Probation Officer; Presentence Investigations - Ocala, Florida

Overview

Position
- United States Probation Officer (Presentence Investigations)

Date Opened - February 4, 2026

Closing Date - Until filled with a preference for applications received on or before February 27, 2026

Location - Ocala, Florida

Classification Level & Salary Range

$59,735 - $116,394 (CL 27/1 – CL 28/61)

* Starting salary commensurate with work experience, previous federal government service, and prior pay history. Promotion potential to CL 28 for the successful candidate hired below CL 28 based on performance and funding.

The United States Probation Office for the Middle District of Florida is seeking qualified applicants for the position of United States Probation Officer in our Ocala Division. The Middle District of Florida is a progressive district that values continual growth and development and collaborative learning through shared experiences. We believe that leadership is a shared responsibility of all team members, and we expect staff at all levels of the organization to lead from where they stand.

We encourage creativity and ingenuity in problem solving.

Geographically, the district covers thirty-five counties from the Georgia border in the northeast to south of Naples on Florida’s southwest coast. There are five divisional offices located in Tampa, Jacksonville, Ocala, Orlando, and Fort Myers, and satellite offices in Cocoa and Sarasota. The Middle District of Florida Probation Office will protect the public, promote the fair and impartial administration of justice, and facilitate meaningful positive changes in the lives of others.

The Middle District of Florida Probation Office will be the gold standard for community corrections agencies. We will set the benchmark for best practices and continually seek to raise the bar. We will provide superior service, complete superior investigations, engage in superior supervision, and have the greatest positive impact on others, the community, and society. We will do so by equipping, empowering, and engaging a highly developed, talented, and motivated staff, one in which all members collaboratively cultivate a culture that embodies our core values and guiding principles.

Position Responsibilities:

Conduct investigations and prepare reports for the United States District Court, the United States Parole Commission, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons, regarding the background and activities of individuals charged with, or convicted of, federal offenses; and submit recommendations to the court at sentencing, during community supervision, and during other phases of the judicial process. Provide supervision of individuals in the community;

enforce court-ordered supervision components and implement evidenced-based supervision strategies tailored to individual needs.

Maintain personal contact with defendants and individuals under supervision. Investigate employment, sources of income, lifestyle, and associates to assess risk and compliance. Address non-compliance, substance use disorders, mental health, domestic violence, and similar problems and implement the appropriate monitoring, restrictions, and interventions.

Qualifications must be met at the time of the application.

Required:

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, business or public administration, or other closely related field which provides evidence of the capacity to understand and apply the legal requirements and human relations skills involved in the position.

In addition to meeting education requirements, candidates must also possess the following:

• To qualify for the CL 27 Level: A minimum of two (2) 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 required.
• Specialized
  
  Experience:
  
  Progressively responsible experience, gained after completion of a bachelor’s degree, in such fields as probation, pretrial services, parole, corrections, criminal investigations, public administration, human relations, social work, psychology, mental…