JUSTICE DEPUTY

JUSTICE DEPUTY

The Office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis has an immediate opening for a Justice Deputy.

The First Supervisorial District proudly represents almost two million residents from several diverse communities: from East Los Angeles to East Hollywood, MacArthur Park to Eagle Rock, and Alhambra to Pomona. The candidate must be community-oriented with a passion and the experience to create policy to improve the quality of life for LA County residents, especially those who live in the First District.

Key Responsibilities:

The Justice Deputy is responsible for crafting, developing, and advancing policy aligned with the Supervisor’s vision, ideals, and priorities related to public safety and justice reform. Responsibilities encompass a wide range of issues including: improving the County’s Care First, Jails Last model, emphasizing prevention, diversion, and reentry efforts through a public health, harm reduction model; reducing the County’s reliance on incarceration by improving diversion and reentry programs to reduce recidivism; advancing juvenile justice and building a youth development model; improving the conditions of confinement for adults and youth; bail reform; eliminating justice system-related fines and fees; eliminating the criminalization of health needs and homelessness, reducing barriers to employment and housing; assessing justice-related funding allocations; and developing community-based and community-informed models for community development and violence prevention.

The Justice Deputy collaborates with the field team, County departments, other Board of Supervisors offices, cities within the First District, community groups, other stakeholders, and constituents to advance policy initiatives in order to create opportunities for disadvantaged communities, increase transparency in local government, create jobs and vocational training programs, provide legal advocacy and wraparound services for vulnerable populations, and enhance and safeguard the environment.

The Justice Deputy provides high-level oversight and guidance of County public safety programs for adults and youth and is the First District liaison for community members; local, state, and federal agencies; and stakeholders, including law enforcement and service providers. The Justice Deputy serves as the key person to coordinate all public safety and justice related strategies and policy matters, and must stay current with related laws, issues, and developments (e.g., bail reform, trauma-informed youth justice, AB 109, Propositions 47 and 57).

The ideal candidate must be able to work well under pressure, meet tight deadlines, and take directions from the Supervisor and the Chief of Staff; be an effective leader as well as a team player, and thrive in a fast-paced and changing environment.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

•Ensure constituents’ concerns are thoroughly reviewed and that appropriate responses are timely provided.

•Analyze, develop, and direct policies involving various County departments such as the Sheriff’s Department; District Attorney’s Office; Probation Department; Alternate Public Defender; Public Defender; Medical Examiner-Coroner; Department of Youth Development; Justice, Care and Opportunities Department; Office of the County Counsel’ Fire Department; Office of Emergency Management; the Jail Closure Implementation Team; Office of Diversion and Reentry; and Office of Violence Prevention.

•Establish and maintain strong working relationships with respective County departments and community group liaisons.

• Draft motions that advance the Supervisor’s policy priorities, including connecting community interests with the Supervisor’s policy agenda.

• Prepare comprehensive briefings, policy recommendations, and remarks.

• Make recommendations for press and media strategy related to public safety and justice issues.

• Represent the Supervisor at various events throughout the First District to inform policy strategies and address local public safety concerns.

• Oversee various public safety-related grant funds for the District.

• Work with the Planning and Health teams to implement housing projects and policy for the justice-involved population.

Required Skills:

• Strong background in public safety and justice systems, as well as the Supervisor’s efforts to emphasize a Care First approach, reform the justice system, and close Men’s Central Jail;

• Working knowledge of federal, state, regional and local legislative processes;

• Experience working with diverse communities;

• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work with a range of groups, including other elected officials, field experts, researchers, community advocates and leaders, and communities members, including those in crisis.

• Experience with the communities that comprise the First District; and

• Experience developing strategic plans and advising elected officials on government affairs and public relations issues such as public safety and criminal justice initiatives.

• Strong written and oral communication skills;

• Able to work independently, be accountable and possess a strong work ethic;

• Strong ability to work on several projects or issues simultaneously, and prioritize assignments throughout the day;

• Be a team player with a demonstrated skillset in working well with internal and external stakeholders;

• Responsibly handle confidential information and matters;

• Attend to details while focusing on big-picture goals;

• Analyze policy issues and prepare concise briefing memos in a fast-paced environment;

• Commitment to equity, diversity and to serving under-resourced and underserved communities;

• Familiarity with the First District; and

• Take instructions from leadership.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Five years of experience working in a related field;

• Juris Doctor preferred;

• A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

Please note that this is a professional level staff position that will require work hours beyond the normal workday and will include weekend and holiday work. The position is full-time, exempt, unclassified, and in-person. Compensation will be commensurate with experience and includes excellent benefits. All applicants will be required to take a live scan background check.