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

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 Special Offender Specialist. At least one position will be filled in Birmingham, and the other position will be filled in any duty station. By statute, the probation/pretrial services officer serves in a judiciary law enforcement position and assists in the administration of justice and promotes community safety, gathers information, supervises offenders/defendants, interacts with collateral agencies, prepares reports, conducts investigations, and presents recommendations to the court. Officer specialists manage a caseload that includes a significant proportion of offenders/defendants of a specialized type and serve as local experts on cases of this type. The Special Offender Specialist performs duties that involve high-risk issues, such as mental health treatment, substance and/or alcohol abuse, sex offenses, computer-related crimes, and financial (white collar) crimes or cases with location monitoring conditions. Intensive supervision is often required for high-risk offenders/defendants.

Representative Duties

• Perform investigative and supervision responsibilities for offenders/defendants in both general cases and specialized cases which include offenders/defendants who are identified as being high-risk. Conduct investigations, prepare reports, and make recommendations for the court in general, high-risk, and/or specialized cases by interviewing offenders/defendants and their families and 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, and may include U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, Monographs, and relevant case law in the area of specialization.
• Serve as a resource and expert to the court, line officers, and staff in high-risk, specialized cases. Guide, advise, train, and make recommendations to other officers, the court, and other individuals in cases involving area of specialization. Assist in developing policies and proposals to provide needed services. Train line officers on identification and treatment of offenders/defendants in high-risk cases.
• Participate in on-going training and educational opportunities to further develop and/or enhance techniques and skills relating to investigation and supervision practices of offenders/defendants in area of specialization. Provide management and staff with ongoing updates related to changes with this offender/defendant population, and with procedural matters related to aftercare.
• Track developments in the law and update staff and the court. Enforce court-ordered supervision components and implement supervision strategies. Maintain personal contact with offenders/defendants through office and community contacts and by telephone. 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.
• 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 location monitoring conditions ordered by the court, and in some districts may perform location monitoring reintegration on behalf of the Bureau of Prisons.
• Analyze and resolve disputed issues involving offenders/defendants and present unresolved issues to the court for resolution. Assess offenders’/defendants’ level of risk and develop a blend of risk management strategies for controlling and correcting risk.
• Communicate with other organizations and persons (such as the 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 treatment, alternatives, and/or sanctions. Report violations of the conditions of supervision to the appropriate authorities. Prepare reports of violation matters and make recommendations for disposition.
• Locate, provide, and schedule suitable contract and non-contract services to maximize effectiveness of treatment or services for high-risk offenders/defendants while following established procedures and protocols. Maintain paper and computerized records of results and progress. Respond to judicial officer’s request for information and advice. Serve as a resource and expert in high-risk issues to staff, line officers, and the court. Maintain detailed records of case activity. Conduct surveillance and/or search and seizure at the direction of the court.
• Participate in on-going training and education opportunities to further develop and/or enhance knowledge, techniques, tools, and skills relating to the investigation, supervision, and treatment practices of high-risk offenders/defendants.
• Schedule and conduct drug use detection tests and DNA collection of offenders/defendants, following established procedures and protocols. Maintain paper and computerized records of test results. Maintain chain of custody of urinalysis testing materials. Testify in court as to the basis for factual findings and (if warranted) guideline applications. Maintain detailed written records of case activity.
• Perform administrative duties regarding mental health treatment, substance abuse, location monitoring, sex offenses, computer-related crimes, financial, and other high-risk issues. Guide the work of staff providing administrative and technical assistance to officers.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of the roles and functions of the federal probation and/or pretrial services offices, including knowledge of the legal requirements, practices and procedures used in probation, parole, and/or pretrial services. Knowledge of the roles, responsibilities, and relationships among the federal courts, U.S. Parole Commission, U.S. Marshals Service, Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Federal Public Defender’s Office, and other organizations relating to area of specialization.
• Knowledge of resources, policies, procedures, and protocols in managing cases involving high-risk offenders/defendants.  Skill in supervising offenders/defendants in location monitoring, mental health treatment, substance abuse, or other high-risk factors.  Ability to provide guidance to other officers, the court, and other agencies, regarding high-risk offenders/defendants. Knowledge of U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and related appellate case law.
• Knowledge of investigative techniques and skill in investigating offenders/defendants’ backgrounds, activities, finances and determining legitimacy of their income.  Knowledge of the Bail Reform Act.  Knowledge of negotiation and motivation techniques.
• Knowledge of how other judicial processes and procedures relate to the officer’s roles and responsibilities.  Knowledge of federal law and the criminal justice system particularly as it relates to federal probation and pretrial services in the area of specialization, and parole policies and procedures. Knowledge of surrounding community and available community resources.
• Knowledge of sentencing guidelines, statutes, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure and applicable case law. Knowledge of legal terminology. Ability to apply changes in the law as appropriate.  Knowledge of techniques in supervising offenders/defendants who are high-risk or have specialized needs. Skill in supervising offenders/defendants with specialized needs, risk assessment, and developing appropriate alternatives and sanctions to non-compliant behavior.  
• Skill in conducting legal research related to varied, complex, and difficult legal issues while supervising offenders/defendants.  Skill in analyzing and summarizing legal concepts and issues. Skill in legal reasoning and critical thinking.  Skill in dealing with violent and/or difficult people. Skill in counseling offenders/defendants to maintain compliance to conditions of their release. Ability to follow safety procedures. Ability to discern deception and act accordingly.
• Ability to compile and summarize information (such as background checks and criminal histories) within established time frames. 
• Ability to organize, prioritize work schedule, work independently with little or no supervision, and to exercise discretion.  Ability to work under pressure of short deadlines.
• Knowledge of and compliance with the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees and court confidentiality requirements.  Ability to consistently demonstrate sound ethics and judgment.
• Skill in communicating (orally and in writing) and working with judges, attorneys, other law enforcement agencies, and correctional agencies.  Ability to interact and communicate effectively with people of diverse backgrounds, including law enforcement and collateral agency personnel at different government levels, community service providers, and defendants.  Ability to interview and establish rapport with contacts at collateral agencies, offenders/defendants and their families/support systems, and others for the purpose of supervision and investigation.
• Skill in the use of automated equipment including mobile devices, word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications, and various other types of software.  Ability to utilize computer software and automated systems to perform record checks, record urinalysis results, compile criminal history information, and similar activities. Ability to learn and adapt to changing technologies related to supervising offenders/defendants. Skill in interpreting and analyzing data from a variety of investigative databases.

Qualifications

All probation/pretrial services officer positions require 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.

In addition to meeting the education requirement, an individual must have at least three years of specialized experience, including at least one year as a probation/pretrial services officer in the U.S. Courts. Specialized experience is progressively responsible experience, gained after completion of a bachelor’s degree, in such fields as probation, pretrial services, parole, corrections, criminal investigations, or work in substance/addiction treatment, public administration, human relations, social work, psychology, or mental health. Experience as a police, custodial, or security officer, other than criminal investigative experience, is not creditable.

Maximum Entry Age and Medical Requirements

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 medical requirements and essential job functions derived from the medical guidelines for probation/pretrial services officers are available for public review at https://www.uscourts.gov under Officer and Officer Assistant Medical Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Applicants must be a U.S. citizen.
• Work is performed in an office setting and, in the community, and may be subject to variable hours, including nights and weekends. Work requires regular contact with persons 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). Travel is required. 
• Prior to appointment, the selectee considered for this position will undergo a drug screening. Upon successful completion of the 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. 
• All court employees are EXCEPTED appointments. 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 holidays, health, life, dental, and vision insurance, flexible spending accounts for health and dependent care, periodic salary increases, retirement benefits, Thrift Savings Plan, etc. For more information, 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 with 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).

Submit the above documents in the format below:
1.    Combine all documents into one PDF in the above order and save document by your Last Name, First Name; 
2.    On the subject line of the email, enter 2025-04 Special Offender Specialist - list your preferred duty station(s); and send email the complete packet to resumes@alnp.uscourts.gov.

Please do not submit your application more than once. 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 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.

U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services reserves the right to modify/withdraw the announcement 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.

 Form AO-78 http://www.uscourts.gov/forms/AO078.pdf

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.