U.S. Probation Officer

United States Courts; Paducah (KY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Kentucky Western Probation and Pretrial Services is hiring a U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Officer to support the U.S. District Court in the Western District of Kentucky, serving 53 counties across four offices including Paducah.

Officers conduct investigations, prepare reports, monitor supervised individuals, coordinate with external agencies, and present recommendations to the court. A bachelor’s degree and relevant education/experience are required; extensive background checks apply.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in criminal justice, criminology, psychology, sociology, human relations, business or public administration or related field.
• Minimum education/experience varies by grade: CL-23 requires education only; higher grades require additional education or specialized experience as outlined.

Responsibilities

• Conducts investigations and prepares reports for the court with recommendations, interviewing offenders/defendants and families and gathering background data from multiple sources.
• Tracks legal developments and updates staff and the court.
• Enforces court-ordered supervision components and implements supervision strategies; maintains contact with supervisees and assesses risk and compliance.
• Schedules and conducts drug tests; maintains test records and chain of custody; testifies in court when needed.
• Investigates and analyzes financial documents; ensures compliance with restitution act and location monitoring conditions.
• Communicates with external agencies concerning supervision; identifies violations and reports to authorities.

Skills

Knowledge of evidence-based practices

Education

Bachelor's degree in criminal justice or related field

Job description

Court Name/Organization Kentucky Western Probation and Pretrial Services

Overview of the Position The U.S. Probation Office, U.S. District Court, Western District of Kentucky is accepting applications for the position of U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Officer. The U.S. Probation Office provides coverage for 53 counties in Western Kentucky. There are four offices in the Western District of Kentucky (Louisville, Bowling Green, Owensboro, and Paducah, Kentucky). The vacancy is contingent upon budget availability.By statute, probation and pretrial services officers serve in a judiciary law enforcement position and assist in the administration of justice and promote community safety, gather information, supervise persons under supervision, interact with collateral agencies, prepare reports, conduct investigations, and present recommendations to the court. Officers may guide the work of probation / pretrial services officer assistants and other staff. Officers perform duties that involve pretrial services and probation case work.

Representative Duties
The U.S. Probation Officer performs a full range of duties and responsibilities including, but not limited to the following:

• Conducts investigations and prepare reports for the court with recommendations, which requires interviewing offenders/defendants 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, U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, Guide to Judiciary Policy (Monographs), and relevant case law.
  


• Tracks legal developments, and updates staff and the court.
  


• Enforces court-ordered supervision components and implement supervision strategies. Maintains personal contact with people under supervision. Investigates employment, sources of income, lifestyle, and associates to assess risk and compliance. Addresses substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence, and similar problems and implement the necessary treatment or violation proceedings, through assessment, monitoring, and counseling.
  


• Schedules and conducts drug use detection tests of people under supervision, following established procedures and protocols. Maintains computerized records of test results. Maintains chain of custody or urinalysis testing materials. Responds to judicial officer’s request for information and advice. Testifies in court as to the basis for factual findings and (if warranted) guideline applications. Serves as a resource to the court. Maintains detailed electronic records of case activity. May conduct search and seizure at the direction of the court.
  


• Investigates and analyzes financial documents and activities and take appropriate action. Ensures compliance with Mandatory Victims Restitution Act. Responsible for enforcement of location monitoring conditions ordered by the court.
  


• Analyzes and responds to any objections. This may include resolving disputed issues and presenting unresolved issues to the court for resolution. Establish skills to assess the risk level of persons under supervision and develop a blend of strategies (monitoring, restricting and intervention) to manage risk and address need.
  


• Communicates with other organizations and external stakeholders (such as the U.S. Parole Commission, Bureau of Prisons, law enforcement, treatment agencies, and attorneys) concerning the behavior and conditions of supervision of persons under supervision. Identifies and investigates violations and implement appropriate alternatives and sanctions. Report violations of the conditions of supervision to the appropriate authorities. Prepares written reports of violation matters and makes recommendations for disposition. Testifies at court or parole hearings. Conducts Parole Commission preliminary interviews. 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.

Qualifications

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, business or public administration or related field of study.

In addition to meeting the required education identified above, applicants at each grade level must have additional education or specialized experience in the amounts shown in the table below.

Minimum Additional Education and/or Experience:

• CL-23: Minimum required education only. No additional education or experience is required.


• One year of specialized experience; or
  
  
  • Completion of the requirements for a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and one of the following superior academic achievement requirements:
    
    
    • An overall “B” grade point average equaling 2.90 or better of a possible 4.0;
    
    
    • Standing in the upper third of the class;“3.5” average or better in the major field of study, such as business or public administration, human resources management, industrial relations, or psychology; or
    
    
    • Election to membership in 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.
  
  


• 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.


• CL-28: Two years of specialized experience – educational substitution does not apply

Educational Substitutions: Completion of one academic year (30 semester or 4 quarter hours) of graduate education in a field of study closely related to the position is qualifying at CL-25. Completion of a master’s degree in a field of study closely related to the position or Juris Doctor Degree, could be qualifying at CL-27.

Court Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of Evidence-Based Practices in community corrections.

Physical Requirements and Maximum Entry Age / Other Conditions of Employment
U.S. Probation Officers are covered under law enforcement retirement as defined in Title 5, U.S.C., Chapters 83 and 84. In order to be included under federal law enforcement officer provisions, an individual would have to meet maximum entry age provisions as follows: First time appointees to positions covered under law enforcement officer retirement provisions must not have reached their 37th birthday at the time of appointment.

For an applicant with previous law enforcement officer experience under the Civil Service Retirement System or the Federal Employees’ Retirement System and either a subsequent break in service or intervening service in a non-law enforcement officer position, the maximum entry age is increased by adding the number of years of previous law enforcement experience to 37. For example, for a candidate with five years of creditable previous law enforcement experience, the maximum entry age would be 42.

Law enforcement retirement provisions require mandatory separation once an employee meets age and service requirements (age 57 with at least 20 years of qualifying service).

Prior to appointment, the selectee considered for this position must undergo a medical examination and drug screening. Upon successful completion of the medical examination and drug screening, the selectee may be appointed provisionally pending a favorable suitability determination by the Court after completion of an extensive background investigation, which will begin on the day of the provisional appointment.

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. Retention in this position will depend upon favorable suitability determination of the initial and subsequent background investigation(s).

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 at http://www.uscourts.gov/ .

Probation officers receive extensive local training and must also successfully complete a four-week intensive national training program at the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Training Academy in Charleston, South Carolina.

Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or eligible to work for the U.S. Government. Appointment is contingent upon providing proof of U.S. citizenship or proof of authorization to work in the United States.

Specialized Experience

Progressively responsible experience following completion of a bachelor’s degree in such fields as probation, pretrial services, parole, corrections, criminal investigations, or work in substance/addiction treatment. Experience as a police officer, custodial, or security officer is not creditable.

Conditions of Employment:

• All applicants must be a U.S. citizen or must be a lawful permanent resident (i.e., green card holder) seeking U.S. citizenship or must complete an affidavit indicating their intent to apply for citizenship when they become eligible to do so.


• Completion of FBI Fingerprint Background Check with periodic reinvestigation, if applicable.


• Employment will be provisional and contingent upon the satisfactory completion of the required background investigation. Retention depends upon favorable suitability determination.


• Employees are subject to mandatory electronic funds transfer.


• Employees are considered “at will”.


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

by Aug. 30, 2026, no later than noon ET.

The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.