Job Details for U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Officer

Minimum Qualifications and Special Skills: Completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a field such as criminal justice, criminology, sociology, human relations, business or public administration, or another related field which provides evidence of the capacity to understand and apply the legal requirements and human relations skills involved in the position. A valid driver’s license is required.

Strong communication skills, including writing, are essential to be a successful officer. Officers must be mature, responsible, organized, and demonstrate sound ethics and judgment. Officers must possess a positive attitude, integrity, initiative, and the ability to work with a wide variety of people with diverse backgrounds. Officers must work well under pressure and meet deadlines.

Preferred Skills: Additional preferred skills include fluency in a foreign language and licensure or certification in a behavioral science (LMSW, CADC, LPC, etc.). An advanced degree from an accredited college or university is preferred.

For CL 25: A minimum of one year of specialized experience or completion of the requirements of for a bachelor’s degree and one of the following superior academic achievement requirements:

• An overall “B” grade point average or a “B+” (3.5 out of 4.0) average in a major field of study;
• Academic standing in the upper third of the class;
• Election to one of the national honorary scholastic societies meeting the minimum requirements of the Association of College Honor Societies, other than freshman honor societies; or
• Completion of one academic year (30 semester or 45 quarter hours) of graduate work in a field of study closely related to the position.

For CL 27: A minimum of two 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.

Specialized Experience: Progressively responsible experience in such fields as probation, pretrial services, parole, corrections, criminal investigations, substance/addiction treatment, public administration, social work, psychology, human relations, or mental health. Experience as a custodial or security officer does not qualify as specialized experience. Experience as a police officer qualifies only if such experience is in criminal investigations.

Conditions of Employment: This is a hazardous duty position and subject to mandatory separation at age 57, after the completion of at least 20 years of service. First-time appointees to positions covered under law enforcement officer retirement provisions must not have reached their 37th birthday at the time of appointment.

Officers must undergo an extensive government background investigation. Prior to appointment, the selectee will undergo a drug screening and medical examination. Upon successful completion of the medical examination and drug screening, the selectee may then be appointed provisionally, pending a favorable suitability determination. In addition, the incumbent will be subject to ongoing random drug screening, updated background investigations every five years, and may be subject to subsequent fitness-for-duty evaluations.

Officers work with people who present physical danger to officers and to the public. The duties of an officer include moderate to arduous physical exercise and require physical dexterity and coordination necessary for officer safety and use of self-defense tactics. Officers are subject to physical and mental stress due to the nature of their job responsibilities. The medical requirements and the essential job functions derived from the medical guidelines for probation officers, pretrial services officers, and officer assistants may be obtained at the website for U.S. Courts.

U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Officers are excepted service appointments and are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees. Fully appointed officers may be removed by the Court for unacceptable performance, misconduct, or other cause, pursuant to 18 U.S.C § 3602(a).

During their first year of duty, probation officers receive extensive local training and must also successfully complete a six-week national training program at the Federal Probation and Pretrial Academy in Charleston, South Carolina.

Employees must reside within a reasonable commuting distance to their assigned duty station. Applicants must be citizens of the United States.