United States Probation Officer
Location: Washington, DC
Announcement Number: 23-DC-10
Salary: $62,852 - $122,483
Closing Date: June 15, 2024
The position is located in the United States Probation Office in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. By statute, the probation officer serves in a judiciary law enforcement position and assists in the administration of justice and promotes community safety, gathers information, supervises offenders/defendants, interacts with collateral agencies, prepares reports, conducts investigations, and presents recommendations to the court. Officers may guide the work of other staff.
Duties
- Conduct investigations and prepare reports for the court with recommendations, which requires interviewing defendants, person(s) under supervision, and their families, as well as collecting background data from various sources. An integral part of this process is the interpretation and application of policies and procedures, statutes, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedures, and may include U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, Monographs, and relevant case law. Track legal developments, and update staff and the court.
- Enforce court-ordered supervision conditions and implement supervision strategies. Maintain personal contact with defendants and person(s) under supervision. Investigate employment, sources of income, lifestyle, and associates to assess risk and compliance. Address substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence, and similar problems and implement the necessary treatment or violation proceedings, through assessment, monitoring, and counseling.
- Schedule and conduct drug use detection tests and DNA collection of defendants or person(s) under supervision, following established procedures and protocols. Maintain test results. Maintain chain of custody of urinalysis testing materials. Respond to judicial officer's request for information and advice. Testify in court as to the basis for factual findings and (if warranted) guideline applications. Serve as a resource to the court. Maintain detailed written records of case activity. May conduct surveillance and/or search and seizure at the direction of the court.
- Investigate and analyze financial documents and activities and take appropriate action. Interview victim(s) and provide victim impact statements to the court. Ensure compliance with Mandatory Victims Restitution Act. Responsible for enforcement of home confinement conditions ordered by the court and perform home confinement reintegration on behalf of the Bureau of Prisons.
- Analyze and respond to any objections. This may include resolving disputed issues and presenting unresolved issues to the court for resolution. Assess the level of risk for defendants or person(s) under supervision and develop a blend of strategies for controlling and correcting risk management.
- Communicate with other organizations and persons (such as the U.S. Parole Commission, Bureau of Prisons, law enforcement, treatment agencies, and attorneys) concerning the behavior and conditions of supervision for defendants and person(s) under supervision. Identify and investigate violations and implement appropriate alternatives and sanctions. Report violations of the conditions of supervision to the appropriate authorities. Prepare written reports of violation matters and make recommendations for disposition. Testify at court or parole hearings. Conduct Parole Commission preliminary interviews. Guide the work of staff providing administrative and technical assistance to officers. Knowledge of, and compliance with, the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees and court confidentiality requirements. Ability to consistently demonstrate sound ethics and judgment.
- Other duties as assigned.
