U.S. PROBATION AND PRETRIAL SERVICES OFFICER
CLOSING DATE
December 13, 2020; more than one position may be filled for this vacancy announcement.
The U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office for the Western District of Washington is
currently accepting applications for a U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Officer. Our District
has three distinct units under U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services: a pretrial services unit
including supervision, a presentence unit, and a post-conviction supervision unit. There are
five offices within the district: Seattle, Tacoma, Tukwila, Everett, and Vancouver. The
assignment to a duty station is at the discretion of the Chief. Frequent travel within the
district is required as is some out of district travel.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Probation and Pretrial Services officers serve in a judiciary law enforcement capacity and
assist in the fair administration of justice, provide community safety, conduct objective
investigations, community supervision, and interact with outside agencies and community
members.
REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES
• Investigate and prepare reports for the court with recommendations, which requires
interviewing persons charged or convicted in federal court, their families and collecting
background data from various collateral sources.
• Interpret and apply policies, procedures, statutes, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedures,
and U. S. Sentencing Guidelines. Track legal developments and update staff and the
court.
• Maintain personal contact with persons under supervision through office, virtual and
community contacts to maximize adherence to imposed conditions, reduce risk of
danger to the community, reduce risk of nonappearance, and to provide correctional
treatment.
• Officers are required to work a minimum number of non-standard hours per month and
are expected to be available if needed on a 24/7 basis, when not on leave status.
• Investigate employment, sources of income, lifestyle, and associates to assess risk and
compliance. Responsible for detection of substance abuse. Through assessment and
counseling, implement the necessary treatment or violation proceedings. Refer persons
under supervision to appropriate outside agencies such as medical and drug treatment
facilities, employment and training.
• Analyze and respond to any objections to sentencing recommendations. This may
include resolving disputed issues and presenting unresolved issues to the court for
resolution.
• Assess risk level of persons under supervision and develop a blend of strategies for
controlling and correcting risk.
• Assure the protection of the constitutional rights of defendants through the statutory mandate to assess risk of nonappearance and danger to the community.
• Enforce pretrial and post-conviction supervision conditions through evidence-based
practices of effective supervision.
• Respond to judicial officer's requests for information and advice. Testify in court as to
the basis for factual findings and guideline applications. Serve as resource to the court
to facilitate proper imposition of release or sentence.
• Initiate contact with, reply to and seek information from organizations and persons such
as the U.S. Parole Commission, Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Attorney’s Office, and various
law enforcement, correctional and social services agencies.
• Detect and investigate violations and implement appropriate alternatives and sanctions.
Report violations of the conditions of supervision to the appropriate authorities.
Prepare well written, grammatically correct, objective reports for the court’s
consideration regarding pretrial, presentence, and post-conviction supervision issues.
• Must embrace a diverse and inclusive workplace and be committed to promoting fair,
impartial and just treatment of persons under supervision throughout all phases of the
justice system.
• Knowledge of, and compliance with, the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees and
court confidentiality requirements. Ability to demonstrate sound ethics and mature,
professional judgment as an objective, neutral officer of the court.
QUALIFICATIONS
• Ability to organize and prioritize work schedule and work independently with minimal
supervision. Ability to work under pressure and with short deadlines while maintaining
a positive and professional demeanor.
• Ability to exercise discretion and sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, foster high
ethical standards, and demonstrate integrity in meeting the district’s vision, mission and
goals.
• Ability to interpret data to aid in performing core duties.
• Ability to exercise impartiality and discretion with the persons under supervision
population and their family/support system.
• Ability to routinely work non-traditional hours.
• Ability to interact and communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people
of diverse backgrounds. This includes persons under supervision, law enforcement and
collateral agency personnel at different government levels, and community service
providers.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Knowledge of automated / internet resources and systems available for conducting
background checks, criminal histories and other similar information.
• Knowledge of and proficiency with current technology, computer databases, and
computer applications in a Windows based environment.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Knowledge of the roles and functions of federal probation and pretrial services and the
legal requirements used in probation and pretrial services. Knowledge of how other
judicial process and procedures relate to the officer’s roles and responsibilities.
• Ability to communicate fluently in a second language.
• An advanced degree in a related field of study.
EDUCATION
Required Education: Completion of 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.
Specialized Experience: Minimum of two years 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/addiction treatment is required.
Experience as a police, custodial, or security officer, other than any criminal investigative
experience, is not creditable.
Educational Substitutions: Completion of one academic year (30 semester or 45 quarter
hours), of graduate work in a field of study closely related to the position equates to one year
of specialized experience. Completion of a master's degree in a field of study closely related
to the position, or a Juris Doctor (JD) degree, equates to two years of specialized experience.
An advanced degree is preferred.
MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS
The duties of probation and pretrial services officers require the investigation and
management of defendants charged with criminal offenses or convicted offenders, both who
present physical danger to officers and to the public. In the supervision, treatment, and
control of these defendants or offenders, these duties require moderate to arduous physical
exercise, including prolonged periods of walking and standing, physical dexterity and
coordination necessary to operate a firearm, and use of self-defense tactics. On a daily basis,
officers face unusual mental and physical stress because they are subject to danger and
possible harm during frequent, direct contact with individuals who are charged with criminal
offenses or convicted of committing federal offenses.
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 conditions of employment, incumbent
will be subject to ongoing random drug screening, updated background investigations every
five years 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 and pretrial services officers and officer assistants are available for
public review at http://www.uscourts.gov/. Pre-employment medical examinations for
current federal probation and pretrial services officers and officer assistants are at the
discretion of the Chief and may not be required.
Because officers must effectively deal with physical attacks and are subject to moderate to
arduous physical exertion, applicants must be physically capable. Officers must possess, with
or without corrective lenses, good distance vision in at least one eye and the ability to read
normal size print. Normal hearing ability, with or without a hearing aid, is also required. In
most instances, the amputation of an arm, hand, leg, or foot will not disqualify an applicant
from appointment, although it may be necessary for the applicant to use a prosthesis to
compensate for the amputation. Any severe health problems, however, such as physical
defects, disease, and deformities that constitute employment hazards to the applicant or
others, may disqualify an applicant. Examples of health problems that may be disqualifying
are hernia (with or without truss), organic heart disease (whether or not compensated), severe varicose veins, serious deformities or disabilities of the extremities, mental or nervous
disease, chronic constitutional disease, and marked speech abnormalities.
MAXIMUM ENTRY AGE
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 the Civil Service
Retirement System or the Federal Employees' Retirement System 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 officer experience subtracted from their age to
determine whether they meet the maximum age requirement.
SALARY RANGE
Court Personnel System Classification Level:
CL27, Step 1 – 61, $56,097 - $91,155
CL28, Step 1 – 61, $67,218 - $109,287
Depending on experience and qualifications; additional promotional potential without
further recruitment.
INFORMATION FOR
APPLICANTS
To be considered, qualified applicants will submit the following:
• A cover letter and resume
• If you are not currently a federal probation officer, in two typewritten pages or less, an
answer to the following question:
• Why do you want to become a United States Probation Officer? In this statement we
would like you to reflect on how you feel you would be an asset to the federal courts
and the federal probation & pretrial services system.
• If you are a current federal probation officer, please answer the following question in
two typewritten pages or less:
• As a current USPO, why do you want to be an officer in the Western District of
Washington and what would you bring to this district? In this statement we would
like you to reflect on why you are interested in working in our district and how you
are an asset to the courts and the federal probation & pretrial services currently, and
how that would translate to this district.
Applications will not be considered complete until all the items listed above have been
received; incomplete application packets will not be considered.
Submit application materials to:
Human Resources (#21-WAW-09)
U. S. District Court
700 Stewart Street, Suite 2218
Seattle, WA 98101
or via e-mail (Word or Acrobat .pdf format) to:
seattle_personnel@wawd.uscourts.gov
Only qualified applicants will be considered for this position. Applicants must be United
States citizens or eligible to work in the United States. Applicants selected for interviews
must travel at their own expense. Qualified applicants selected for interviews will be tested.
The United States District Court requires employees to follow a code of conduct which is
available upon request. Reference checks with current and former employers will be
conducted on top candidates. A background investigation with law enforcement agencies,
including fingerprint and criminal record checks, will be conducted as a condition of
employment. Any applicant selected for a position will be hired provisionally pending
successful completion of the investigation. Unsatisfactory results may result in termination
of employment.
The Federal Financial Management Reform Act requires direct deposit of federal wages.
The Court provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a
reasonable accommodation, please notify human resources. The decision on granting
reasonable accommodations will be made on a case by case basis.
The Court reserves the right to modify the conditions of this job announcement, to withdraw
the announcement, or to fill the position sooner than the closing date, any of which may
occur without prior written or other notice. In the event that a position becomes vacant in a
similar classification, within a reasonable time from the original announcement, management
may elect to select a candidate from the applicants who responded to the original
announcement without posting the position. More than one position may be filled from this
announcement.
BENEFITS
Employees of the United States District Court are considered “at will” employees. Judiciary
employees participate in the Federal Employees Retirement System, Thrift Savings Plan
(similar to a 401K), health and life insurance benefits, long term disability and long term care
options, annual and sick leave accrual, and ten paid holidays per year. Judiciary employees
are not covered by the Office of Personnel Management’s civil service classification system or
regulations. For additional information on employment with the federal courts, please visit
www.uscourts.gov.
COVID-19
COVID-19 policies and procedures have been established to ensure safety of all staff.
The United States District Court is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity