Probation Officer Assistant

INTRODUCTION

The United States Probation Office, District of Arizona, is seeking Probation Officer Assistants for multiple positions in both the Phoenix and Tucson locations. The officer assistant serves in a judiciary law enforcement position, under the direction and guidance of a Supervisory Probation Officer. The incumbent will provide technical support and assistance to probation officers in a wide range of areas, including assisting with compiling information for investigations; assisting with supervision of defendants and/or offenders; preparing and drafting reports and correspondence; appearing in court for violation proceedings and sentencing; and related duties.
REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

• Under the guidance and direction of a supervisor, or senior officer, conduct collateral investigations for districts throughout the country; draft and submit collateral reports, which may include placing telephone calls, making home/office contacts, and community/field contacts, as well as maintaining files and case records.

• Under the guidance and direction of an officer, supervise select lower-risk caseloads of offenders/defendants. 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 offenders/defendants.

• Conduct selected investigations as needed for pre-release/furlough, pre-sentencing, and violation 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 offenders/defendants.

• Assist probation officers in the performance of presentence investigations, to include compiling

criminal histories/profiles, running record checks through local and national databases and files, conducting inquiries with collateral agencies, and 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 probation reports.

• Schedule, conduct and monitor urinalysis collection from offenders/defendants, following established procedures and protocols. Maintain paper and computerized records of test results. Inform officers regarding test results.

• Maintain and mail or transport tests and materials to laboratories for confirmation. Maintain chain of custody of urinalysis testing materials. Maintain inventory of supplies. Enter data and information into the office’s computerized database system.

• Monitor inactive cases to include immigration cases. Prepare violation and related reports on

inactive cases when violation behavior is detected and appear in court on the violation matter.

• Testify, as necessary, before the court or Parole Commission.

• Participate in ongoing training and development in order to remain abreast of advanced techniques.

• Run periodic record checks on a caseload of deportation cases.

• Photograph and fingerprint offenders/defendants.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Occupational Information:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
The successful applicant must be a high school graduate (or equivalent), and must have two years of general experience and one year of specialized experience equivalent to the CL-23 to work at CL-24. One year specialized experience equivalent to the CL-24 to work at CL-25.

General experience is defined as progressively responsible clerical, office, or other work that indicates the possession of, or the ability to acquire, the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position.

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.

Applicants must be physically capable, have good vision and normal hearing ability. First-time appointees must not have reached their 37th birthday at the time of appointment. Applicants 37 or over with previous federal hazardous duty experience under the Civil Service Retirement System or the Federal Employees’ Retirement System may be eligible for appointment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

A bachelor’s 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.

How to Apply:

HOW TO APPLY

Go to our on-line application system at: http://agency.governmentjobs.com/azduscourts/default.cfm

to complete and submit an on-line application.

To the application please attach a cover letter, resume, copies of your last two performance evaluations, and copies of your college transcripts for your degree(s) (may be unofficial). If you order transcripts to be sent directly to us, please state so in your cover letter. If you are a current or former federal employee, please submit a copy of your latest SF50 as well. Attachments should be submitted as Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat .pdf documents. Other formats are not acceptable.

Attachments should be submitted as Word or Adobe Acrobat (pdf) documents. Other formats are not acceptable. Incomplete applications and applications received after the closing date may not be considered.

Applicant Information:

BENEFITS

Federal benefits include paid vacation and sick leave, 10 paid holidays, retirement benefits, and a 401(k) styled program called the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), with a government match of up to 5%. Optional benefits include health and life insurance, disability and long-term care insurance, dental and vision insurance, a transit subsidy (depending on budget), and a Flexible Benefits Program which includes medical and dependent care reimbursement.

SELECTION PROCESS

Prior to appointment, the selectees considered for this position will undergo a medical examination and drug screening. Upon successful completion of the medical examination and drug screening, the selectees may then be appointed provisionally, pending a favorable suitability determination by the court. In addition, as conditions of employment, the incumbents 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.

APPLICANT INFORMATION

• The Court 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. In the event that a position becomes vacant in a similar classification, within a reasonable time of the original announcement, the court may elect to select a candidate from the applicants who responded to the original announcement without posting the position.

• The initial appointment to this position is provisional pending the successful completion of the required background checks and/or investigations. The U.S. Probation office is drug-free work place and the applicant selected will also be required to participate in a drug screening test prior to employment.

• All information provided by applicants is subject to verification and background investigation. Applicants are advised that false statements or omission of information on any application materials or the inability to meet the following conditions may be grounds for non-selection, withdrawal of an offer of employment or dismissal after being employed.

• The incumbent will be subject to random drug screening and updated background investigations every five years.

• Participation in the interview process will be at the applicants own expense and relocation expenses will not be provided.

• All promotions are subject to the approval of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.

• The position is subject to the mandatory electronic fund transfer (EFT) participation for payment of net pay (i.e. Direct Deposit).

• Non-citizens may be interviewed and considered for employment, but employment offers will only be made to individuals who qualify under one of the exceptions in 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3)(B). In most cases, this means that an offer of employment cannot be made unless the candidate is a lawful permanent resident who is seeking U.S. citizenship as explained below. Under 8 U.S.C. §1324b(a)(3)(B), a lawful permanent resident seeking citizenship may not apply for citizenship until he or she has been a permanent resident for at least five years (three years if seeking naturalization as a spouse of a citizen), at which point he or she must apply for citizenship within six months of becoming eligible, and must complete the process within two years of applying (unless there is a delay caused by the processors of the application). Non-citizens who have not been permanent residents for five years will be required to execute an affidavit that they intend to apply for citizenship when they become eligible to do so.