| Job Description: |
Announcement No.:
2010-AD-02
Position Title:
United States Pretrial Services Officer
Salary Minimum:
CL 25 ($39,522)
Salary Maximum:
CL 28 ($89,481)
Position Location:
U.S. Pretrial Services Office (Reno, Nevada)
Agency Consideration:
All Sources
Opening Date:
March 10, 2010
Closing Date:
March 24, 2010
Number of Vacancies:
One
Representative Duties:
U.S. Pretrial Services Officers collect, verify, and report background information concerning persons charged with federal criminal offenses. Investigations are conducted and information is gathered through interviews with defendants, arresting authorities, U.S. Attorney’s Office, defendant family members and/or friends, other criminal justiceagencies, automated databases, and community members.
Officers evaluate information and prepare written reports for judges prior to the initial hearing with an assessment of the defendant’s risk of nonappearance and danger to the community. A recommendation regarding the release or detention of a defendant is included in the report. In formulating a recommendation, officers consider all risks, prior convictions, ability of a defendant to post bond, community ties, the possibility of substance abuse, and the risk of nonappearance, as well as the degree of danger to the community.
Officers supervise those defendants that are released with supervision conditions. Officers must develop viable supervision plans and maintain a detailed record of all case activities. Officers make regular telephonic, home, and other community contacts with defendants as required by the conditions of release and the supervision plan. Officers monitor all conditions of release such as, drug testing, location monitoring, inpatient and outpatient treatment. Supervision intervention is conducted with defendants to modify behavior to reduce potential for revocation. Officers may also assist those defendants needing medical help, food, shelter, and other assistance by referring them to the appropriate community or governmental agencies. Officers coordinate and monitor defendant’s contact with community resources.
Officers notify the court and the U.S. Attorney’s Office of any violations of release conditions. They also prepare petitions and/or reports to the court, recommending revocation or modification of conditions of release. Officers attend court hearings (initial, detention, violation, or status hearings) to provide additional information and to keep the court informed regarding the defendant’s status. Officers may also be required to testify in court.
Additional Duties
Conducts record checks using various automated systems.
Collects and conducts urine screens on defendants of the same gender and maintains appropriate related records.
Participates in and contributes to ongoing functional training programs.
As appropriate, reports all hazardous incidents encountered in the course of duty to his/her supervisor, the Chief Pretrial Services Officer, the court, and the Office of Probation and Pretrial Services.
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Educational Qualifications:
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 in the position.
Job Requirements
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General knowledge of the criminal justice system and knowledge of the Pretrial Services investigation, report, and supervision processes.
Ability to identify unusual problems for resolution.
Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing. Strong writing skills are key.
Ability to conduct thorough investigations and make sound evaluations and recommendations.
Knowledge of the local community and its resources.
Ability to meet recurring deadlines in a short time frame.
Ability to use various law enforcement automated systems.
Strong computer and typing skills, and working knowledge of computer software, such as, WordPerfect and Microsoft Office, or other approved office applications is desirable.
Unquestioned integrity, mature judgment, and tact.
Employees are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for judicial employees.
Court preferred skill in the Spanish language is desirable.
When eligible, the employee may be later promoted to CL 27 and CL 28 without competition.
Specialized Experience:
Demonstrated experience with investigation, report-writing, and supervision of defendants or offenders.
Desirable Characteristics
As substantial personal contact with Judicial Officers, staff, the public, and other agencies is required, successful candidates must be able to maintain a professional demeanor, work harmoniously with others, and be responsive, courteous, and polite on a regular basis. Successful candidates must be flexible and conscientious about detail and accuracy and must be able to balance the demands of varying or multiple workload responsibilities and deadlines.
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Educational Substitutions:
Completion of a master’s degree or two years of graduate study (60 semester or 90 quarter hours) in an accredited university in business or public administration, political science, criminal justice, law, or other field closely related to the subject matter of the position may be considered qualifying.
Maximum Entry Age
First time appointees covered under law enforcement officer retirement provisions must have not reached their 37 birthday at the time of their appointment to the hazardous duty position. Applicants age 37 or over, with previous federal hazardous duty experience under CSRS or FERS, may be eligible for appointment.
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Physical Requirements:
The duties of pretrial services officers and pretrial services officer assistants require the investigation and management of defendants charged with criminal offenses. In the supervision of these defendants, these duties require moderate to arduous physical exertion, including prolonged periods of walking and standing, physical dexterity and coordination necessary for officer safety, and use of self-defense tactics. Applicants must be physically capable of efficiently performing these duties and are subject to fitness-for-duty evaluations. Vision and hearing must also be adequate to perform the duties listed safely and effectively. Travel is required.
Pre-Employment Requirements and Conditions of Employment
As part of the recruitment process, final candidates for the position will undergo a background investigation completed by the U.S. Pretrial Services office. Fingerprints will be taken; a criminal records check with law enforcement agencies and a credit check will be conducted.
Prior to appointment, the selectee considered for this position will undergo a medical examination and drug screening. Upon successful completion of the medical examination and drug screening, the selectee 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.
A security/sensitive background investigation will be conducted by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The selectee must undergo and successfully complete a full field ten-year background investigation. The selected candidate may be appointed provisionally pending the successful outcome of the OPM investigation.
By statute, employees must be citizens of the U. S. or of countries with which the U.S. has a mutual defense treaty.
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Other Conditions of Employment:
Due to the considerable amount of time and agency funds devoted toward the overall training for this type of position, a minimum four-year commitment is preferred/expected of the incumbent.
Benefits:
Benefits include participation in the Federal Employees’ Retirement System, Social Security, Federal Employee Health Benefits, Federal Employees’ Life Insurance, Thrift Savings Plan with an employer match, long-term disability insurance, medical and dependent care reimbursement plans, paid holidays, and accrued annual and sick leave. Mandatory electronic funds transfer for direct deposit of pay applies.
Additional Information:
Applicants selected for interviews must travel at their own expense and relocation expenses will not be reimbursed. The Federal Financial Management Reform Act of 1994 (Title V, Section 402, section 333.2) requires direct deposit of federal wages.
Application Process:
Applicants should submit four (4) each of the following: Resume, Cover Letter, and Application for Judicial Branch Federal Employment (Form AO 78), which is available at: http://www.nvd.uscourts.gov/Files/AO-78.pdf by 5:00 p.m., on March 24, 2010.
ADDRESS:
United States Pretrial Services
Attn: Cheryl Diederich, Administrative Manager
Human Resources Department
333 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Rm. 1112
Las Vegas, Nevada 89101-7067
Only qualified applicants will be considered for this position. The U.S. Pretrial Services Office reserves the right to amend or withdraw this announcement with or without written notice to applicants. If a subsequent vacancy of the same position becomes available within a reasonable time of the original announcement, the Chief U.S. Pretrial Services Officer may elect to select a candidate from the original qualified applicant pool.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
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