US Probation and Pretrial Services Officer

Summary

U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Officers (USPO's) serve in a judiciary law enforcement position and assist in the administration of justice and promote community safety, gather information, supervise persons under supervision, interact with collateral agencies, prepare reports, conduct investigations, and present recommendations to the Court.

Duties

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• Conduct investigations and prepare reports with recommendations, which require interviewing individuals and their families, as well as collecting background data from various sources. An integral part of this process is interpretation and application of policies and procedures, statutes, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedures, and may include U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, Guides, and relevant case law.
• Enforce court-ordered supervision components and implement supervision strategies. Maintain personal contact with individuals under supervision. Investigate employment, sources of income, living accommodations, and associates to assess risk and compliance. Address substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence, and similar problems and implement the necessary treatment or violation proceedings, through assessment, monitoring, interventions, and counseling.
• Schedule and conduct drug use detection tests and DNA collection of individuals under supervision following established procedures and protocols. Maintain paper and computerized records of test results. Maintain chain of custody of urinalysis testing materials.
• 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 Victim Restitution Act.
• Analyze and respond to any objections received from attorneys based on the officer's written court submissions. This may include resolving disputed issues and presenting unresolved issues to the court for resolution.
• Communicate with other organizations and persons (such as the U.S. Parole Commission, Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Attorney's Office, U.S. Marshals, law enforcement, treatment agencies, and attorneys) concerning individuals under supervision's behavior and conditions of supervision. Identify and investigate violations and implement appropriate alternatives and sanctions. In collaboration with Supervisory Probation Officer, report violations of the conditions of supervision to the appropriate authorities.
  
  Prepare written reports of adjustment, including violation matters, and make recommendations for disposition.
• Respond to judicial officer's requests for information and advice. Testify in court as to the basis for factual findings and (if warranted) guideline applications. Maintain detailed written records of case activity. May conduct surveillance and/or search and seizure at the direction of the court.
• Maintain knowledge of, and compliance with, the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees and court confidentiality requirements. Show ability to consistently demonstrate sound ethics and judgment.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• A 10-year background investigation including FBI fingerprinting is required. Subject to ongoing random drug screening and updated background investigations every five years and, as deemed necessary by management for reasonable cause, may be subject to subsequent fitness-for-duty evaluations.
• Prior to appointment, the selectee considered for this position will undergo a medical examination and drug screening. Upon successful completion of the medical examination and drug screening, the selectee may then be appointed provisionally, pending a favorable suitability determination by the Court.
• Newly appointed U.S. Probation Officers receive extensive training during their first year of employment and are required to successfully complete a six week, paid national training program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (Probation and Pretrial Academy), in Charleston, South Carolina.
• The United States District Court requires employees to adhere to a Code of Conduct Policy.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

The selected candidate must be a U.S. citizen or foreign national eligible for federal employment.

Possession of a valid driver's license.

Completion of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a field of academic study which provides evidence of the capacity to understand and apply the legal requirements and human relations skills involved in the position.

Further, the selected candidate must have specialized experience as shown below:

CL-25: Requires one year of specialized experience, including at least one year equivalent to work at the CL-23 level or completion of the requirements for a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with superior academic achievement requirements.

CL-27: Requires two years of specialized experience, including at least one year equivalent to work at the CL-25 level or completion of a master's…