U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Officer

U.S. Courts; Madison (WI); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation and sick leave

Retirement benefits

Limited teleworking

Job summary

U.S. Courts in Madison, Wisconsin seeks Probation and Pretrial Services Officers to support judicial officers by assessing individuals charged with offenses and supervising those on release. The role emphasizes fair justice, investigative work, and community protection.

Minimum qualifications include a bachelor's degree in a related field and a valid driver's license. Strong communication and ethical judgment are essential for success in a diverse, high‑pressure environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, criminology, sociology, public administration or related field.
• A valid driver's license is required.
• Proven ability to understand and apply legal requirements and human relations skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Aid judicial officers by evaluating individuals charged or convicted of offenses.
• Supervise individuals to ensure compliance with release conditions.
• Provide investigative and supervision services while protecting the community.

Skills

Strong communication

Written communication

Ethical judgment

People skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Juris Doctor (JD) degree

Job description

U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Officers perform functions that aid judicial officers in making informed decisions about persons charged with and convicted of criminal offenses, as well as supervise such persons to assure their compliance with conditions of release. Officers encourage long-term positive change for the individuals they serve by fairly administering justice and providing investigative and supervision services while protecting the community.

Federal benefits include paid vacation and sick leave, paid holidays, and retirement benefits. Optional benefits include health and life insurance, disability and long-term care insurance, dental and vision insurance, and a tax-deferred savings plan. Officers who consistently meet performance expectation levels have opportunities for limited teleworking. This position is subject to mandatory electronic fund transfer (direct deposit) participation or payment of net pay. For additional information on employment with the federal courts, please visit the website for U.S. Courts.

Minimum Qualifications and Special Skills

Completion of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a field such as criminal justice, criminology, sociology, human relations, business or public administration, or another related field which provides evidence of the capacity to understand and apply the legal requirements and human relations skills involved in the position. A valid driver's license is required.

Strong communication skills, including writing, are essential to be a successful officer. Officers must be mature, responsible, organized, and demonstrate sound ethics and judgment. Officers must possess a positive attitude, integrity, initiative, and the ability to work with a wide variety of people with diverse backgrounds. Officers must work well under pressure and meet deadlines.

For CL 25:

A minimum of one year of specialized experience or completion of the requirements of for a bachelor's degree and one of the following superior academic achievement requirements:

• an overall "B" grade point average or a "B+" (3.5 out of 4.0) average in a major field of study;
• academic standing in the upper third of the class;
• election to one of the national honorary scholastic societies meeting the minimum requirements of the Association of College Honor Societies, other than freshman honor societies; or
• completion of one academic year (30 semester or 45 quarter hours) of graduate work in a field of study closely related to the position.

For CL 27:

A minimum of two years of specialized experience or completion of a master's degree in a field of study closely related to the position, or a Juris Doctor (JD) degree.

Specialized Experience:

Progressively responsible experience in such fields as probation, pretrial services, parole, corrections, criminal investigations, substance/addiction treatment, public administration, social work, psychology, human relations, or mental health. Experience as a custodial or security officer does not qualify as specialized experience. Experience as a police officer qualifies only if such experience is in criminal investigations.

Preferred Skills:

Additional preferred skills include fluency in a foreign language and licensure or certification in a behavioral science (LMSW, CADC, LPC, etc.). An advanced degree from an accredited college or university is preferred.