ANNOUNCEMENT NO.: 2023-04
United States Probation Officer Assistant
Full-time/Regular, Excepted Service
Abingdon, Virginia
CL24 ($44,816 - $70,679)
Starting salary commensurate with qualifications and experience.
The U.S. Probation Office for the Western District of Virginia, a combined district for probation and pretrial services, is currently accepting applications for the position of U.S. Probation Officer Assistant.
U.S. Probation Officer Assistants serve in a judiciary law enforcement position under the direct supervision of a U.S. Probation Officer or Supervisory U.S. Probation Officer and provide technical and operational support and assistance to probation officers in a variety of areas, including investigations, reports, and supervision. The Western District Probation Office currently consists of 54 employees who support 8 judicial officers and staff located in seven divisional offices (Abingdon, Big Stone Gap, Charlottesville, Danville, Harrisonburg, Lynchburg, and Roanoke). More than one position may be filled.
Travel including overnight, within and outside the district, is required.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES
• Assist officers in the performance of select investigations, including compiling history profiles, running record checks through local and national databases and files, conducting inquires with collateral agencies, and performing other similar activities. Visit or contact various local, state, and national law enforcement and regulatory agencies to collect and record information. Provide officers with verifiable and supportable documentation to assist in completion of reports and assist in identifying community resources to meet the special needs of those under supervision.
• Under the guidance and direction of a Probation Officer, supervise select lower-risk cases, which may include placing telephone calls, making home/office contacts and community/field contacts, and maintaining case files and case records.
• Conduct selected investigations as needed for pre-release/furlough, presentence, and bail reports. Draft and submit selected reports and maintain related investigative files and case records. Observe and report to officers/supervisors on the lifestyle, personal problems, and needs of those under supervision.
• Schedule and conduct urinalysis tests for those under supervision, following established procedures and protocols. Maintain records and inform officers of test results. Maintain and mail or transport tests and materials to laboratories for confirmation. Maintain chain of custody of urinalysis testing materials and inventory of supplies. Enter data and information into the office's computerized database systems.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS
At least one (1) year of specialized experience with one year equivalent to work at a CL-23 and a bachelor's degree in a related field of academic study, such as criminal justice, criminology, sociology, psychology, or any of the behavioral sciences, which provides evidence of the capacity to understand and apply the legal requirements and human relation skills involved in the position is required. Knowledge of court and probation/pretrial operations procedures, including evidence-based practices, or prior clerical/administrative experience in the field is preferred.
Specialized experience is progressively responsible clerical or administrative experience requiring the regular and recurring application of clerical procedures that demonstrate the ability to apply a body of rules, regulations, directives, or laws and involve the routine use of specialized terminology and automated software and equipment for word processing, data entry or report generation. Such experience is commonly encountered in law firms, legal counsel offices, banking and credit firms, educational institutions, social service organizations, insurance companies, real estate and title offices, and corporate headquarters or human resources/payroll operations.
Education may not be substituted for specialized experience.
The successful candidate will possess excellent written and oral communication skills as well as excellent computer skills, including knowledge of and skill in using automated databases and word processing; the ability to perform thorough investigations; analyze and evaluate varied information from multiple sources and form conclusions; write clear, concise, grammatically correct reports while meeting strict deadlines; and possess knowledge of the roles and responsibilities of the federal courts and probation office.
Further, the successful candidate will possess the ability to organize and prioritize one's work schedule; exercise initiative in handling assignments; work independently with little or no supervision; exercise
discretion and sound judgment; and secure cooperation and teamwork.
U.S. Probation Officer Assistants must meet the medical requirements for law enforcement officer positions in addition to the experience requirements for operational court support positions listed above.
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. Any severe health problems, such as physical defects, disease, and deformities that constitute employment hazards to the applicant or others, may disqualify an applicant.
First-time appointees to positions covered under law enforcement officer retirement provisions must not have reached their 37th birthday at the time of appointment. Applicant 37 years of age or over who have previous law enforcement officer experience under the 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.

The United States District Court is an Equal Opportunity Employer.