Background Investigator Perm in Albuquerque, NM

Business Unit: 21800

Position: Background Investigator #, Full‑Time, Perm

Location: Albuquerque, NM

Opening Date: 02‑13‑2026 |
Close Date: 02‑27‑2026

Target Pay Range: $29.374 per hour or $61,097.92

The Administrative Office of the Courts is recruiting for a full‑time, permanent Background Investigator in Albuquerque, NM. Under the general supervision of the Pretrial Services Supervisor, this role performs thorough criminal background investigations on individuals arrested statewide and charged with offenses prior to their initial hearing. The investigator also handles correspondence from detention centers and courts, updates daily logs, and makes pre‑trial release decisions based on program criteria.

Shift differential of $3 per hour applies for work between 6 p.m. and 7 a.m., and the employee will be required to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and during inclement weather closures.

• The Background Investigator is responsible for interviewing offenders to obtain and verify necessary background information to conduct a thorough criminal history background investigation.
• Provides detailed reports to the court including recommendations for release.
• Assesses offender’s threat level to self and others.
• Makes appropriate recommendations for release and bonds based on criminal history.
• Defends developed release or program recommendations and challenges to those recommendations.
• May prepare written reports including detailed chronological criminal history, conditions of release, treatment referrals and future recommendations.
• May attend court proceedings as necessary and present defendant profile and criminal history information and conditions or release recommendations to the court.
• Provides release information to judges, involved parties and community members.
• Compiles and reports statistical data.
• Communicates with District Attorneys and other members of government and court agencies.
• Participates and attends conferences, training and community outreach or educational programs related to court programs.
• May complete detailed offender behavioral profile by contacting references and verifying information provided by offenders regarding employment, home, work, and school status.
• May contact and interview victims.
• May document interactions with defendants in the case management system and maintains current case files.
• May perform scheduled and unannounced site visits (home, work, school, or other location) to obtain or verify background information.
• May serve as the Terminal Agency Coordinator (TAC) and ensures compliance with security requirements.
• May recognize patterns of drug, alcohol, and anger issues and makes appropriate recommendations for referrals to community treatment providers.
• Other duties as assigned.

The successful applicant should demonstrate knowledge of the state statutes, rules, and constitutional rights governing the release and bail eligibility for defendants; third‑party releases, community safety concerns, recidivism; criminal behavior patterns and profiles; investigative techniques utilizing national, state, and local investigative resources and interviewing procedures;
New Mexico law, civil and criminal procedures, sentencing guidelines; court rules, policies, and procedures, operations and structure; misdemeanor and felony arraignment proceedings and bail and bond processes; court supervision program; case management and legal terminology; substance abuse, mental health counseling and treatment, drug screening methods and equipment; mediation techniques and conflict resolution; NCIC (National Crime Information Center) procedures; and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

The work is performed in an office or court setting. A valid driver's license and travel may be required. The assigned work schedule may include nights, weekends, holidays, and overtime. The employee must regularly interact positively with co‑workers, clients, the public, judges, and justices.

This job description is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions performed.

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