South Dakota, Office of the Attorney General – Pierre, SD

DCI Special Agent in Forensics (ICAC)

Closes: 06/08/2020

This is a full-time position with the Division of Criminal Investigation. For more information on the Division of Criminal Investigation, please visit http://atg.sd.gov/OurOffice/Departments/DCI/home.aspx.

The Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), a division of the Office of the Attorney General, is looking for highly motivated applicants to fill the role of a DCI Special Agent in Computer Forensics (ICAC). This position will work with the digital evidence lab to conduct forensic examinations of computer systems and analyze electronic evidence using acceptable forensic methods for multiple law enforcement agencies and task forces. Cases referred for examination involve the sexual exploitation of children, fraud, forgery, theft, homicide and drug violations to name a few. 

Duties include, but are not limited to:

  • providing comprehensive assessments of investigative and prosecutorial needs within South Dakota as it relates to ICAC investigations and prosecutions;
  • interviewing witnesses and interrogating suspects;
  • conferring with the prosecuting attorney;
  • obtaining subpoena and warrant authorization or other documents to secure additional evidence from Internet Service Providers, cell phone companies, or other data storage sources;
  • collecting and processing physical evidence;
  • conducting surveillance of suspects or locations;
  • preparing final investigative reports of case findings and recommendation of criminal charges;
  • testifying as a witness in a court of law;
  • exchanging information and maintaining relationships with local, state, and federal law enforcement authorities;
  • providing training and technical guidance to other law enforcement agencies in the agent’s area of expertise;
  • developing and maintaining working relationships;
  • coordinating and collecting statistical data of ICAC related investigations and prosecutions;
  • investigating Cyber Tips received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and coordinating the assignments to investigators and other law enforcement agencies;
  • developing and conduct training programs for law enforcement, prosecutions, probation and parole to improve South Dakota ICAC prosecution, investigations, and forensic capabilities;
  • collecting, cataloging, and making available relevant material to law enforcement, prosecutions, probation and parole on the topic of combating the sexual exploitation of children.

Working conditions include but are not limited to; statewide travel and occasionally working in outside weather conditions. Must be willing to function in an undercover capacity and conduct surveillance activity which may require work outside normal working hours.

Licenses and Certifications:

Applicants for the Agent I position are not required to have law enforcement experience or certification. Applicants for the Agent II positions must be certified law enforcement officers. Agent level assignment will be made based on the experience and education of the successful candidate.

Minimum Qualifications for Filing: This position requires a completed bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of related education and experience. In lieu of a completed bachelor’s degree, law enforcement experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.

Applicants not meeting the following requirements will be disqualified from competing for this position:

  • Applicants shall not have a felony conviction;
  • Applicants must be a United States citizen;
  • Applicants must be at least 21 years of age at time of appointment;
  • Applicants must possess or have the ability to obtain a South Dakota driver’s license.

How to Apply:  

  1. Complete and submit electronic application. The closing date for the position is June 8, 2020.
  2. Applicants must complete and submit the following documents to be considered for advancement to the selection phase. These items can be attached to your electronic application or faxed/emailed/mailed separately (must be postmarked by June 8, 2020): Click on the item to access the document.

More information and physical requirements info can be found on our website at: https://bhr.sd.gov/job-seekers/law-enforcement/dci-special-agent/

The Division of Criminal Investigation will notify all applicants who have been selected to move forward in the hiring process. Selected applicants can expect to report to Pierre, SD at a later date to complete a written test (required for applicants who are not law enforcement certified) and participate in an oral interview.

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Qualifications for Appointment: Applicants must meet the requirements of the Law Enforcement Civil Service Commission with regard to education, experience, physical condition, and other factors related to the performance of the duties of the position. The requirements include:  

  1. Possession of 20/20 binocular vision with or without corrective lenses. Color, depth perception, and field of view must be normal as determined by an optometric examination;
  2. Using the average of readings at 500, 1000, and 3000 Hz, hearing shall be a frequency no worse than 25 decibels in each ear, uncorrected;
  3. Applicant shall be free of any chronic disease or organic or functional defect that would impair performance of law enforcement duties, as determined by a medical examination;
  4. Applicant shall be capable of passing physical agility tests, including flexibility, push-ups, sit-ups, vertical jump, and one and one-half mile run, using the standards established by the National Institute of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice as of March 1997.

FINAL CANDIDATES WILL BE REQUIRED TO PASS A POLYGRAPH TEST, A PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION TO DETERMINE THE APPLICANT’S ABILITY TO DEAL WITH CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION, AND A DRUG SCREENING TEST BEFORE APPOINTMENT. SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO UNDERGO A BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION. AN ARREST/CONVICTION RECORD WILL NOT NECESSARILY BAR EMPLOYMENT.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have

Law enforcement experience is preferred but not required.

Knowledge of:

  • memory structure;
  • computer systems theory;
  • networking and network application interfaces;
  • specification development and writing;
  • telecommunications theory;
  • network theory, network planning, design and evaluation;
  • distance communications systems (i.e., WAN);
  • computer systems facilities and support design and evaluation;
  • computer hardware and software;
  • operating systems and utilities;
  • application and user systems;
  • peripherals, networking, and computer assembly;
  • testing equipment;
  • hardware and software interfacing;
  • operational needs regarding data communications;
  • data storage and security;
  • agency rules/regulations and policies/procedures.

Skill in:

  • troubleshooting;
  • instructing;
  • testing;
  • operations analysis;
  • critical thinking;
  • solution appraisal;
  • product inspection;
  • judgment and decision making;
  • communicating effectively with others;
  • installation of hardware/software;
  • operation and control;
  • identification of key causes;
  • systems evaluation;
  • identifying downstream consequences;
  • maintenance/repair of equipment;
  • time management;
  • management of material/financial resources.

Ability to:

  • listen and communicate effectively;
  • apply general rules to specific problems to come up with logical answers;
  • recognize similarities or differences between individual characteristics;
  • combine separate pieces of information or specific answers to problems to form general rules or conclusions;
  • concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task over a period of time;
  • multi-task;
  • use basic computer applications such as Microsoft Office;
  • compile and maintain statistical data within Excel and/or related programs;
  • exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull or carry objects weighing up to 50 pounds;
  • stoop, kneel, crawl, crouch and endure prolonged standing;
  • move hands, feet and/or fingers easily and skillfully to manipulate small objects rapidly and accurately in accordance with visual stimuli;
  • work extremely well under pressure while maintaining a professional image and approach with citizens, coworkers, outside agencies etc.;
  • attend, comprehend, and implement additional training and skills in new software applications and forensic tools.