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Probation and pretrial services officers perform functions that aid judicial officers in making informed decisions on persons charged with and convicted of criminal offenses and supervise persons to assure their compliance with conditions of release.
Duties
- Conducts pretrial investigations and prepares pretrial reports for the court with recommendations addressing risk of flight and risk of danger to the community. Gathers comprehensive, factual, and objective information that is verified with collateral resources. Provides written and verbal assistance to the court regarding pretrial procedures in a clear, logical, and concise format.
- Conducts presentence investigations and prepares reports for the court with recommendations for sentencing. Preparation of these reports requires interviewing defendants and their families; investigating the offense, prior record and financial status of the defendant; and contacting collateral sources. An integral part of the presentence investigative process, including responses to objections, is the interpretation and application of the U.S. Sentencing Commission Guidelines and relevant case law.
- Supervises persons under pretrial and post-conviction supervision to promote positive lifestyle changes, to maximize compliance with court-imposed conditions, to reduce risk to the community, and to provide for correctional treatment. Develop and implement appropriate strategies utilizing evidence-based practices.
- Maintains personal contact with persons under pretrial and post-conviction supervision through telephone and electronic means and visits in the office, home, and community.
- Detects and investigates any violations of conditions of supervision, including substance abuse, and implements appropriate strategies and sanctions. Reports violations of the conditions of supervision to the court and appropriate authorities.
- Officers initiate contact with, reply to, and seek information from a variety of sources such as the U.S. Parole Commission, Bureau of Prisons, defendants/persons under supervision and their families, community partners, law enforcement officials, treatment providers, victims, and attorneys. As representatives of U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services, officers are required to treat everyone with dignity and respect.
- Officers prepare an array of reports and may be required to testify in court as to the basis of factual findings, case information, and guideline applications.
- Officers serve as resources and subject matter experts for the Court.
- Officers are required to maintain a detailed written record of case activity.
- Interpret and apply complex rules, policies, and procedures while ensuring judicial and statutory requirements are being met. Mandatory evenings and weekend work is required for supervision activities and/or mission critical tasks.
- Mandatory evenings and weekend work is required for supervision activities and/or mission critical tasks. Some training and travel, including overnight stays, are required. Officers may be required to work more than 40 hours per week in order to meet job requirements and deadlines. Overtime pay is not authorized by the Judicial Conference of the United States.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
This is a hazardous duty position and subject to mandatory separation at age 57, after the completion of at least 20 years of service. First-time appointees to positions covered under law enforcement officer retirement provisions must not have reached their 37th birthday at the time of appointment.
As a condition of employment, the selected candidate must successfully complete a comprehensive background investigation and every five years thereafter will be subject to a re-investigation. Prior to appointment, the selectee will undergo a drug screening and medical examination. Upon successful completion of the medical examination and drug screening, the selectee may then be appointed provisionally. A full background investigation will be completed by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) once the incumbent has entered onto duty as a provisional hire. If the OPM report reflects any findings of a negative nature or disqualifying actionable issues, suitability will be reconsidered by the Chief District Judge and the Chief U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Officer.
Employees are subject to ongoing random drug screening, updated background investigations, and may be subject to subsequent fitness-for-duty evaluations. The duties of a probation officer include moderate to arduous physical exercise and require physical dexterity and coordination necessary for officer safety and use of self-defense tactics. The medical requirements and the essential job functions derived from the medical guidelines for probation officers, pretrial services officers, and officer assistants may be obtained at https://www.uscourts.gov/services-forms/probation-and-pretrial-services website under the Federal Courts section.
All court employees, including U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Officers, are excepted service appointments and are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees which is available at https://www.uscourts.gov/rules-policies/judiciary-policies/code-conduct/code-conduct-judicial-employees.
Qualifications
- Must have the ability to interact and communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
- Must be mature, responsible, organized, and demonstrate sound ethics and judgment. Must possess a positive attitude, integrity, initiative, and the ability to work with a wide variety of people with diverse backgrounds.
- Must work well under pressure and meet deadlines.
- A valid driver’s license is required.
- Additional preferred skills include: fluency in a foreign language and licensure or certification in a behavioral science (LMSW, CADC, LPC, etc.).
A minimum of one (1) year of specialized experience is necessary to qualify at the CL25 level. A minimum of two years of specialized experience; or completion of a master’s degree in a field of study closely related to the position, or a Juris Doctor (JD) degree is necessary to qualify at the CL27 level. Progressively responsible experience gained after completion of a bachelor’s degree, in such fields as probation, pretrial services, parole, corrections, criminal investigations, or work in substance/addiction treatment qualify. Experience as a police, custodial, or security officer, other than any criminal investigation experience, is not creditable for this position.
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, and business or public administration. An advanced degree from an accredited college or university is preferred.
To apply for this job email your details to erica_clark@wiwb.uscourts.gov