U.S. Probation Officer

About the role

U.S. Probation / Pretrial Services Officers serve in a judiciary law enforcement capacity and assist in the fair administration of justice. Incumbents promote community safety, gather information, conduct investigations, interact with collateral agencies, prepare reports, present recommendations to the court, and supervise and monitor persons under federal supervision.

What you will do

• Conduct investigations and prepare reports for the court with recommendations, which requires interviewing defendants/persons under supervision and their families, as well as collecting background data from various sources.
• An integral part of this process is the interpretation and application of the U.S. Sentencing Commission guidelines and relevant case law.
• Enforce court-ordered supervision components and implement supervision strategies.
• Maintain personal contact with defendants and persons under supervision, including community contact.
• Investigate employment, sources of income, lifestyle, and associates to assess risk and compliance.
• Address substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence and similar problems and implement the necessary treatment or violation proceedings, through assessment monitoring, and counseling.
• Identify and investigate violations and implement appropriate alternatives and sanctions.
• Report violations of the conditions of supervision to the appropriate authorities.
• Prepare written reports of violation matters and make recommendations for disposition.
• Review and resolve disputed issues involving defendants/persons under supervision and present unresolved issues to the court for resolution.
• Assess persons under supervision/defendants' level of risk and develop a blend of risk management strategies for controlling and correcting risk.
• Respond to judicial officer's requests for information and advice.
• Testify in court as to the basis for factual findings and guideline applications.
• Serve as a resource to the court.
• Communicate and consult with other organizations, including law enforcement agencies, attorneys, victims, Bureau of Prisons, treatment agencies and community resources.
• Regular use of information technology, automated equipment, electronic case management/filing systems, and systems available for conducting background checks, criminal histories, and other investigative databases.
• Responsible for enforcement of location monitoring conditions ordered by the court.
• May conduct surveillance and/or search and seizure at the direction of the court.
• Regular travel within the district and occasional travel outside the district for ongoing professional development and training.
• Evening and weekend work is required for supervision activities and/or mission critical tasks.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Knowledge of, and compliance with, the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees and court confidentiality requirements.
• Ability to consistently demonstrate sound ethics and judgment.
• Applicants must be a U.S. Citizen or eligible to work in the United States.
• New officers will attend a six-week training academy at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Charleston, South Carolina within the first year of employment.
• Applicants may be required to submit to job-related testing and/or writing assessments as part of the screening process.
• A valid driver's license is required.

Education

Completion of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a field of academic study which provides evidence of the capacity to understand and apply the legal requirements and human relations skills involved in the position, is required.

How you will be evaluated

We will review your resume and supporting documents to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements.

We will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications on the information provided and evaluate your relevant professional, educational, and work experiences as it relates to fundamental competencies, identified in the Qualifications section above, required for this position.

Documents you must provide

• Resume Letter of interest which clearly outlines your qualifications and experience as it relates to the position.
• Completed AO 78-Federal Judicial Branch Employment Application.
• The AO 78 must be complete with all questions answered.
• Since this is a law enforcement position, the Optional Background Information (Questions 19, 20, and 21) and Date of Birth are required.
• The application form must be signed and dated.
• Copies of two most recent performance evaluations.
• Complete performance evaluations are required unless unavailable.
• If unavailable, please provide an explanation in the letter of interest.
• College transcripts: Unofficial copies accepted at application.
• Official transcripts required prior to appointment.
• See 'How to Apply' for instructions.

Benefits

Voluntary participation in Federal Employees' Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, and Flexible Spending Plans/Programs. Participation in the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) Annuity (Pension) Plan. Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), a 401(k) styled program with a government match of up to 5%.

Paid Federal Holidays. Annual and Sick Leave Accrual. Parking.

Employee Assistance Program & Work Life Services. Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program (must meet qualifying student loan criteria.) For more information about Federal Judiciary benefits, please visit: Benefits

What to expect next

Once you submit your application, we will assess your application and experience, identify the best qualified applicants, and refer those applications to the hiring manager for further consideration and interviews.

Additional information

The U.S. Probation Office is part of the Federal Judiciary. Judiciary employees serve under excepted appointments and are considered "at-will" employees. All information provided by applicant is subject to verification.

False statements or omissions of information on any application materials or inability to meet conditions of employment may be grounds for non-selection, withdrawal of an offer of employment, or dismissal after being employed. This office will contact references, including former employers, for top candidates.

The Court reserves the right to contact additional references other than those provided by the applicant. Travel reimbursement in connection with the selection process and/or relocation is not authorized. More than one position may be filled from this announcement.

The Court reserves the right to modify the conditions of this job announcement or to withdraw the job announcement, any of which actions may occur without any prior written notice.

If a subsequent vacancy becomes available within a reasonable time of the original announcement, the Chief Probation Officer may elect to select a candidate from the original qualified applicant pool without further advertising. If you need assistance, please email our HR Department at ***. No emails or calls on the status of applications, please.

For more information on U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services visit: Probation and Pretrial Services U.S. Probation & Pretrial Services Careers The U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office for the Western District of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer.