Probation and Pretrial Services

Face the Challenge: Become a U.S. Probation Officer
or a U.S. Pretrial Services Officer

Duties
Benefits
Qualifications
      — Officer and Officer Assistant Medical Requirements
      — Officer and Officer Assistant Essential Job Functions

Duties

• Investigate the backgrounds of persons who come before the court for arraignment and sentencing.
  
• Prepare reports that the court relies on to make release and sentencing decisions.
  
• Supervise individuals the court releases to the community on pretrial supervision, probation, parole, or supervised release and reduce the risk these persons may pose to the public.
  
• Provide persons under supervision with, or direct them to, services ordered by the court, such as substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, medical care, training, or employment assistance.
  
• Work with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and interact with judges, U.S. attorneys, and defense attorneys.
  

Benefits

A Career Opportunity
A federal law enforcement position in the United States Court, with job security and potential for advancement.

Compensation
Competitive pay rates, with potential for cash awards and bonuses and with locality pay in some high-cost metropolitan areas.

Annual Leave
From 13 to 26 days of vacation/personal leave a year, based on length of service.

Sick Leave
Thirteen days of sick leave annually, which can be used for illness, medical appointments, care of sick family members, and/or adoption.

Holidays
Ten paid federal holidays a year.

Thrift Savings Plan
A retirement savings and investment plan, featuring a choice of investment funds and matching contributions from the government.

Life Insurance
Low-group-rate basic coverage–for which the government pays one-third of the cost–plus optional additional coverage.

Health Insurance
A wide range of health care options, including fee-for-service and HMO plans, for which the government shares the cost of enrollment.

Flexible Benefits
An optional program that allows you to set aside pre-tax dollars to cover most out-of-pocket health care and dependent care (day care) expenses.

Long-Term Care Insurance
An optional program that provides a variety of community-based and home-based services if you become unable to care for yourself due to accident or illness.

Training
A comprehensive new officer orientation program and 40 hours of in-service training annually, including officer safety training.

Retirement
Hazardous duty retirement, which provides for mandatory retirement at age 57, or optional retirement at age 50 with 20 years of service.

Qualifications

To qualify as a United States Probation Officer or United States Pretrial Services Officer, you must:

• Be a graduate of an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree.
  
• Be in good physical health.
  
• Be younger than age 37 at time of appointment.
  
• Undergo a medical examination, as a condition of employment, and may be subject to subsequent fitness-for-duty evaluations.
        — Officer and Officer Assistant Medical Requirements
        — Officer and Officer Assistant Essential Job Functions
  
• Undergo a background investigation and, as a condition of employment, periodic reinvestigations.
  
• Undergo random drug testing as a condition of employment.
  

For More Information

Interested? Want to learn more? Contact the probation or pretrial services office in the U.S. district court where you'd like to work. There you can find out what opportunities are available and how to apply.