Examination: Special Investigator

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Working title
Special Investigator
Monthly salary
$5,528.00 - $6,863.00 (A) per Month | $6,310.00 - $8,217.00 (B) per Month $6,924.00 - $9,037.00 (C) per Month $5,528.00 - $6,863.00 (L) per Month $6,310.00 - $8,217.00 (M) per Month $6,924.00 - $9,037.00 (N) per Month
Exam #
5200
Deadline
Continuous
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Position Description

00108612 - SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR

The Special Investigator is a deep class with three alternate ranges. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, conducting independent criminal, civil, and/or administrative investigations to detect or verify suspected violations or provisions of Federal, State, and/or local laws, rules, or regulations; obtaining and verifying evidence to support administrative action, conferences, and/or prosecution; determining type of case and developing investigation plan; conducting and completing investigations; maintaining accurate master investigation case files; providing technical assistance and training to others; cooperating with and securing the assistance of Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies; preparing clear, concise, and accurate documents and reports detailing investigation activities and findings; and performing other related duties.

Investigation responsibilities at Range B are expected to be more complex and require broader knowledge and application of investigative techniques and procedures. Incumbents conduct the complex criminal, civil, and/or administrative investigations to detect or verify suspected violations of laws, rules, or regulations; locate and interview witnesses and persons suspected of violations; obtain and present facts and evidence to support administrative action, conferences, and/or prosecution; prepare and/or obtain search warrants; serve subpoenas, inspection warrants, and/or other official legal papers; and perform other related duties.

At Range C, incumbents (1) lead or review the work of a small staff of Special Investigators in the performance of field investigations; detect or verify suspected multiple violations of laws, rules, or regulations; (2) have independent responsibility to oversee an entire investigative operation or project; (3) independently conduct the most difficult and complex investigations and participate in multi-agency investigations or assignments; and/or (4) in an investigatory program, perform program or policy development and interpretation duties which specifically require investigatory expertise.

Special Personal Characteristics

Possession of a valid driver license of the appropriate class issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles; aptitude for investigation work; be flexible; willingness as a learner to do routine or detailed work in order to learn the practical application of investigative principles; may be required to travel; keenness of observation; good memory for names, faces, places, and incidents; neat personal appearance; tact; emotional stability and maturity; and demonstrated capacity for development as evidenced by work history, academic attainment, participation in school, or other activities, or by well-defined occupational or vocational interests.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to possessing the above requirements, Special Investigators may be required to meet the following department­-specific requirements prior to appointment into a position with that department:

Department of Real Estate: Equivalent to graduation from college with specialization in Real Estate, Law, Finance, Public Administration, or Business Administration and two years of experience in one of the following areas: sale or exchange of farm, residential, or business properties; and/or negotiating for real estate loans in bank, realty office, or savings and loan bank.

For information regarding position location(s), please refer to the Eligible List Information section.

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

00108612 - SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR

Patterns cannot be combined to meet the Minimum Qualifications.

Either Pattern 1

Equivalent to graduation from an accredited college/university with either a:

  1. Major in criminal justice, law enforcement, criminology, administration of justice, police science, business administration, public administration, or a comparable field of study. (Students who are registered as a senior in college will be admitted to the examination, but they must produce evidence of graduation or its equivalent before they can be considered eligible for appointment.) or

  2. (a) Minor in criminal justice, law enforcement, criminology, administration of justice, police science, business administration, public administration, or a comparable field of study with evidence that the following courses or their equivalent have been completed: introduction to criminal justice, introduction to criminal law, basic investigation, evidence, criminal procedure, philosophy of law, accounting, finance, real estate; and (b) an internship in criminal justice, law enforcement, criminology, administration of justice, police science, business administration, public administration, or a comparable field of study. (Students who are registered as a senior in college will be admitted to the examination, but they must produce evidence of graduation or its equivalent before they can be considered eligible for appointment.)
Or Pattern 2

Education: Equivalent to completion of two years of college with a major in criminal justice, law enforcement, criminology, police science, administration of justice, business administration, public administration, or a comparable field of study. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis. Applicants who are being considered for Special Investigator positions must possess education equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade.) and

Experience: (a) Two years of experience such as a police detective, or (b) Two years of experience as an investigator performing comparable investigative work in a public or private agency or in the armed services.

Or Pattern 3

Education: Equivalent to completion of two years of college with a major in criminal justice, law enforcement, criminology, police science, administration of justice, business administration, public administration, or a comparable field of study. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis. Applicants who are being considered for Special Investigator positions must possess education equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade.) and

Experience: One year of experience in the California state service performing investigative duties at a level comparable to those of either an Investigator Assistant, Special Investigator Assistant, or in an investigation assignment in a class equal to a Management Services Technician, Range B. (Applicants who are within six months of satisfying the experience requirement for this pattern will be admitted into the examination, but they must satisfactorily complete one year of experience in the class before they can be considered eligible for appointment.)

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

This is not a timed examination. If you request a Reasonable Accommodation, your account will be locked and you will not be able to proceed with the examination until the request is processed.

Work Type Preferences may be selected on the Optional Conditions of Employment Selections section found in the exam application "Application Package" tab. Selected Work Type Preferences indicate the types of employment you are willing to accept.

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Who Should Apply

The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.

Open and Open, Non-Promotional Examination(s):

  • SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR - Open

How to Apply

Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.

Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

Special Testing Arrangements

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

Application Link

Special Investigator

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

State of California
CalCareer Service Center
1810 16th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
Phone: (866) 844-8671
CalCareer@calhr.ca.gov

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.