Probation Services Assistant

The Probation Services Assistant provides technical, administrative, and clerical support to probation officers and officer assistants in a wide range of areas, including assisting with conducting investigations, compiling criminal histories, and coordinating with collateral agencies. The Probation Services Assistant performs other similar duties, as assigned, such as filing, copying, distributing mail, inputting data, answering phones, typing, formatting, assembling reports and greeting visitors/clients. This position provides office assistance in accordance with approved internal procedures and policies. Personal contact with other law enforcement and court agencies will be required to accomplish assigned responsibilities. This position is located in the probation office of the U.S. District Court and is a non-hazardous duty position.

Responsibilities
A CL-25 Probation Services Assistant performs a variety of duties and responsibilities that include, but are not limited to, the list below. A CL-24 Probation Services Assistant will not perform all of the same duties as a CL-25.

• Manages the inactive case files, insuring the proper case openings, closings, and agency notification.
• Inputs data entry of all statistical forms into the Probation Automated Case Tracking System (PACTS).
• Runs month-end statistical reports for supervisor(s) and officers.
• Receives and determines the necessary distribution of all incoming court documents.
• Makes summary entries of all documents and proceedings in PACTS.This includes, but is not limited to: presentence and collateral investigations, revocation dates, and continuances.
• Prepares transfer-out cases, researches documents, records information, closes out files, and processes incoming fine and restitution payments, including the maintenance of current balances in the case file.
• Conducts criminal record checks through local and national criminal retrieval system on all incoming collateral investigations to determine if a prior record exists, prior to assignment.Completes routine collateral investigations, as may be assigned, that require no field investigation.
• Formats, types and edits reports developed by officers.This includes, but is not limited to, presentence reports, violation reports, and preliminary interviews for the Parole Commission.Independently, or with direction, prepares letters, memoranda, recurring reports, and forms.Composes routine correspondence for officers.
• Organizes and prepares case files in accordance with established case management procedures. Makes entries to chronological records either from direct telephone communication with a defendant/offender or from monthly reports in the absence of the officer.
• Attends change of plea and calendar call hearings to provide the information for presentence and/or supervision assignments.Informs staff when a sentencing or revocation is continued and makes the necessary change(s) in PACTS. Prepares Sentencing Commission reports.
• Performs internet, West Law, and Lexis-Nexis investigation searches to assist probation officers with their investigations and supervision of caseloads.Searches include but are not limited to financial assets, vehicle and property ownership, newspaper articles on related cases, case law, etc.Runs Equifax credit reports to verify the defendant’s/offender’s financial history.
• Retrieves arrest records from local law enforcement agencies, as well as court documents from District and Justice Courts.
• Liaison to the U.S. Pretrial Services Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to copy relevant file content for the preparation of presentence reports.
• Other duties as assigned.

Travel Required
Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
25

Who May Apply
This job is open to…
United States Citizens
Questions? This job is open to 1 group.

• 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.

Qualifications
Minimum Professional Qualification Requirements

• To qualify for a CL-24, a person must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to work at CL-23.
• To qualify for a CL-25, a person must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to work at CL-24.

Education
Lines of Authority

• This Probation Services Assistant will be under the direct supervision of the Executive Assistant.

Additional information
Salary and Benefit Information

• The United States Probation Office is part of the Judicial Branch of the Federal Government and operates as an independent excepted service agency. Although not part of the civil service, staff of the Judicial Branch are eligible for civil service health, life, and retirement benefits. In addition, Judicial employees are eligible for long term care insurance, a long term disability program, participation in pre-tax health care, dependent care, and commuter reimbursement accounts, and pre-tax payment of health benefit premiums. All appointments are subject to mandatory electronic funds transfer. This position is classified and paid under a broad-banded system which combines Classification Levels and pay.

How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Personal Characteristics and Qualifications

• To qualify for this position, a person must have excellent knowledge of office procedures, practices, and mission. General knowledge of personal computers and software applications to prepare reports and conduct investigation searches along with accessing the criminal retrieval system. Ability to give and receive accurate and timely information from individuals within and outside the court. Ability to decipher complex criminal history data; synthesize the data and concisely report the information gleaned in proper written format. Ability to prepare all types of investigations in proper format for our office as well as other districts. General knowledge of proper grammar usage and the ability to write and edit efficiently. Ability to carry oneself in a professional manner, as a representative of the probation office when visiting outside agencies.

Background checks and security clearance
Security clearance
Not Applicable

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

• Benefits for federal employees
• Healthcare insurance
• Pay and leave

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.