Job Details for U.S. Probation Officer Announcement Number: 2018-03
Court: United States Probation Office - Eastern District of Tennessee
City, State: Knoxville, TN Permanent Position: Permanent Job Grade: CL25
- CL28 Minimum Salary: $42,150 Maximum Salary: $95,388 Closing Date:
05/25/2018 Position Description Starting classification level and salary
dependent upon experience and qualifications. Promotion potential is
possible within the salary range without further competition. Open to
all sources, including transfers within the judiciary. The United States
Probation Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee is a combined
district and officers are responsible for all pretrial, presentence, and
post-conviction functions. The District is comprised of offices located
in Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Greeneville. This position will be
located in the Knoxville office. More than one position may be filled
from this announcement without further advertising. By statute,
probation and pretrial services officers serve in a judiciary law
enforcement position and assist in the administration of justice.
Officers promote community safety, gather information, supervise
offenders/defendants, 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
general pretrial services or probation cases. REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES The
U.S. Probation Officer performs a full range of duties and
responsibilities including, but not limited to the following: Conduct
investigations, prepare reports, and make recommendations to the court.
Interview offenders/defendants and their families, and collect
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, and may include U.S.
Sentencing Guidelines, Guide to Judiciary Policy (Monographs), and
relevant case law. Track legal developments, and update staff and the
court. Enforce court-ordered supervision components and implement
supervision strategies that include working non-traditional hours
(beyond 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) to include weekends. Maintain personal
contact with defendants and 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 implement the necessary treatment or violation proceedings,
through assessment, monitoring, and counseling. Schedule and conduct
drug use detection tests of offenders/defendants, following established
procedures and protocols. Maintain computerized records of test results.
Maintain 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 (if warranted) guideline
applications. Serve as a resource to the court. Maintain detailed
electronic records of case activity. May conduct surveillance and/or
search and seizure at the direction of the court. 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 Mandatory Victims Restitution Act. Responsible
for enforcement of home confinement conditions ordered by the court.
Analyze and resolve disputed issues involving defendants/offenders and
present unresolved issues to the court for resolution. Assess
offenders/defendants level of risk and develop a blend of strategies for
controlling and correcting risk management. Communicate with other
organizations and personnel (such as U.S. Parole Commission, Bureau of
Prisons, law enforcement, treatment agencies, and attorneys) concerning
offenders/defendants behavior and conditions of supervision. Identify
and investigate violations and implement appropriate alternatives and
sanctions. Discuss violations with Supervising Probation Officer. Report
violations of the conditions of supervision to the appropriate
authorities. Prepare written reports of violation matters, and make
recommendations for disposition. Conduct Parole Commission preliminary
interviews. Guide the work of staff providing administrative and
technical assistance to officers. Knowledge of, and compliance with, the
Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees and court confidentiality
requirements. Able to consistently demonstrate sound ethics and
judgment. Qualification Completion of a Bachelors 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. CL 25 - Bachelors Degree with one
year of specialized experience CL 27 - Bachelors Degree with two years
of specialized experience CL 28 - Bachelors Degree with three years of
specialized experience Specialized experience is progressively
responsible experience, gained after completion of a Bachelors Degree,
in such fields as probation, pretrial services, parole, corrections,
criminal investigations, or work in substance/addiction treatment.
Experience as a police, custodial, or security officer, other than any
criminal investigative experience, is not creditable. Educational
Substitutions: CL 25 - Completion of one academic year (30 semester or
45 quarter hours) of graduate work in a field of study closely related
to the position. CL 27 - Completion of a Masters Degree in a field of
study closely related to the position, or a Juris Doctor (JD) Degree.
Physical Requirements and Maximum Entry Age The duties of probation
officers require the investigation and management of alleged criminal
offenders or convicted offenders who present physical danger to officers
and to 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, to operate a firearm, and
use of self-defense tactics. On a daily basis, these officers face
unusual mental and physical stress because they are subject to danger
and possible harm during frequent, direct contact with individuals who
are suspected or convicted of committing federal offenses. 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. There is no
maximum age limitation of any type for federal employment within the
judiciary except for probation officers covered under law enforcement
retirement, as defined in Title 5, United States Code, Chapters 83 and
- Law enforcement retirement provisions have a required mandatory
retirement age of 57, with at least 20 years of service, due to the
physical requirements of the position. Therefore, 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 age 37 or over who have previous federal law enforcement
officer experience under the federal 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. Special Requirements for Probation Officers First time
appointees to the position of U.S. Probation/Pretrial Service Officer
must undergo an extensive government background investigation. Further,
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 a condition of employment,
the 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 at www.uscourts.gov. All newly hired
officers are subject to a one year probationary period. During that
period, each officer will receive on-the-job training. Each officer must
also successfully complete a minimum six-week national training program
at the U.S. Courts National Training Academy (NTA) at the Federal Law
Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Charleston, South Carolina.
Benefits Employees are entitled to benefits including paid annual and
sick leave, periodic salary increases, ten (10) paid holidays each
calendar year, insurance plans (Health, Dental, Vision, Long-Term Care,
and Long-Term Disability), Flexible Spending Accounts (Health Care and
Dependent Care reimbursement accounts), Retirement System and Thrift
Savings Plan participation (with up to 5% employer matching
contributions). Miscellaneous Applicants selected for an interview must
travel at their own expense and relocation expenses will not be
reimbursed. The United States Probation Office for the Eastern District
of Tennessee reserves the right to modify the conditions of this job
announcement or withdraw the job announcement, either of which may occur
without prior written notice. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT Applicants must
be a United States citizen or eligible to work in the United States. The
United States Probation Office requires employees to adhere to the Code
of Conduct for Judicial Employees. Federal Judiciary employees serve
under excepted appointments and are considered at will and can be
terminated with or without cause. All information provided by applicants
is subject to verification. Applicants are advised that false statements
or omissions of information on any application materials may be grounds
for non-selection, withdrawal of an offer of employment or dismissal
after being employed. This position is subject to mandatory Electronic
Fund Transfer (direct deposit) for salary payment. Qualified applicants
must submit a letter of interest, detailed resume, three professional
references, copies of college transcripts, supplemental statement,
signed copy of their most recent performance evaluation, and an
Application for Judicial Branch Federal Employment (Form AO 78). AO78
Form Link: http://www.uscourts.gov/uscourts/FormsAndFees/Forms/AO078.pdf
The supplemental statement is a document created/written by you
expressing your knowledge, skill, and abilities (referred to as KSAs) in
response to the list below. The supplemental statement is important in
the application process since the responses to each KSA are rated,
scored and compared amongst other applicants. Therefore, to receive full
consideration, applicants should ensure the supplemental statement
addresses all KSAs in sequential order. Otherwise, an applicant may be
considered ineligible for this position. The supplemental statement
should not exceed six (6) single-spaced typed pages. Applicants should
respond in writing to the following KSAs. Relevant examples of how the
applicant has displayed the KSAs are encouraged. KSA 1 Describe your
knowledge, skill sets, and abilities in the areas of pretrial
bond/presentence investigations, effective tools for community
supervision, and how you use Evidence Based Practices to improve
supervision outcomes. KSA 2 Articulate the importance of understanding,
interpreting, and applying policies and procedures during the
performance of your duties and responsibilities. KSA 3 Describe in
detail how you organize ongoing work to meet deadlines established by
the range of stakeholders you service. KSA 4 Describe in detail your
writing experience and why you are personally committed to communicating
effectively, both orally and in writing. KSA 5 Describe your knowledge,
skill sets, and abilities to multi-task in a fast paced work environment
comprising interviewing defendants, covering court hearings, completing
bond investigations, making recommendations, and supervising
defendants/offenders on community supervision. KSA 6 Describe your
knowledge, skill sets, and abilities in the use of desktop computers,
Word, WordPerfect, iPads, iPhones, remote access, conducting criminal
records checks, gathering/analyzing information from other sources,
teleworking, and mobile technology. Electronically submit your
application documents to karen_hamby@tnep.uscourts.gov. A single PDF
document is preferred. Application documents must be received no later
than 5:00 p.m., Friday, May 25, 2018. You may also forward a hard copy
of your application documents to the address below: United States
Probation Office ATTN: Human Resources Specialist (#2018-03) Howard H.
Baker, Jr. U.S. Courthouse 800 Market Street, Suite 311 Knoxville, TN
37902