U.S. Probation Officer

About the role

The U.S. Probation Office for the Western District of Virginia, a combined district for probation and pretrial services, is currently accepting applications for experienced U.S. Probation Officers.

The Probation Office currently consists of 44 employees who support 10 judicial officers and their staff located in six divisional offices (Abingdon, Danville, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Lynchburg and Roanoke). Travel including overnight, within and outside the district, is required.

What you will do

• Under the guidance and direction of a Supervisory Officer, conduct investigations and prepare reports for the court with recommendations.
• Interview persons under supervision/defendants and their families and collect background data from various sources.
• During process, interpret and apply policies and procedures, statutes, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedures, and U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, Monographs, and relevant case law, as applicable.
• Under the guidance and direction of a Supervisory Officer, enforce court-ordered supervision components and implement supervision strategies.
• Maintain personal contact with defendants and persons under supervision, investigate employment, sources of income, lifestyle, and associates to assess risk and compliance.
• Address substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence, and similar problems and refer to appropriate specialists.
• Schedule and conduct drug use detection tests and DNA collection of persons under supervision/defendants, following established procedures and protocols.
• Maintain paper and computerized records of test results.
• Maintain chain of custody of urinalysis testing materials.
• Respond to judicial officers' requests for information and advice.
• Testify in court as to the basis for factual findings and guideline applications, if warranted.
• Maintain detailed written records of case activity.
• Investigate and analyze financial documents and activities and take appropriate action.
• Interview victim(s) and provide victim impact statements to the court.
• Ensure compliance with Mandatory Victims Restitution Act.
• Under the guidance and direction of a Supervisory Probation Officer, 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 strategies for controlling and correcting risk management.
• Provide persons under supervision/defendants with information on local resources and programs regarding employment, GED certification assistance, ongoing education, and vocational training.
• Identify interests, aptitudes, and abilities of persons under supervision/defendants through interviewing and gathering appropriate information.
• Assist persons under supervision/defendants toward integration into the job market.
• Communicate with other organizations and personnel (such as the U.S. Parole Commission, Bureau of Prisons, law enforcement, treatment agencies, and attorneys) concerning persons under supervision/defendants' behavior and conditions of supervision.
• Identify and investigate violations and implement appropriate alternatives and sanctions.
• Discuss violations with Supervisory Probation Officer.
• Report violations of the conditions of supervision to the appropriate authorities.
• Prepare written reports of violation matters and make recommendations for disposition.
• Testify at court or parole hearings.
• Conduct Parole Commission preliminary interviews.

Requirements

• Because officers must effectively deal with physical attacks and are subject to moderate to arduous physical exertion, applicants must be physically capable.
• Officers must possess, with or without corrective lenses, good distance vision in at least one eye and the ability to read normal size print.
• Normal hearing ability, with or without a hearing aid, is also required.
• Any severe health problems, such as physical defects, disease, and deformities that constitute employment hazards to the applicant or others, may disqualify an applicant.
• First-time appointees to positions covered under law enforcement officer retirement provisions must not have reached their 37th birthday at the time of appointment.
• Applicants 37 years of age or over who have previous law enforcement officer experience under the Civil Service Retirement System or the Federal Employees Retirement System, and who have either a subsequent break in service or intervening service in a non-law enforcement officer position, may have their previous law enforcement officer experience subtracted from their age to determine whether they meet the maximum age requirement.
• The successful candidate will possess excellent written and oral communication skills as well as excellent computer skills, including knowledge of and skill in using automated databases and word processing; the ability to perform thorough investigations; analyze and evaluate varied information from multiple sources and form conclusions; write clear, concise, grammatically correct reports while meeting strict deadlines; and possess knowledge of the roles and responsibilities of the federal courts and probation office.
• The successful candidate will possess a valid driver's license and have access to a personal vehicle for use in the event a government-issued vehicle is unavailable.
• Further, the successful candidate will possess the ability to organize and prioritize one's work schedule; exercise initiative in handling assignments; work independently with little or no supervision; exercise discretion and sound judgment; handle conflict; listen actively and express empathy; work harmoniously and collaborate with a variety of staff; and maintain a positive, professional demeanor at all times.

Education

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a field of academic study, such as criminal justice, criminology, psychology, sociology, human relations, or business or public administration, which provides evidence of the capacity to understand and apply the legal requirements and human relation skills involved in the position is required for all officer positions.

How you will be evaluated

Your application and supporting documentation will be reviewed to ensure you meet the basic eligibility and qualifications in this vacancy announcement. Qualified applicants will be evaluated based on relevant professional, educational, and work experiences required for the position.

Documents you must provide

• A letter of interest; A detailed resume; Two most recent performance appraisals (or an explanation why they cannot be provided); College transcript(s) (official or unofficial); Contact information for three professional references; and Judicial Application for Employment - Form AO78 See 'How to Apply' for instructions.

Benefits

As part of a generous total compensation package, the federal judiciary offers a diverse group of benefit programs, including health, dental, and vision coverage, participation in flexible reimbursement accounts, and retirement benefits.

What to expect next

Due to the anticipated high volume of submissions expected to be received, the Court will communicate only with those individuals who are invited for a personal interview. Unsuccessful applicants will not receive notice. Participation in the interview process will be at the applicant's own expense and relocation expenses will not be provided.

Additional information

Must be a U.S. citizen or meet the citizenship requirements for employment in the Judiciary.

Visit the Court's web site at *** for additional information on citizenship requirement. Selectees are subject to a background investigation, including fingerprinting, and subsequent favorable suitability determination.

This position is subject to mandatory electronic funds transfer (direct deposit) for payment of salary. The Court requires employees to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Judiciary Employees, which is available for review on the Court's web site at ***

Prior to appointment, the selectee considered for this position will undergo a medical examination, drug screening and a ten-year background investigation. Upon successful completion of the medical examination, drug screening and background investigation, the selectee may then be appointed provisionally, pending a favorable suitability determination by the court.

In addition, as conditions of employment, incumbent will be subject to ongoing random drug screening, updated background investigations every five years, and as deemed necessary by management for reasonable cause, may be subject to subsequent fitness-for-duty evaluations.

The medical requirements for primary and secondary law enforcement officer and officer assistant positions are available for public review at *** under Officer and Officer Assistant Medical Requirements.

Work is performed in an office setting and out in the community (field situations) and may be subject to variable hours, including nights and weekends, and requires regular contact with persons who have violent backgrounds. The incumbent will be required to complete the Probation Officer training program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Academy (FLETC) in Charleston, SC.

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. The United States District Court is an Equal Opportunity Employer.