U.S. Probation Officer

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

Job summary

The U.S. Probation Office in the Northern District of Illinois is recruiting a full-time U.S. Probation Officer. This Judiciary law enforcement role supports the District Court by supervising offenders and providing investigative reports and testimony as needed.

The position requires a bachelor’s degree and one year of specialized experience, with opportunities to interview offenders, assess risk, and coordinate with federal agencies. Some activities may occur in the field as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• At least one year of specialized experience after degree.
• Proficiency in producing reports and documents using office technology.

Responsibilities

• Conduct investigations and prepare court reports with recommendations.
• Interview offenders and families; collect background data from sources.
• Enforce supervision components and assess risk and compliance.
• Schedule and conduct tests; maintain chain of custody and records.
• Testify in court regarding factual findings and guideline applications.

Skills

Investigations

Report writing

Interviews

Risk assessment

Court testimony

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Overview of the Position The U.S. Probation Office in the Northern District of Illinois is currently recruiting for a full-time U.S. Probation Officer. By statute, the Probation Officer serves in a Judiciary law enforcement position and assists in the administration of justice. Under the guidance and direction of a Supervisory Probation Officer, the incumbent as an investigative, sentencing and supervision specialist, is responsible for providing meaningful assistance to the U.S. District Court in its deliberations and decisions concerning criminal offenders, and for ensuring public safety through the monitoring and supervision of offenders placed under supervision by the court, the U.S. Parole Commission, or military authorities.

• Conduct investigations and prepare reports for the court with recommendations. Interview offenders and their families and collect background data from various sources.
• Interpret and apply policies and procedures, statutes, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedures, and U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, Monographs, and relevant case law, as applicable.
• Enforce court-ordered supervision components and implement supervision strategies. Maintain personal contact with offenders, investigate employment, sources of income, lifestyle, and associates to assess risk and compliance. Address substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence, and similar problems and refer to the appropriate specialist.
• Schedule and conduct drug use detection tests and DNA collection of offenders, following established procedures and protocols. Maintain records of test results. Maintain the chain of custody of urinalysis testing materials.
• Respond to judicial officers’ requests for information and advice. Testify in court as to the basis for factual findings and guideline applications, if warranted. Maintain detailed records of case activity.
• 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 the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act.
• Review and resolve disputed issues involving offenders and present unresolved issues to the court for resolution.
• Assess offenders’ level of risk and develop a blend of strategies for monitoring, restrictions, and interventions designed to mitigate risk.
• Provide offenders with information on local resources and programs regarding employment, GED certification assistance, ongoing education, and vocational training. Identify interests, aptitudes, and abilities of offenders through interviewing, gathering appropriate information, and collaborating with stakeholders. Assist offenders toward integration into the community.
• Communicate with other organizations and personnel (such as the U.S. Parole Commission, Bureau of Prisons, law enforcement, treatment agencies, and attorneys) concerning offenders’ behavior and conditions of supervision.
• Identify and investigate violations and implement appropriate alternatives and sanctions. Discuss violations with the Supervisory Probation Officer. 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.

Work is performed in an office setting and the community and will be subject to irregular work hours including nights, weekends, and holidays. Work requires regular contact with people who have violent backgrounds. These contacts may be made in both generally controlled office settings as well as in field situations (such as uncontrolled and unsafe neighborhoods/environments where illegal activities and violence may occur). The duties of U.S. Probation Officers require the investigation and management of alleged criminal offenders or convicted offenders who present physical danger to officers and the public. In the supervision, treatment, and control of these offenders, these duties require moderate to arduous physical exercise, including prolonged periods of walking and standing, physical dexterity, and coordination necessary for officer safety, and use of self‑defense tactics.

Qualifications

Applicant must be a U.S. citizen or provide documentation proving eligibility to work in the United States.

Required Education & Experience: All probation officer positions require completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with at least one year of specialized experience*. At least one year of experience at or equivalent to the next level below the level of the position for which the person is being considered. Sufficient keyboarding skills (or alternative skills) to demonstrate proficiency in producing reports/documents/correspondence using electronic word processing and other office system technology is required.

*Specialized Experience is described as progressively responsible experience, gained after completion of a bachelor’s degree, which provides evidence of the capacity to understand and apply the human behavior management skills involved in the position. Experience as a police, parole, custodial, or security officer does not qualify as specialized experience.

Maximum Age Requirement: First time appointees to positions covered under federal law enforcement officer retirement provisions must not have reached their 37th birthday at the time of appointment. Applicants 37 years old and older who have previous law enforcement experience covered under the Federal Employees’ Retirement System (FERS) 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 deducted from their age to determine whether or not they meet the maximum age requirement.

Medical Requirements: Prior to appointment, the applicant considered for this position will undergo a medical examination and drug screen. Upon successful completion of the medical examination and drug screen, the applicant will be appointed under a provisional status, pending the completion of a favorable background investigation. 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 officers, pretrial services officers, and officer assistants are available for public review athttp://www.uscourts.gov/ .

Physical Requirements: 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 hearing aid(s), is also required. Any severe health problems, such as physical defects, disease, and deformities that constitute employment hazards to the applicant or others, may disqualify the applicant.

Other qualifications required: (1) Unquestioned integrity and exemplary character. (2) Sound health. (3) a valid driver’s license (4) Fluency in Spanish is helpful but not required.

The U.S. Probation Office is not authorized to reimburse candidates for interviews or relocation expenses. The Probation Office reserves the right to modify the conditions of this job announcement, or to withdraw the announcement, any of which may occur without prior written or other notice.

The U.S. Probation Office is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce.

• Copy of transcript(s) for a Bachelor’s degree & any advanced degree
• Last two performance appraisals/evaluations from your current and/or previous employer(s). (If unable to provide these, please explain the reason in your cover letter.)
• List in the first paragraph of your cover letter how you found this position vacancy. If a referral, please list the employee’s name.
• Narrative addressing the below

Quality Ranking Factors
Applicants must submit a narrative statement addressing the factors listed below:

• Describe your qualifications, skills and abilities that are relevant to the field of probation, court services, corrections, counseling or case management.
• Describe why you would like to become a U.S. Probation Officer for the Northern District of IL.

The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.