Probation Officer Assistant Jobs

Duties

The incumbent provides technical and administrative support to probation officers, primarily assisting with the supervision of low-risk cases, compiling information for investigations, coordinating with collateral agencies, drafting reports and correspondence, and performing similar duties.

Responsibilities

• Collect and conduct urine tests on persons under supervision and maintain records associated with testing. Act as the primary tester for the probation office in-house drug testing program.
• Perform other appropriate duties as assigned.
• Under the guidance of a probation officer, respond to judicial officers' requests for information and occasionally testify in court, accompanied by a probation officer, regarding the basis for factual findings and, if applicable, guideline applications.
• Conduct collateral investigations and draft and submit collateral reports, which may entail making telephone, office, and/or field contacts. Perform record keeping.
• Under guidance from a probation officer, draft and submit selected reports. Observe and inform the probation officer/supervisor of the criminogenic risk factors associated with persons under supervision. Assist in the development of community resources to meet those risks and needs.
• Participate in ongoing training and development programs.
• Assist probation officers with presentence investigations to include compiling criminal histories, and profiles, running record checks through local and national databases, conducting inquiries with collateral agencies, and performing other similar activities. Provide officers with accurate and factual information to assist in their completion of probation reports.
• Operate various criminal justice, law enforcement, and probation automated systems.
• Under the guidance of a probation officer, supervise a low-risk caseload requiring contact by telephone, in the office, and in the field, with persons under supervision. Investigate employment, sources of income, lifestyle, and associates to assess risk and determine compliance. Maintain case files and records, as well as detailed chronological records of activity.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

United States citizenship is required for consideration for this position.

Employees are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees .

Employees of the United States Probation Office for the District of Columbia are excepted service appointments. Excepted service appointments are "At-Will" and can be terminated with or without cause by the court.

Employees are required to use the Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for payroll deposit.

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. In addition, as a condition of employment, the incumbent will be subject to an OPM background investigation and updated background investigations every five years, ongoing random drug screening, and, as deemed necessary by management for reasonable cause, may be subject to subsequent fitness-for-duty evaluations.

The medical requirements and the essential job functions derived from the medical guidelines for probation officers, pretrial services officers and officer assistants are available for public review (see Officer and Officer Assistant Medical Requirements ).

First-time appointees to positions covered under law enforcement officer retirement provisions must not have reached their 37th birthday at the time of appointment. Applicants 37 or over who have previous law enforcement officer experience under Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) and who have either a subsequent break in service or intervening service in a non-law enforcement officer position may have their previous law enforcement experience subtracted from their age to determine whether they meet the maximum age requirement.

Selection will be made consistent with the provisions of the Equal Employment Opportunity Plan adopted by the United States District and Bankruptcy Courts for the District of Columbia.

Qualifications

Preferred Experience: At least one year of progressively responsible experience, gained after completion of a bachelor's degree, in such fields as probation, pretrial services, parole, corrections, criminal investigations, or work in substance abuse/addiction treatment. Experience solely as a police, custodial, or security officer, other than any criminal investigative experience, is not creditable.

Education

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

Additional Information

Full-time employees of the United States Probation Office for the District of Columbia are eligible for a full range of benefits to include:

• Flexible work schedule.
• A minimum of 11 paid holidays per year.
• Virtual Learning through the Judiciary Online University.
• Paid annual leave in the amount of 13 days per year for the first three years, 20 days per year after three years, and 26 days per year after fifteen years.
• Student Loan Forgiveness for Public Service Employees.
• On-site physical fitness facility.
• Paid sick leave in the amount of 13 days per year.
• Optional participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), Federal Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP), the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI), the Flexible Benefits Program, the Commuter Benefit Program, SmartBenefits (mass transit subsidy up to $300 per month), Long-Term Care Insurance, and Professional Liability Insurance.
• Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS).
• Priority enrollment for children beginning at three months of age until kindergarten of all employees of the United States Courts in the Thurgood Marshall Child Development Center (TMCDC).
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Work Life Services.
• Workers' Compensation Program.
• Federal Occupational Health Services Program (FOH)/ On-site Health Unit.