Job Details for U.S. Probation Officer or Probation Officer Assistant

U.S. Probation Officers (USPO) conduct investigations and prepare reports for the court with recommendations for sentencing of individuals convicted of federal offenses. An integral part of this process is the interpretation and application of the U.S. Sentencing Commission guidelines and relevant case law. Incumbents testify in court as to the basis for factual findings and guideline applications and serve as a resource to the court to facilitate proper imposition of sentence.

Through personal contact with offenders in office and community visits and by telephone, incumbents supervise offenders to maximize adherence to imposed conditions, to reduce risk to the community, and to provide correctional treatment. Incumbents investigate persons charged with federal criminal offenses and make recommendations on the amount of bail and the conditions to be met by the defendant if released. Additionally, incumbents supervise defendants released on bail to monitor and intervene to modify behavior to reduce potential for revocation and help those needing assistance by referring them to the appropriate community or governmental agencies.

Probation Officer Assistants (POA) perform similar duties but work more closely under the direction and guidance of U.S. probation officers. The incumbent provides technical and administrative support to probation officers in a wide range of areas, including assisting with compiling information for investigations; assisting with supervision of low-risk defendants and/or offenders; coordinating with collateral agencies, drafting reports and correspondence; and related duties.