U. S. PROBATION & PRETRIAL SERVICES DISTRICT OF DELAWARE VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT (#25-01) 

POSITION: UNITED STATES PROBATION OFFICER
SALARY RANGE: CL 27-28 ($65,159-$126,955) CPS Table 69
(Depending upon qualifications & experience)

OPENING: February 10, 2025
CLOSING: March 3, 2025 Preference given to current U.S. Probation Officers

Position Overview: This position is located in the U. S. Probation & Pretrial Services Office, District of Delaware. The District serves the three counties of Delaware and has offices in Wilmington and Dover. Assignment to an office duty station is at the discretion of the Chief Probation Officer and may change based on the agency’s needs. The person filling this position must be able to perform a wide range of duties, such as investigation and supervision of pretrial
defendants, conducting background investigations on convicted defendants, and supervising sentenced federal offenders. The ability to communicate effectively, in writing and orally, is a requirement. The successful applicant must also be able to work effectively with a wide range of people of varying backgrounds. This position is promotion eligible to a CL 28 without further competition.

Representative Duties: As a U. S. Probation and Pretrial Services Officer, the incumbent will perform administrative and operational responsibilities such as the following:

Under the guidance and direction of a Supervisory Officer, conduct investigations and prepare reports for the court with recommendations. Interview offenders/defendants and their families and collect background data from various sources. During process, interpret and apply policies and procedures, statutes, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedures, and U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, Monographs, and relevant case law, as applicable.

Under the guidance and direction of a Supervisory Officer, enforce court-ordered supervision components and implement supervision strategies. Maintain personal contact with defendants and offenders, investigate employment, sources of income, lifestyle, and associates to assess risk and compliance. Address substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence, and similar problems and refer to appropriate specialist.

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. Respond to judicial officers’ requests for information and advice. Testify in court as to the basis for factual findings and guideline applications, if warranted. Maintain detailed written records of case activity.
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.

Under the guidance and direction of a Supervisory Officer, review and resolve disputed issues involving defendants/offenders and present unresolved issues to the court for resolution. Assess offenders’/defendants’ level of risk and develop a blend of strategies for controlling and correcting risk management.

Provide offenders/defendants with information on local resources and programs regarding employment, GED certification assistance, ongoing education, and vocational training. Identify interests, aptitudes, and abilities of offenders/defendants through interviewing and gathering appropriate information. Assist offenders/defendants toward integration into the job market.

Communicate with other organizations and personnel (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 alternatives and sanctions. Discuss violations with Supervisory Officer. Report violations of the conditions of supervision to the appropriate authorities. Prepare written reports of violation matters and make recommendations for disposition. Testify at court or parole hearings.
Conduct Parole Commission preliminary interviews.

Qualifications:
To qualify for the U. S. Probation and Pretrial Services Officer position, a candidate must be a United States citizen or otherwise eligible to work for the United States. Must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a field of academic study, such as counseling, social work, criminal justice, psychology, sociology, law or family services, which provides evidence of the capacity to understand and apply legal requirements and human relations skills
necessary for the position. At least two years of specialized experience, 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 any criminal investigative experience is not considered specialized experience.

Background Investigation, Drug Screening and Medical Standards:

U.S. Probation Officers transferring to another district are not required to undergo a medical examination, drug testing or the initial OPM background investigation. However, all applicable standards for the background reinvestigation apply. The Chief U.S. Probation Officer of the receiving district may, at his or her discretion, request drug/or medical testing be conducted if, through direct observation or objective evidence, determines an officer is unable to perform the essential job functions as defined in the medical guidelines. Also, at the Chief’s discretion, the most recent reinvestigation report completed on the officer may be examined.

Preferred Skills:
Superior writing skills and sound analytical judgment. Excellent computer knowledge, with experience in the Windows operations environment. Experience with Microsoft Word. For current United States Probation Officers, experience with PACTS, PSX, Risk Assessment(s), and STARR Training

Benefits:
Judiciary employees serve under excepted appointments and are entitled to standard federal benefits such as paid vacation, paid sick time, health and life insurance and a tax-deferred savings plan. 
Judicial employees are also eligible for long-term care insurance, disability insurance, and a
Flexible Benefits Program which includes medical care reimbursement, dependent care
reimbursement, and commuter benefits reimbursement.

Selection Process:
Applicants will be screened for these qualifications and the best qualified applicants will be invited for a personal interview in Wilmington at their own expense. Applicants invited for a personal interview will be subject to a background check including credit and criminal record checks with law enforcement agencies, and review of previously completed investigation reports.

Application Process:
Please visit the U.S. Courts website at www.uscourts.gov/forms/AO078.pdf to obtain a judicial
application form.

To be considered for this position, the completed judicial application (AO078), a cover letter, current resume, brief writing sample (not more than two pages) and copies of the last two performance evaluations, if available, are required. The nature of the writing sample is your choice, as long as it exemplifies your ability to write. It would be preferable if the item selected was something that you have previously submitted in the context of your education or work. For
priority, the package must be received in the Wilmington, Delaware office by 4:30 P.M. on March
3, 2025 as a single PDF document. Handwritten or incomplete applications will not be considered,
returned, or retained.

Applicants are required to submit their complete application packages via email to: DEHR@dep.uscourts.gov.

The probation office will communicate with only those individuals who will be interviewed. If you are not contacted, another candidate was invited for an interview.

Employees of the U.S. Probation & Pretrial Services Office are required to adhere to a Code of

Ethics and Conduct which is available to applicants for review upon request. Thi