United States Probation Officer Assistant Job

Vacancy No. 25-12 Department U.S. Courts
Salary $50,927.00 to $63,148.00 Grade 25 to 26
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 1/24/2025 Close Date 3/31/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Albuquerque, NMLas Cruces, NM


Summary

United States Probation Officer Assistants directly serve the community, clients, and the Court by their work in the Pretrial, Presentence Investigations and Post-Conviction Units.

Duties

The following components make up the role of a United States Probation and Pretrial Services Officer in the Presentence Investigations Unit.
REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES:

Pretrial Services:

The incumbent gathers and verifies background information concerning persons charged with a federal criminal offense when they are arrested or summoned to the court. Information is gathered through interviews with the defendant, arresting authorities, U.S. Attorney's Office, family, and community members. Incumbent uses law enforcement automated criminal records systems to obtain and verify information. Drug testing and substance abuse assessments are performed. This information is evaluated and presented in report format to a judge prior to the initial hearing with an assessment of flight risk and danger to the community. A recommendation regarding bail and/or release or detention of the defendant is included in the report. In formulating a recommendation, the incumbent considers prior convictions, ability of the defendant to post bond, community ties, possibility of substance abuse and the risk of flight, as well as the degree of danger to the community.

The incumbent supervises those defendants that are released, when required. Makes regular telephone contact, conducts home visits and community contact as required by the conditions of release and the supervision plan.

Ensures that the defendant submits required drug tests. Supervision intervention conducted with the defendant to modify behavior to reduce potential for revocation. Assists those needing medical help, food, shelter, and other assistance by referring them to the appropriate community or government agencies. Coordinates and monitors the defendant's contact with community resources.

Presentence Investigations:
The incumbent may conduct investigations and prepare reports for the Court with recommendations for sentencing of individuals convicted of federal offenses. The preparation of these reports requires interviewing defendants and their families, investigating the offense, obtaining prior record and financial status of defendants, contacting law enforcement agencies, attorneys, victims of the crime, schools, churches, and civic organizations. The purpose of these activities is to ascertain the defendant's background to assess the probability of future criminal behavior and determine profit from the offense; restitution and the defendant's ability to pay fines, costs of prosecution, incarceration, and cost of supervision. An integral part of this process is the interpretation and application of the U.S. Sentencing Commission guidelines and relevant case law.

Post-Conviction:
The incumbent may supervise offenders to maximize adherence to court-imposed conditions to reduce risk to the community and to provide correctional treatment. The incumbent develops a supervision plan and maintains a detailed record of case activity on offenders; maintains personal contact with offenders through community, office visits and via telephone; coordinates and monitors offender's contact with community resources, i.e., substance abuse facilities, counselors, shelters, or employment facilities; investigates/verifies employment, sources of income, lifestyle, and their associates to assess risk and compliance.

The incumbent performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Applicants must not have reached their 37th birthday at the time of appointment and must be physically capable of performing duties requiring moderate to arduous physical exertion. Any severe health problem may be disqualifying. The position requires mandatory officer safety and firearms training.
  • Applicants must be U.S. citizens or eligible to work in the United States.
  • Applicants must undergo and clear NCIC, background, financial, and fingerprinting checks.
  • Applicants must not use illegal drugs or abuse alcohol or prescription drugs.
  • Prior to appointment, the successful candidate must undergo and pass a medical examination and drug screening. The candidate may then be appointed provisionally, pending a favorable suitability determination by the Court. In addition, as conditions 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. The medical requirements and the essential job functions are derived from the medical guidelines for probation officers, pretrial services officers and officer assistants, and are available for public review at https://www.uscourts.gov/.
  • Applicants must possess good multi-tasking skills and have strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills.
  • Applicants must be able to travel to divisional offices in New Mexico for periodic work assignments as required.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree plus 1-year specialized experience. This means progressively responsible experience gained after completion of a bachelor's degree, in such fields as probation, pretrial services, parole, corrections, criminal investigations, legal research/investigations, or work in substance/addiction treatment. NOTE: Experience as a police officer, custodial, or security officer, other than that involving criminal investigative experience, is not creditable.

Education

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 work of this position.

Additional information

  • The United States Probation and Pretrial Services Office serves a diverse community and is a strong supporter of inclusion and staff diversity.
  • The Court reserves the right to modify the conditions of this job announcement or to withdraw the job announcement, either of which may occur without any prior written notice. This job announcement may involve filling more than one position described herein. If a subsequent vacancy of the same position becomes available within 90-days of the vacancy close date or date filled (whichever is the most recent), the Chief United States Probation Officer has the discretion to select a candidate from the original qualified applicant pool. This position may also be assigned to a different unit other than the one posted, dependent upon the needs of the District.
  • Due to the volume of applications received, the United States Probation office will only communicate to those individuals who will be tested and/or interviewed for open positions.
  • Travel and relocation expenses will not be paid.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Applicants who submit a complete application packet, meet educational and specialized experience qualifications and who will not have reached their 37th birthday will be considered.

Required Documents

Letter of interest, chronological resume, copy of most recent performance evaluation, AO 78 Application for Judicial Employment and copy of official college transcripts.

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.

How to Apply

To be considered for this position, qualified applicants must submit a complete application packet which includes:

  • Letter of Interest;
  • Chronological Resume;
  • Copy of most recent performance evaluation;
  • Copy of official college transcripts; and
  • AO 78, Application for Judicial Employment, found at the following link: https://www.nmpp.uscourts.gov/career-opportunities.
Any incomplete packet will result in disqualification. All application packets must be emailed in one PDF document only and sent to: uspojobs@nmp.uscourts.gov.

Ron Travers
Chief U.S. Probation Officer
333 Lomas Blvd. NW, Suite 170
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102
Attn: Lisa A. Errico, Human Resources Supervisor

Agency contact information

Human Resources Manager
Address
US Probation and Pretrial Services, District of NM
333 Lomas Blvd, NW
Ste 170
Albuquerque, NM 87102
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Only best qualified applicants will be contacted for testing and/or interviews.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.