Donna L. Murray, M.A.
LICENSE # C1100008 • #A1400174
Donna L. Murray, M.A., L.P.I., is a mitigation specialist and Florida licensed private investigator with more than 20 years of investigative experience. She has conducted hundreds of criminal defense investigations and worked on more than 70 Florida capital and resentencing cases.
Her professional background combines criminal justice education, forensic interviewing, social-history investigation, child protective investigation, public defense experience, and forensic social work. These qualifications allow Donna to uncover, document, and organize the complex life experiences that may be relevant to capital, juvenile resentencing, and non-capital criminal matters.
Donna is a Justice Administrative Commission vendor providing mitigation specialist and investigative services for indigent defendants throughout Florida’s 20 judicial circuits.
Experience Supporting Complex Defense Cases
A mitigation specialist must do more than collect records. The work requires investigative skill, careful interviewing, an understanding of trauma and human development, and the ability to establish trust with clients, families, witnesses, experts, and members of the defense team.
Donna’s experience helps her identify meaningful patterns across medical, mental health, educational, correctional, employment, social-service, and family records. She then works with counsel to organize those findings into a credible and fact-supported understanding of the client’s life history.
Donna previously served as Chief Investigator for the Office of the Public Defender in Lee County, Florida. She has also worked as a Child Protective Investigator for the Florida Department of Children and Families and as a forensic social worker in juvenile resentencing matters.
Her mitigation experience includes capital, juvenile resentencing, and other criminal cases requiring detailed life-history and social-history investigation.
Education
- Master’s in Criminal Justice Administration, University of South Florida
- Phi Kappa Phi
- Recipient of Outstanding Graduate Student Award
- Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice, University of South Florida
- Associate Degree in Criminal Justice, Edison Community College
- Phi Theta Kappa
Professional Associations
- The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi [Membership by Invitation for academic excellence]
- National Defender Investigator Association (NDIA) Conference Committee Member
- National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA)
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)
- National Alliance of Sentencing Advocates and Mitigation Specialists (NASAMS) Nominations Committee Member 2017
- Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (FACDL)
- American Society of Criminology, (ASC) Corrections & Sentencing and Victimology Divisions
- National Association for Public Defense (NAPD)
Licensure / Certifications / Commission
- Licensed Private Investigator, State of Florida License #C1100008,
- Owner – Licensed Private Investigative Agency # A1400174
- Forensic Social Worker for Juvenile Resentencing
- JIS/FCIC Certified, FL Dept. of Law Enforcement
- Certified Forensic Interviewer and Interrogator, FGCU
- Certified Child Protective Investigator, FL Dept. of Children and Families
- Certified OSHA First Responder – Operations Level, California Dept. of Justice
* Notary Public, State of Florida
Presentations Media Presentations
- A&E special series: Kids Life Or Parole, aired 2019 Interviewed in 3 episodes of an 8 episode series: Resentencing cases: “Preston” and “Ron Bell”
- Public Radio Interview, 29 minute Public Service Announcement broadcast Topic: Child Protective Investigation Procedures in Florida broadcast November, 2005 on WJPT-FM, 106.3, Estero, Florida
What licenses does Donna Murray hold?
Donna Murray is a licensed private investigator in Florida, License #C1100008. She is also the owner of Murray Investigations and Mitigation Specialists, a licensed Florida private investigative agency, License #A1400174.
What is Donna Murray’s educational background?
Donna earned a master’s degree and bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration from the University of South Florida. She also earned an associate degree in Criminal Justice from Edison Community College.
What professional certifications does Donna Murray hold?
Donna’s credentials include Certified Forensic Interviewer and Interrogator, Certified Child Protective Investigator, JIS/FCIC certification, OSHA First Responder–Operations Level certification, and Florida Notary Public.
Does Donna Murray work on juvenile resentencing cases?
Yes. Donna works as a forensic social worker and mitigation specialist in juvenile resentencing matters. Her work may include investigating childhood development, trauma, family history, mental health, institutional history, rehabilitation, and growth over time.
Is Donna Murray a JAC vendor?
Yes. Donna is a Justice Administrative Commission vendor providing mitigation specialist and investigative services for indigent defendants throughout Florida’s 20 judicial circuits.
Is Donna available for cases outside Southwest Florida?
Murray Investigations is based in Southwest Florida, but Donna is willing to travel to assist defense teams and defendants where needed. Case availability depends on location, deadlines, and the required scope of work.
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