United States Probation Officer

Full Job Description

The primary focus of the job is to fulfill statutory requirements to conduct pretrial and pre-sentence investigations, supervise offenders/defendants, make recommendations to the court, evaluate needs and conditions, and maximize compliance with minimal oversight.

Probation/Pretrial Services Officers' performance assists the court in effectively processing probation and pretrial matters.

A proper recommendation to the court maximizes the protection to the public.

Minimum Requirements for a CL-25 grade level: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university, in a field of study involving criminal justice, psychology, sociology, human relations, social work, business, public administration, or related field.

Must have at least one year of specialized experience or a master's degree in a field of study closely related to the position or a Juris Doctorate degree.

MAXIMUM ENTRY AGE: 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 age 37 or over who have previous law enforcement officer experience under 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 experience subtracted from their age to determine whether they meet the maximum age requirement.

This is a hazardous duty position and as such you will be subject to mandatory separation based on age if you are occupying this position at age 57, and you have completed the necessary 20 years of service.

Specialized Experience: 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.

Experience as a police, custodial, or security officer, other than any criminal investigative experience, is not creditable. Major Duties:

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 work with appropriate specialist to implement necessary treatment or violation proceedings, through assessment, monitoring, and counseling.

Conduct investigations, prepare reports, and make recommendations to the court. Interview offenders/defendants and their families, and collect background data from various sources.

Interpret and apply policies, procedures, and statutes, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedures, and U.S. Sentencing Guidelines,Monographs, and relevant case law, as applicable.

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, as warranted. Serve as a resource to the court. 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.

Enforce home confinement conditions ordered by the court, and perform home confinement reintegration on behalf of the Bureau of Prisons, as applicable.

Review and resolve disputed issues involving offenders/defendants and present unresolved issues to the court for resolution.

Assess offenders'/defendants'level of risk and develop a blend of risk management strategies for controlling and correcting risk.

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.

Work with offenders/defendants toward integration into the job market through cross-training, mentoring, and the use of up-to-date technology.

Communicate with other organizations and personnel(such as 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 Officer.

Report violations of the conditions of supervision to the appropriate authorities. Prepare written reports of violation matters, and make recommendations for disposition.

Conduct Parole Commission preliminary interviews. Guide the work of staff providing administrative and technical assistance to officers.