U.S. District Court

The United States Probation Office for the District of Oregon is accepting applications for United States Probation Officer to be stationed in Portland and/or Salem, Oregon.  By statute, Probation Officers serve in a judiciary law enforcement position and assist in the administration of justice and promote community safety, gather information, supervise offenders, interact with collateral agencies, prepare reports, conduct investigations, and present recommendations to the Court.  Officers may be assigned to presentence or supervision roles.  Officers may guide the work of Probation Officer Assistants and other staff.  More than one position may be filled with this announcement.

Representative Duties

The U.S. Probation Officer, under the general supervision of the Chief Probation Officer or Supervising Probation Officer, conducts investigations, makes recommendations to the Court for sentencing of individuals convicted of federal offenses, and supervises individuals who are sentenced to probation and/or released from federal/military prison.

In preparing reports for sentencing, the officer investigates the offense as well as the client's background.  The preparation of these reports requires interviewing clients and their families, investigating the offense of conviction, prior record, and financial status of the client; other contacts may include, but are not limited to, the home and neighborhood, law enforcement agencies, attorneys, victims of crimes, schools, and other civic and community agencies.  An integral part of this process is the interpretation and application of the U.S. Sentencing Commission guidelines and relevant case law.  Following disclosure of the report, the officer analyzes any objections and determines an appropriate course of action, including resolving disputed issues and/or presenting unresolved issues to the Court.  The officer serves as a resource to the Court to facilitate proper imposition of sentence.

The supervision officer encourages the rehabilitation of individuals under supervision (IUS) by monitoring their compliance with court-imposed conditions of supervision and implementing evidenced based supervision strategies.  Supervision activities include, but are not limited to, assessing criminogenic needs, monitoring individuals in the community, investigating and reporting noncompliance, and encouraging a law-abiding lifestyle.  The officer monitors the individual's employment, living circumstances, social networks, and thinking patterns.  Additionally, the officer identifies addiction or mental health needs and makes appropriate treatment referrals.  The officer engages the IUS at the residence, employment, and community; and collaborates with treatment providers, local law enforcement, community members and the Court to hold the IUS accountable for living a law-abiding lifestyle and complying with the conditions imposed by the Court.  The officer reinforces positive change of the IUS and helps the IUS identify and remove obstacles that hinder success.  When necessary, the officer notifies the Court of noncompliance and recommends appropriate sanctions or modifications to the conditions of supervision.

Qualifications

Required Education

All probation officer positions require completion of 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, which provides evidence of the capacity to understand and apply the legal requirements and human relations skills involved in the position.

Minimum Qualifications

To qualify for a starting salary in the CL-25 classification level the incumbent must have one year of specialized experience.  Specialized experience is defined as progressively responsible 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 investigation experience, is not creditable;

To qualify for a starting salary in the CL-27 classification level the incumbent must have two years of specialized experience or completion of a master's degree in a field of study closely related to the position, or a Juris Doctor (JD) degree.

To qualify for a starting salary in the CL-28 classification level the incumbent must have two years of specialized experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• At least two years of specialized experience;
• Prior experience with cases involving location monitoring, mental health, substance abuse, and/or sex offenders; and/or
• A master's degree.

Candidates must also demonstrate:

• Ability to work under pressure with short deadlines while maintaining a positive and professional demeanor;
• Ability to exercise discretion and sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and foster high ethical standards;
• Ability to interact and communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people of diverse backgr This includes offenders, law enforcement, and collateral agency personnel at different government levels, and community service providers;
• Ability to think through, analyze, and interpret written communications; and
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

Medical Requirements

The duties of probation officers require the investigation and management of alleged criminal offenders or convicted offenders who present physical danger to officers and to the public.  In the supervision, treatment, and control of these offenders, these duties require moderate to arduous physical exercise, including prolonged periods of walking and standing, physical dexterity and coordination necessary to operate a firearm, and use of self-defense tactics.  On a daily basis, these officers face unusual mental and physical stress because they are subject to danger and possible harm during frequent, direct contact with individuals who are suspected or convicted of committing Federal offenses.

The medical requirements and the essential job functions derived from the medical guidelines for probation officers are available for public review at http://www.uscourts.gov.

Because officers must effectively deal with physical attacks and are subject to moderate to arduous physical exertion, applicants must be physically capable.  Officers must possess, with or without corrective lenses, good distance vision in at least one eye and the ability to read normal size print.  Normal hearing ability, with or without a hearing aid, is also required.  Any severe health problems, such as physical defects, disease, and deformities that constitute employment hazards to the applicant or others, may disqualify an applicant.  Examples of health problems that may be disqualifying are an untreated hernia, cardiovascular disorders, serious deformities or disabilities in the extremities, mental health disorders, fainting and/or seizure disorders, metabolic disorders, bleeding disorders, pulmonary disorders, and marked speech abnormalities.

Maximum Entry Age

First-time appointees to positions covered under the law enforcement officer retirement provisions must not have reached their 37th birthday at the time of appointment.  Applicants 37 or over who have previous law enforcement experience under the Civil Service Retirement System or the Federal Employees Retirement System and who have either a subsequent break in service or intervening service in a non-law enforcement officer position may have their previous law enforcement experience subtracted from their age to determine whether they meet the maximum age requirement.

Salary Range

$53,746 - $121,635, depending on experience, qualifications, and duty station.  Promotion potential up to CL 28, at the discretion of the Chief U.S. Probation Officer, without further competition.  Salary matching not guaranteed.

Application Process

To apply, submit the following:

1. Federal Judicial Branch Application for Employment (AO 78). This position requires a 5-year background investigation with 5-year periodic updates. Applicants must complete the Background Information questions 18, 19, and 20 on page 5 of the application;
2. Letter of Interest (Cover Letter);
3. Chronological Resume;
4. "Unofficial" University Transcripts;
5. Recent Performance Evaluation; and
6. List of 3 Professional References, including contact phone number and email address.

Please submit application packet via email to in PDFform.  All documentation should be combined into one pdf.  Include the vacancy number and position title in the subject line of your email 'ORP-24-01 USPO'. Please type or print all information and sign and date forms where indicated.  Incomplete packets will not be considered.

Due to the volume of applications, the U.S. Probation Office will only communicate with those individuals who are invited for personal interviews and only applicants who are interviewed will receive a written response regarding their application status.  Applicants selected for interviews must travel at their own expense.  Relocation expenses are not authorized and will not be reimbursed.  Verification of employment, education, and reference checks will be made prior to any offer of employment.  The selectee for this position will be subject to a criminal background record check and consumer credit check before an employment offer is made.

Conditions of Employment

• Applicants must be United States citizens or lawful permanent residents currently seeking citizenship or intending to become a citizen after meeting the eligibility requirement as outlined in 8 U.S.C § 1324b(a)(3)(B).
• False statements or omissions of information on any application materials or the inability to meet conditions of employment may be grounds for non-selection, withdrawal of an offer of employment, or dismissal after being employed.
• All information is subject to verification and background investigation.
• Qualified applicants applying for Probation and Pretrial Services positions will be subject to preliminary credit, employment, and criminal history background checks.
• An FBI background check is required for all individuals appointed to positions in the U.S. Courts.  New employees are considered "provisional hires" pending the successful completion of the FBI background check. 
• Employees (except for Probation Law Enforcement Officers) of the United States Courts serve under “Excepted Appointments” and are considered “at will” employees.  As such, employment can be terminated at any time.  Furthermore, Federal Civil Service classifications do not apply.
• Probation Law Enforcement Officers of the United States Courts serve under “Excepted Appointments” and may be removed only for cause.
• Duty station assignments are at the sole discretion of the appointing officer.
• Employees are subject to mandatory participation in electronic funds transfer (EFT) for payment of net pay (i.e., Direct Deposit). (Limited exceptions are available upon request.) 
• The Court reserves the right to modify the conditions of posted job announcements or to withdraw an announcement entirely, either of which may occur without prior written or other notice.
• In the event a position becomes vacant in a similar classification within a reasonable time from the original announcement, the appointing officer may select an appointee from the candidates who responded to the initial announcement without posting the vacancy. 

For Further Information

• Learn more about the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon and the Probation Office.
• Employee Benefits
• Conditions of Employment