U.S. Probation Officer - Houston, TX

U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas • Houston, TX

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The U.S. Probation Office for the Southern District of Texas is seeking a U.S. Probation Officer for its Houston division. The office is part of the federal judiciary. This position is contingent upon receiving sufficient funding. Starting salary depends on qualifications, experience, and locality pay area. Entry-level officers start at CL 25 or CL 27; experienced officers may start at CL 28.

Probation officers assist in the administration of justice and promote community safety by gathering information, supervising offenders, interacting with collateral agencies, preparing reports, conducting investigations, and presenting recommendations to the court. The incumbent conducts investigations, provides recommendations to the court, and supervises offenders. Officers may guide the work of other staff. The duties listed are generalized examples and may not include every duty performed in this classification.

U.S. Probation Officers are federal law enforcement officers. Their work involves direct contact with defendants and offenders who may present physical danger, and may require moderate to arduous physical exertion, prolonged walking and standing, physical dexterity and coordination to operate a firearm, and use of self-defense tactics. Applicants must be physically and medically qualified. First-time appointees covered by law enforcement officer retirement provisions must not have reached their 37th birthday at appointment, subject to the stated rules for certain applicants with prior federal law enforcement service.

First-time appointees must undergo an extensive OPM background investigation and drug screening. Officers are subject to updated background investigations every five years and random drug screening. Final selectees must complete a medical examination and drug screening before appointment. Federal judiciary employees must be U.S. citizens or be able to prove they are actively seeking citizenship.

Requirements

• Entry-level applicants must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with an overall GPA of at least 2.90 on a 4.0 scale.
• Applicants seeking an experienced position must have at least two years of specialized experience in progressively responsible client-based case work, such as probation, pretrial services, parole, corrections, criminal investigations, mental health/substance/addiction treatment, public administration, human relations, social work, or psychology.
• For consideration at a higher officer level, applicants must attach an official job description for the relevant positions. Clerical or administrative experience, or experience as a police, custodial, or security officer, does not qualify as specialized experience.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Ability to organize, oversee, and complete multiple projects simultaneously with limited supervision.
• Ability to maintain confidences, exercise mature judgment, and work harmoniously with others.
• Dependability and commitment to regular attendance.
• Knowledge of court operations.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, including Word and Excel, Adobe Acrobat, WordPerfect, and Windows.
• Must be physically and medically qualified for the duties of a federal law enforcement officer.
• Must meet the maximum entry-age requirements where applicable: first-time appointees covered by law enforcement officer retirement provisions must be under 37 at appointment, subject to the stated prior-service rules.
• First-time appointees must pass an extensive background investigation and drug screening; final selectees must also pass a medical examination and drug screening.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or able to prove active pursuit of citizenship.
• Applicants must attach a cover letter, resume, and electronic transcripts; failure to include electronic transcripts results in disqualification. Official transcripts are required if selected for an interview.

Responsibilities

• Conduct investigations, prepare reports, and make recommendations to the court.
• Interview defendants/offenders and their families, and collect background information from various sources.
• Interpret and apply relevant policies, procedures, statutes, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, monographs, and case law.
• Enforce court-ordered supervision conditions and implement supervision strategies.
• Maintain personal contact with defendants and offenders; investigate their employment, income sources, lifestyle, and associates to assess risk and compliance.
• Address substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence, and related problems, working with specialists on treatment or violation proceedings through assessment, monitoring, and counseling.
• Schedule and conduct drug-use detection tests and DNA collection according to established procedures; maintain records and chain of custody for urinalysis testing materials.
• Respond to judicial officers' requests for information and advice, testify in court when warranted, and serve as a resource to the court.
• Maintain detailed written records of case activity.
• Investigate and analyze financial documents and activities and take appropriate action.
• Interview victims, provide victim impact statements to the court, and ensure compliance with the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act.
• Enforce court-ordered home confinement and, as applicable, perform home confinement reintegration on behalf of the Bureau of Prisons.
• Review and resolve disputed issues involving defendants/offenders and present unresolved issues to the court.
• Assess risk and develop risk-management strategies for controlling and correcting risk.
• Connect defendants/offenders with local employment, GED assistance, education, and vocational-training resources; identify their interests, aptitudes, and abilities and support their integration into the job market.
• Communicate with organizations and personnel, including the U.S. Parole Commission, Bureau of Prisons, law enforcement, treatment agencies, and attorneys, about defendants'/offenders' behavior and supervision conditions.
• Identify and investigate violations, implement appropriate alternatives and sanctions, discuss violations with a Supervisory Officer, report violations to appropriate authorities, and prepare written violation reports and recommendations.
• Conduct Parole Commission preliminary interviews.
• Guide the work of staff providing administrative and technical assistance to officers.

Benefits

• 13 days of paid vacation during the first three years, increasing with service thereafter.
• 13 sick days accrued per year.
• 11 paid holidays.
• Federal pension plan.
• Matching contributions on the first 5% of pay contributed to the Thrift Savings Plan.
• Choice of employer-subsidized federal health and life insurance plans.
• Optional dental, vision, and long-term care coverage.
• Flexible spending account for eligible health care, dependent care, and commuter expenses using tax-free dollars.
• Eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level