U.S. Probation Officer

About the role

By statute, the Probation Officer serves in a judiciary law enforcement position and assists in the administration of justice. The incumbent promotes community safety, gathers information, supervises offenders/defendants, interacts with collateral agencies, prepares reports, conducts investigations, and presents recommendations to the court.

The incumbent performs duties that involve general pretrial services or probation cases, under the guidance of a Supervisory Officer.

What you will do

• Under the guidance and direction of a Supervisory Probation Officer, conduct investigations and prepare reports for the court with recommendations.
• Interview offenders/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 Probation Officer, enforce court-ordered supervision components and implement supervision strategies.
• Maintain personal contact with defendants and offenders, 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 specialist.
• Schedule and conduct drug use detection tests and DNA collection of offenders/ 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/offenders and present unresolved issues to the court for resolution.
• Assess offenders'/defendants' level of risk and develop a blend of strategies for controlling and correcting risk management.
• Provide offenders/defendants with information on local resources and programs regarding employment, GED certification assistance, ongoing education, and vocational training.
• Identify interests, aptitudes, and abilities of offenders/defendants through interviewing and gathering appropriate information.
• Assist offenders/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 offenders'/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 proceedings.

Requirements

• Employees of the U.S. Probation Office are required to adhere to a Code of Conduct of Judicial Employees, which is available to candidates for review at the U.S. Courts website at ***
• Electronic funds transfer (EFT) for payroll deposit is required.
• Incumbent will be required to complete the Probation Officer training program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Academy (FLETC) in Charleston, SC.
• Incumbent will be subject to updated background investigations every five (5) years and ongoing random drug screenings.

Education

Bachelor's Degree

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 completed Application for Judicial Branch Federal Employment (can be downloaded from AO 78 Application (Revised) or the form may be requested via email at ***); a letter of interest and a resume with professional references; a college transcript, (copy is sufficient); and, a writing sample (a "sanitized" report/work product from your experience in a criminal justice field).
• See 'How to Apply' for instructions.

Benefits

Benefits include paid vacation, sick leave, paid holidays, health insurance, a flexible benefits program, a retirement plan and portable savings plan with matching contributions, and a professional environment. Additional benefit information is available at ***

What to expect next

Only most qualified individuals will be invited for a personal interview.

Additional information

Multiple officers may be hired with this vacancy depending on budget/workload of the office. Veterans' preference is not a factor used in Judicial Branch appointments. The United States Probation Office is an Equal Opportunity Employer