United States Probation Officer

In addition to meeting the minimum education requirements, applicants at each grade level must also have specialized experience or meet additional academic requirements in the amounts shown in the information below.

Classification Level: CL-27
Minimum Education and/or Experience Requirements: Two years of specialized experience OR completion of master's degree in a field of study closely related to the position, or a Juris Doctor (JD) degree.

Classification Level: CL-28
Minimum Education and/or Experience Requirements: Two years of specialized experience.

Specialized experience is 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 investigative experience, is not creditable.

Maximum Entry Age and Medical Requirements

First-time appointees for this position must not have reached their 37th birthday at the time of appointment. Applicants age 37 or older who have previous law enforcement experience in the Federal Employees Retirement System or Civil Service 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 officer experience subtracted from their age to determine whether they meet the maximum age requirement. Retirement is mandatory at age 57.

The duties of probation officers require the investigation and management of convicted criminal offenders who present physical danger to officers and to the public. In the supervision, treatment, and control of the person under supervision, these duties require moderate to arduous physical exercise, including prolonged periods of walking and standing 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 convicted of committing federal offenses.

Because officers must effectively deal with physical attacks and are subject to moderate to arduous physical exertion, applicants must be physically capable. Any candidate the court is appointing to an officer position will be subject to a pre-employment medical examination. The applicant must be determined medically qualified prior to commencement of duties. The medical requirements for probation officers and probation officer assistants are available for public review at https://www.uscourts.gov/.

The U.S. Probation Office is an Equal Opportunity Employer.