with a range of education and experience levels.
• To qualify, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States and should not require, now or in the future, sponsorship for employment visa status.

The ideal candidate would have some experience related to any of the following:

• Participating in research studies, with an interest in further developing their understanding of contributions to research projects going forward;
• Experience with both prosecution and defense;
• Experience with juvenile courts;
• Would have grants management capacity in their office;
• Experience developing, collecting or analyzing performance measures; and
• Any level of engagement with diversion programs, specialty courts, and/or alternative case processing.

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.