Mitigation Specialist/Investigator
Capital case defense attorneys have
a duty to conduct a thorough investigation of possible mitigating evidence in every death penalty case.1 This responsibility, in large part, is met with the assistance of an expert mitigation
specialist, also known as an expert mitigation investigator.
Janell Wagner is an experienced and formally trained investigator who holds degrees
in the 3 most recommended areas for a Mitigation Specialist, a Bachelors Degreee in
Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology, and a second Bachelors Degree in Sociology, graduating Summa Cum Laude From Central
Washington University, in 1986 and receiving her second BA in 1987. In addition she received training as a professional investigator
at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center while employed with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Office
of Inspector General as a Criminal Investigator/Special Agent. She has worked with diverse populations
and subject matter in her 20 years of conducting investigations.
This special set of skills and training allows her to approach her cases with both the skills
necessary to conduct a thorough and legal background investigation for your client, as well as the social
work skills needed to obtain sensitive family and client history’s.
She has attended numerous advanced training courses over the years and most
recently attended The National Seminar on the Development
and Integration of Mitigation Evidence conducted by the Administrative Office of the US Courts Office of Defender Services.
She is a current member of the following professional association’s:
National
Alliance of Sentencing Advocates and Mitigation Specialists
Washington Defender Association
National Defender
Association
National Defender Investigator Association