Alabama Northern Probation and Pretrial Services - U.S. Probation Officer Assistant

Position Overview

U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services for the Northern District of Alabama, headquartered in Birmingham with divisional offices in Anniston, Huntsville, and Tuscaloosa, is seeking applications for a Probation Officer Assistant position in Birmingham. A Probation Officer Assistant serves in a judiciary law enforcement position under the direction and guidance of a probation officer or supervisor. The incumbent provides technical and operational support and assistance to probation/pretrial services officers in a variety of areas, including assisting with compiling information for investigations; assisting with and monitoring select persons under supervision; drafting reports and correspondence; and assisting with similar operational duties.

Representative Duties

• Under the guidance of a probation officer, supervise a caseload of low-risk persons under supervision requiring contact by telephone, in the office, and in the field. Investigate employment, sources of income, lifestyle, and associates to assess risk and determine compliance. Maintain case files and records, as well as detailed chronological records of activity.
• Conduct selected investigations as needed for pre-release/furlough, pre-sentencing, 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 persons under supervision.
• Assist officers in the performance of select investigations, including compiling criminal histories/profiles, running record checks through local and national databases and files, conducting inquiries 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 completing reports and assist in identifying community resources to meet the special needs of persons under supervision.
• Assist probation officers with less complex presentence investigations to include compiling criminal histories, and profiles, running record checks through local and national databases, conducting inquiries with collateral agencies, and performing other similar activities. Provide officers with accurate and factual information to assist in their completion of probation reports.
• Conduct collateral investigations and draft and submit collateral reports, which may entail making telephone, office, and/or field contacts. Perform record keeping.
• Collect and conduct urine tests on of persons under supervision and maintain appropriate records.
• If bilingual or multilingual, assist officers and non-English speaking persons under supervision, family members, and witnesses in translating speech, documents, and correspondence, as required.
• Operate various criminal justice, law enforcement, and probation automated systems.
• Participate in ongoing training and development programs.
• Perform other similar duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• General knowledge of the roles and functions of federal probation/pretrial services offices, including the practices and procedures used. General knowledge of the roles, responsibilities, and relationships among the federal courts, U.S. Parole Commission, Bureau of Prisons, and U.S. Attorney’s Office, and other organizations.
• General knowledge of how other judicial processes and procedures relate to the probation/pretrial services office's roles and responsibilities. General knowledge of the criminal justice system, particularly as it relates to federal probation/pretrial policies and procedures. General knowledge of available community resources. General knowledge of automated/internet resources and systems available for conducting background checks, criminal histories, and other similar activities (such as the National Crime Information System).
• General knowledge of the Bail Reform Act, legal terminology, and investigative techniques. General knowledge of techniques used in supervising persons under supervision, and general knowledge of sentencing guidelines.
• Skill in assisting officers in supervising lower-risk persons under supervision in selected cases, conducting risk assessments, and developing appropriate alternatives and sanctions to non-compliant behavior.
• Ability to organize, prioritize, compile, and summarize work within established timeframes and work under the pressure of short deadlines. Ability to follow safety procedures. Ability to follow detailed instructions accurately. Ability to work under pressure of short deadlines and to follow detailed instructions accurately.
• Knowledge of and compliance with the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees and court confidentiality requirements. Ability to consistently demonstrate sound ethics and judgment.
• Ability to interact and communicate effectively (orally and in writing) with people of diverse backgrounds, including law enforcement and collateral agency personnel at different levels, community service providers, persons under supervision and their families/support systems for the purpose of assisting officers in supervision and investigation. Ability to interview and gather required information.
• Skill in the use of automated equipment including word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications, and various other types of software. Ability to use computer software and automated systems to perform record checks, record urinalysis results, compile criminal history information, and complete similar activities, as instructed.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications, medical requirements, and maximum age requirements for law enforcement officer (LEO) positions listed below. Completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a field of academic study which provides evidence of the capacity to understand and apply the legal requirements and human relations skills involved in the position is preferred.

First-time appointees for this position must not have reached their 37th birthday at the time of appointment. Applicants age 37 or over, who have previous federal law enforcement experience in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) or Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), and who have 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.

Because officers must effectively deal with physical attacks and are subject to moderate to arduous physical exertion, applicants must be physically capable. The Officer Medical Requirements for probation officers is available at https://www.uscourts.gov. 

Conditions of Employment

• Applicants must be a U.S. citizen.
• Work is generally performed in an office setting and may also be performed in the community. Work requires contact with persons who may 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, or environments where illegal activities and violence may occur). Incumbents may be accompanied by a probation officer while conducting duties in the field. Travel is required.
• 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, 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.
• Successful completion of a six-week new officer orientation at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Charleston, South Carolina is required for newly appointed officers.
• All court employees are EXCEPTED appointments and employed "at will." Federal Civil Service classifications and regulations do not apply.
• Employees are required to use Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) for direct deposit of pay.

Benefits

Federal benefits include paid vacation and sick leave, 11 paid holidays each calendar year, periodic salary increases, retirement benefits, participation in the Thrift Savings Plan, and supplemental benefits. Other benefits include health, life, dental, and vision insurance and flexible spending accounts for health and dependent care. For more information about benefits, visit: https://www.uscourts.gov/careers/benefits.

How to Apply

To be considered for this position, applicants are required to provide the following:

• Letter of interest, outlining experience as it relates to this position;
• Current resume;
• Three professional references (name, address, and telephone number);
• Application for Judicial Branch Employment (Form AO-78);
• College transcript(s) (an unofficial copy is acceptable); and
• Signed copies of the two most recent performance evaluations (if not applicable, include an explanation in your letter of interest).

To submit your application:

1. Combine the above documents in order into one PDF;
2. Save the document by your Last Name, First Name (i.e., Williams, John);
3. On the subject line of the email, enter 2026-04 Probation Officer Assistant; and
4. Ensure all documents are complete then email the packet to resumes@alnp.uscourts.gov one time.

Multiple submissions will not be considered.  Applicants who do not follow instructions may not be considered. Due to the volume of applicants, we will only communicate with those individuals who are selected for an interview and only applicants who are interviewed will receive a response regarding their application status. Please no phone calls. Travel and relocation expenses are not reimbursable.

The U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office reserves the right to modify the conditions of this announce, withdraw the announcement, fill the position at any time before the closing date, or fill more than one position from this announcement, any of which may occur without notice to applicants. If a subsequent vacancy of the same position becomes available within a reasonable time of the original announcement, the Chief U.S. Probation Officer may elect to select a candidate from the original qualified applicant pool.

THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

This position is not covered under the Fair Chance to Compete (FCA) and requires you to complete the optional background information on the AO-78. The selectee for this position is subject to a criminal record check and satisfactory adjudication by the employing office to be eligible for employment. Due to the sensitivity level of this position, candidates may be asked about their criminal history prior to receiving a tentative offer of employment. Candidates completing the AO-78 must complete questions 18-20 regarding their criminal history. Criminal history is not in itself disqualifying. All available information, past and present, favorable and unfavorable, about the reliability and trustworthiness of an individual will be considered when making an employment suitability determination. Providing false and/or misleading information may be grounds for removal from the application and selection process, as well as disciplinary action if discovered after an individual’s date of hire.