Job Description

Posting number: 6965

Department: District Attorneys Office

Job classification: Program Specialist II

Posting type: Open

Categories: Mental Health, Social Services, Miscellaneous, Human Services, Community and Social Services

Summary

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The Boulder County District Attorney’s Office, 20th Judicial District, has an opening for a Competency Court Navigator within the DA’s Center for Prevention and Restorative Justice (CPRJ). The 20th Judicial District Attorney is an elected state official whose office prosecutes adult and juvenile criminal charges, serves as an advisor to Boulder County law enforcement agencies, provides aid to victims and witnesses, appears before and advises grand juries, and pursues remedies for consumer fraud on behalf of Boulder County residents. In addition, the DA’s Office operates prevention-focused programs, including youth and adult diversion, restorative justice, behavioral health diversion, and Competency Court. These programs reduce unnecessary system involvement, strengthen accountability, improve behavioral health stability, and support better long-term outcomes for participants, victims, and the community.

The Competency Court Navigator position will allow for the expansion of CPRJ’s diversion services to include individuals who have been or may be found incompetent to proceed in criminal cases. The Navigator will support the prosecutors in the 20th Judicial District’s Competency Court with assessments, intake, and administrative support, and will assist individuals who have been found incompetent to proceed by providing assessment-driven case planning, supportive case management, harm reduction interventions, and connection to community-based services to address mental and behavioral health needs. This position will also allow for the implementation of a competency diversion track within CPRJ.

CPRJ’s diversion programs offer a pre-conviction alternative to prosecution for individuals in eligible cases ranging from petty to felony offenses. All diversion tracks focus on early intervention, prevention, and individualized case planning to reduce the likelihood of future justice involvement, strengthen protective factors, connect to and navigate community resources, and support meaningful accountability and repair of harm.

The Competency Court Navigator is a new position funded through Boulder County’s 1B Mental and Behavioral Health Tax that will support the DA’s Office’s commitment to Competency Court and add a new competency diversion program within the CPRJ. The primary function of this role is to support the DA representatives within Competency Court, provide assessment-driven case planning and supportive case management for competency diversion participants, and facilitate timely access to community-based services and treatment through referrals, resource navigation, and client advocacy that promote stability and reduce the risk of re-offense. This position works closely with prosecutors, diversion coordinators, law enforcement, system professionals, community service providers, and other members of the community.

The Competency Court Navigator reports to the Chief Deputy DA/Diversion Director in the DA’s Office and is based at the Boulder County Justice Center. This is a 20-hour/week position. Some schedule flexibility will be required for scheduled court hearings, trainings, and community events, but work hours are typically within 8:00am–5:00pm. The current court schedule would require the successful applicant to work Wednesday mornings and Friday afternoons as part of their 20 hours per week.

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FSLA) this position is classified as exempt.

This position is funded through a 1-year grant and is term-limited; however, the grant has potential for renewal for additional years.

.5FTE CLASSIFICATION RANGE: $31,914 - $45,972

EXPECTED HIRING RANGE: $31,914 – $36,000

In addition to the Boulder County benefits, the District Attorney’s Office offers:

• An enhanced Extended Parental Leave Policy for up to an additional 12 weeks of parental leave.

Examples of duties

• Support the work of the DA’s Office within the 20th Judicial District’s Competency Court, including assessing appropriate cases for this problem-solving court, tracking data, entering information in the DA’s case management system, participating in case staffings, and providing resources to court participants.
• Schedule and complete intakes for individuals referred to the DA’s competency diversion program using trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and motivational interviewing approaches.
• Administer and score validated assessment tools to screen for criminogenic risk, behavioral health needs, and substance use patterns.
• Interview diversion participants using effective interpersonal skills, including collaboration, empathy, and active listening.
• Provide clear program information, explain requirements for successful completion, and work collaboratively with participants and system partners to support engagement, accountability, and progress.
• Follow CPRJ’s Collaborative Casework Model to develop assessment-driven case plans and deliver individualized case management for participants with behavioral health needs.
• Provide direct case management services to participants with behavioral health needs, including one-on-one support, stabilization assistance, harm reduction education, and connection to community-based treatment and services.
• Make referrals and maintain regular communication with community service providers to ensure coordinated care and timely connection to services and treatment.
• Identify and help remove barriers to service engagement, such as transportation, scheduling challenges, housing needs, or treatment navigation.
• Demonstrate cultural awareness and responsiveness in working with diverse populations related to race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, ability, language, and other areas of identity.
• Collaboratively communicate with diversion staff, prosecutors, system partners, and community service providers.
• Track and maintain current, accurate, and thorough data on diversion cases and case updates in DA databases, diversion spreadsheets, the statewide diversion module, and client files.
• Utilize restorative practices when appropriate to support accountability, repair of harm, and community reintegration.
• Participate in diversion team meetings, supervision, training, multidisciplinary meetings, and case staffings.
• File motions with the court as needed.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Boulder County is looking for well-qualified candidates to fill our positions. Any combination of relevant education and experience is encouraged. In this position, we are looking for a minimum of 6 years of combined education and experience. The following knowledge, skills, and abilities are required:

• Direct client services experience providing case management to people facing behavioral health challenges, substance use, co-occurring disorders, or other destabilizing factors.
• Strong understanding of behavioral health, including how mental illness and substance use affect stability, decision-making, and engagement in services.
• A trauma-informed, person-centered approach grounded in empathy, accountability, and respect.
• Comfort working with people who may be ambivalent, resistant, or experiencing crisis, and the ability to maintain calm, supportive engagement.
• Skill in establishing meaningful rapport with individuals from diverse racial, cultural, linguistic, gender, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain program expectations, collaborate effectively with participants and partners, and professionally represent the DA’s Office.
• Openness to giving and receiving feedback, with a reflective, growth-oriented approach to teamwork and supervision.
• Skill in conflict resolution, including navigating difficult conversations, de-escalating tension, and supporting participants through challenges.
• A solution-focused mindset, with the ability to identify barriers, think creatively, and help participants move toward stability and progress.
• Proficiency with software tools such as Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams, and case management systems.
• Strong organizational abilities, including managing multiple tasks accurately and efficiently, maintaining accurate records, and tracking case progress across several systems.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• High level of professionalism, judgment, and capability, with ability to work effectively, respectfully, and compassionately with defendants, victims, families, community members, community provider agencies, law enforcement, criminal justice professionals, and volunteers.
• Commitment to CPRJ’s values, including prevention, accountability, harm reduction, restorative practices, and equity.

Supplemental information

Preferred Qualifications: Candidates who have the following strengths may be especially well-suited for this role:

• Bilingual Spanish proficiency, both spoken and written, is strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of local behavioral health, housing, and social service resources, especially those serving marginalized or underserved communities.
• Knowledge of Colorado’s criminal competency statutes and process.
• Experience with problem-solving courts.
• Experience working within or alongside the criminal justice system, including courts, defense counsel, law enforcement, or community-based providers.
• Experience or training in harm reduction and person-centered approaches.
• Training in cultural responsiveness, trauma-informed care, conflict resolution, and motivational interviewing.
• Experience with electronic court filing systems, filing court motions, and/or court procedures.
• Lived experience or professional experience that deepens understanding of systemic inequities, barriers to access, or the needs of justice-involved individuals.

Job offer will be contingent on passing a criminal background investigation.

Supplemental Information:

Physical Requirements

Primarily sedentary physical work requiring ability to lift a maximum of 40 pounds; occasional lifting, carrying, walking and standing; frequent hand/eye coordination to operate computer keyboard and office equipment; vision for reading, recording and interpreting information; speech communication and hearing to maintain communication with employees and members of the public.

From "Dictionary of Occupational Titles", U.S. Dept. of Labor:

Occasionally: activity or condition exists up to 1/3 of the time.

Frequently: activity or condition exists from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time.

Constantly: activity or condition exists 2/3 or more of the time.

Veterans are encouraged to apply for Boulder County jobs that match their education and experience