U.S. Probation Officer

Court Name/Organization Illinois Southern Probation and Pretrial Services

Overview of the Position Under the general supervision of the CUSPO, DCUSPO, and Supervisory Probation Officer, the U.S. Probation Officer (USPO) conducts investigations and supervises people placed on probation, parole, and supervised release. Duties also may include conducting pretrial investigations to obtain background information and preparing reports for the court with recommendations on if a defendant should be detained or released on bond pending a disposition of the charge.

The USPO gathers comprehensive factual information, which is verified through collateral resources, and provides written and/or verbal assistance to the court regarding pretrial procedures in a clear, logical, and concise format.

The USPO conducts presentence investigations, interprets and applies the U.S. Sentencing Commission guidelines and relevant case law, and prepares reports for the court with recommendations for sentencing of individuals convicted of federal offenses.

Duties also may include supervision of individuals to maximize adherence to court-ordered conditions, reduce risk to the community, and provide correctional treatment. The supervision process involves maintaining personal contact with people under supervision through community visits and office/telephone contacts; investigating employment, sources of income, lifestyle, and associates to assess risk and compliance; detecting substance abuse through urine collection and other methods;

referring people under supervision to agencies for treatment; etc. The USPO also submits reports to the court and provides testimony during court hearings.

The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.