Tracey Smith
Merchantville,NJ
Summary
Organized and dependable candidate successful at managing large staff, multiple priorities with a positive attitude while also maintaining the personal touch. Willingness to take on added responsibilities to meet team goals and assistant a new cliental.
Overview
38
38
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief Investigator
Office of the Public Defender/ Law Guardian Office
06.2023 - 06.2024
- Mentored and Trained 4 Supervisor trainees in the child welfare system.
- Administrative investigations
- Developed and Facilitated Training: Mentor to Coach
- Computer Knowledge(not my position but assisted in-house)
- Recruited staff through job fair attendances.
- Mediated office and staff issues
- Consulted and cooperated with legal staff to verify timely and efficient investigation completion.
- Trained team members on agency processes, court procedures and investigation strategies.
- Gathered facts from interviews of suspects, witnesses, and complainants.
- Supervised and motivated field investigators and collaborated with personnel to identify strengths and areas of weakness.
- Enhanced investigation efficiency by implementing advanced software and technology tools.
- Mentored junior investigators through challenging cases, providing guidance on best practices and techniques.
- Secured necessary resources for successful investigations, including personnel, equipment, and budget allocations.
- Developed comprehensive training programs to ensure the professional development of junior investigators.
- Established effective partnerships with external agencies, fostering collaboration and information sharing.
- Streamlined investigative processes for improved case resolution rates and reduced backlog.
- Oversaw the recruitment and selection process for new investigators, ensuring a talented pool of professionals on the team.
- Led a team of investigators to successfully close high-profile cases, maintaining a strong reputation in the industry.
- Developed standard operating procedures to streamline investigative workflows and maintain consistency across cases.
- Championed cross-training initiatives between departments which led to a more versatile and effective investigative team.
Investigator 3/Assistant Chief Investigator (OLG)
Office Of the Public Defender/ Law Guardian
04.2015 - 06.2023
- Review and assign cases for cases in the child welfare system.
- Review cases of Investigator 2s.
- Holds meetings with investigative staff and weekly meetings with Investigator 2s to maintain OPD protocols and investigative standards.
- Directed subordinate managers (Investigator 2s) in day-to-day issues regarding their teams
- Assist in mediating issues in work quality Identified areas of personnel deficiency and took necessary action for correction
- Created mini training within our office to help change culture and quality of work.
- Assumed an active role in identifying opportunities to develop and implement projects which promoted the organization’s missions and functions
- Represented OLG at events at Rowan University, Lincoln University and Camden County College.
- OLG Investigator Training Committee: Created, partnered/or updated and presented Time Management (2016), Child Assessment (2016,2018,2020) and Cultural Diversity and Cultural Competency (2021).
- Assist with interviewing potential new employees.
- Complete monthly reports for: Investigator statistics and state vehicles.
- Assist DPD in training new attorneys to our region.
- Maintain communication with my ADI regarding status of my region.
- Collected, analyzed and interpreted information, documentation, and physical evidence associated with investigations.
- Conducted thorough face-to-face interviews with employers, families, neighbors, friends, and suspects, and documented investigative findings.
- Documented findings and prepared detailed reports.
- Collected information pertaining to criminal proceedings and performed investigations to resolve cases.
- Maintain a professional tone.
- Conducted interviews with witnesses and clients.
- Assisted in the development of investigative strategies, resulting in more efficient case resolutions.
- Conducted impartial investigations into complaints by employees.
- Offered training seminars on investigative techniques, elevating the skill level within the department and fostering collaboration among team members.
- Supervised and motivated field investigators and collaborated with personnel to identify strengths and areas of weakness.
- Facilitated training sessions for junior investigators, elevating overall departmental skill levels and investigative techniques.
- Pursued continuous professional development to stay abreast of latest investigative techniques and technologies.
Principal Investigator/Acting Supervisor
Office Of the Public Defender
12.2014 - 04.2015
- Interviewed clients with various mental health disorders
- Attended various clinical meetings to advocate for clients (some scheduled others incident related)
- Contacted various agencies and family members to obtain housing and support as directed by client.
- Investigated KROL/NGI/Megan's Law cases (before formation of SHU)
- Assisted in releasing clients from legal detainers and had some cases dropped by advocating to and working with treating psychiatrists.
- Managed, investigated death cases within institutions and developed work product.
- Interviewed clients for Guardianship unit and wrote court documents to be filed on behalf of client.
- Developed relationships with agencies and programs within the mental health field.
- Acting supervisor - 2014
- Distributed work
- Reviewed work product
- Reviewed OPD protocols with staff
- Completed PARS
- Trained new investigators
Principal Investigator (MH&G)
Office Of the Public Defender
10.1999 - 12.2014
- Interviewed clients with various mental health disorders.
- Attended various clinical meetings to advocate for our clients (some scheduled others on site of incident)
- Contacted various agencies and family members to obtain housing and support as directed by client.
- Investigated KROL/NGI/Megan's Law cases (before formation of SHU)
- Assisted in releasing clients from legal detainers and had some cases dropped by advocating to and with treating psychiatrist.
- Foraged relationships with other agencies, programs and stakeholders in mental health field.
Principal Investigator
Office Of the Public Defender /Public Advocate
09.1992 - 12.2014
- Interviewed clients with various mental health disorders.
- Attended various clinical meetings to advocate for clients (some scheduled others incident related).
- Contacted various agencies and family members to obtain housing and support as directed by client.
- Investigated KROL/NGI/Megan's Law cases (before formation of SHU)
- Assisted in releasing clients from legal detainers and had some cases dropped by advocating to and with treating psychiatrist.
- Interviewed clients and completed documents in guardianship cases
Investigator (Trial)
Office Of the Public Defender
07.1991 - 08.1992
- Investigated various types of cases.
- Assisted attorneys in court.
- Testified in various trials.
- Served subpoenas.
- Filed bail motions and briefs weekly.
Investigator (Trial)- Permanent
Office Of the Public Defender
11.1989 - 07.1990
- Investigated various types of cases.
- Assisted attorneys in court.
- Testified in various trials.
- Served subpoenas.
- Filed bail motions and other legal documents.
Hourly Investigator/Permanent Part-Time
Office Of the Public Defender
11.1986 - 11.1989
- Investigated various types of cases
- (supervised and unsupervised)
- Assisted attorneys in court.
- Testified in various trials.
- Served subpoenas.
- Filed bail motions and other legal documents.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Sociology
Thomas Edison State University
Trenton, NJ06.2012
Skills
- Training and Development (State wide)
- Analytical and Critical Thinking
- Organization and Time Management
- Staff Management (17 investigators, 4 counties and 2 offices)
- Recruitment (Attended job fairs at colleges and university )
- Technology adaptation
- Calm in crisis situations
- Problem-solving abilities
- Adaptability and Flexibility
- Interpersonal Skills
- Professionalism
- Researching skills
Timeline
Chief Investigator
Office of the Public Defender/ Law Guardian Office
06.2023 - 06.2024
Investigator 3/Assistant Chief Investigator (OLG)
Office Of the Public Defender/ Law Guardian
04.2015 - 06.2023
Principal Investigator/Acting Supervisor
Office Of the Public Defender
12.2014 - 04.2015
Principal Investigator (MH&G)
Office Of the Public Defender
10.1999 - 12.2014
Principal Investigator
Office Of the Public Defender /Public Advocate
09.1992 - 12.2014
Investigator (Trial)
Office Of the Public Defender
07.1991 - 08.1992
Investigator (Trial)- Permanent
Office Of the Public Defender
11.1989 - 07.1990
Hourly Investigator/Permanent Part-Time
Office Of the Public Defender
11.1986 - 11.1989
Bachelor of Science - Sociology
Thomas Edison State University
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