Background Investigator Perm in Albuquerque, NM

Background Investigator #, Full-Time, Perm in Albuquerque, NM # of Positions: 1 Opening Date: 09-11-2026 - Close Date: 09-25-2026 Target Pay Range/Rate: $29.374 per hour or $61,097.92 annually

The Administrative Office of the Courts is recruiting for a full-time, perm Background Investigator # in Albuquerque, NM. Under general supervision of the Pretrial Services Supervisor, this position will work within the AOC Background Investigation and Public Safety Assessment Unit in Albuquerque, NM. This is a centralized unit developed to provide critical background investigation reports and outcomes of the Public Safety Assessment to courts statewide.

This position will conduct thorough criminal background investigations on individuals arrested statewide and charged with criminal offenses prior to their initial hearing, arraignment and/or detention hearing; receive and respond to correspondence from detention centers and courts throughout the state; update various daily logs used to track work progress and performance. In addition, this position will act as a designee who is authorized to make pre-trial defendant release decisions based on program criteria.

A shift differential of $3 per hour will be paid for all hours worked between 6:30 p.m. and 5 a.m. The employee in this position is required to work evenings, weekends, holidays, when the AOC and/or courts are closed due to inclement weather. The ideal candidate has enthusiasm, is detail oriented and is a team player, while possessing experience with Odyssey and NCIC is a plus.

It's a night position hours are 6:30pm to 5am. Days off would be Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Acting under general supervision conducts background investigations on persons charged with criminal offenses and presents appropriate recommendations to the court regarding conditions of release.

• 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.
• Assessments 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 performs 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, and 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, and 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…