The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office has a long history of public safety and criminal prosecution. Currently, the office is headed by Anne Marie Schubert, who was elected in 2014. With nearly 30 years of law enforcement experience, she has successfully prosecuted some of the area’s most notorious criminals. In addition to defending the public, Schubert also oversees the district attorney youth academy. To learn more about her mission and the programs and services that the office provides, read this article.
ESOP
The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office is implementing ESOP, an enterprise software solution that allows users to conduct pre-employment background investigations in an electronic format. The ESOP system has become the number one pre-employment background investigation tool with more than 60 public safety agencies in the U.S. ESOP reduces the time and resources spent on manual data entry and scanning.
The district attorney’s office consists of several units and Bureaus. The Bureau of Investigation, for example, has 80 employees, including criminal investigators, investigative assistants, process servers, clerical staff, interns, and administrative workers. These workers perform investigative work for the prosecution and litigation divisions. eSOPH also enables public safety agencies to communicate with their communities using a single platform.
Victim/Witness Assistance Program
The Victim/Witness Assistance Program at the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office assists crime victims and witnesses with a variety of needs, from crisis intervention to obtaining services and reimbursement. Its mission is to empower victims and witnesses through criminal justice system involvement, victim-centered services, and community outreach. The program provides the following services:
Case Management and Claims Assistance Specialist: This position requires two years of paid experience and includes advising clients on available programs, services, and resources. Upon hire, the successful candidate will perform case management duties and interview clients. A criminal justice background is helpful, as is experienced in a similar field. The position also requires a bachelor’s degree. However, the compensation is competitive, and experience in these fields is highly recommended.
District Attorney Youth Academy
The District Attorney’s Office has several programs for youth, including the District Attorney Youth Academy. The program is presented in partnership with the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, the Sacramento County Probation Department, and the police departments of Galt, Rancho Cordova, and Elk Grove. The program covers topics including the criminal justice system, race, marijuana, distracted driving, and crime scene investigation. There will also be a career fair held at the graduation.
The youth will attend classes twice a month at the Sheriff’s Community Service Center, 7000 65th St., Sacramento, as well as a tour of the Sacramento Superior Court. The program is free and open to youth from all backgrounds and ethnic backgrounds. The course is held twice a month, and there will also be a field trip to the Sacramento Superior Court. This program is designed to help youth understand the legal system.
Bureau of Investigation
The Bureau of Investigation at the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office specializes in criminal and civil investigations. The office employs a variety of methods to pursue criminal and civil cases. The Investigations Division includes General Investigations, Crime Scene Investigations, Property and Evidence, Special Investigative Units, Records Section, and more. The main focus of this division is investigating crimes within its district. These include property crime investigations (vandalism, theft, receiving stolen property, etc.), economic crime investigations (credit card fraud and embezzlement), and auto theft investigations. The Bureau also provides victim advocate services and other investigative services.
The Bureau of Investigation is the primary investigative agency on a wide variety of cases with specialized investigative expertise and legal mandate. Its staff includes the Chief Investigator, Assistant Chief Investigator, Lieutenants, Criminal Investigations, Process Servers, Clerical Support, Volunteers, and Deputy District Attorneys. It is responsible for conducting the most sensitive criminal investigations. However, the Bureau of Investigation also maintains a positive relationship with other agencies and community groups.
Pre-employment background investigations
The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office recently implemented ESOP, the nation’s leading pre-employment background investigation software. The program has already been adopted by more than 60 public safety agencies in the U.S., with more than 1,300 users. The program enables agencies to save time and resources while performing background checks. However, the district attorney’s office declined to comment on whether it will continue to perform these investigations.
The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office recommends employers follow state law when conducting a background check. The Fair Chance Act was passed in January 2018 and requires Sacramento employers to comply with the state’s background screening laws. Under this law, an employer is not allowed to inquire about a potential employee’s criminal history while they are interviewing or evaluating candidates for a position. The employer can only conduct a background investigation if the applicant has been offered a position.