Officers and Officer Assistants

Who We Are 

The U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services system has a diverse workforce committed to service to the federal courts and to the public. Officers serve in every federal district court to help ensure the fair administration of justice and to protect the community. They assess the risk of people charged with or convicted of crimes, conduct investigations to aid judicial decision-making, and supervise people released to the community. 

What We Do 

Officers serve the federal courts during key phases of a criminal case: from the pretrial (arrest) stage through the post-conviction stage. They provide judges with valuable information to consider in their decisions about whether someone should be detained while awaiting trial and about the appropriate sentence a person should receive after a conviction. 

Officers’ responsibilities include: 

• Conducting investigations for the court. Officers interview people charged with or convicted of crimes to learn about their family histories, education, employment, finances, and health. They may also interview family members and past or current employers. They review records, such as criminal histories, court records, school and military records, and employment histories. 
• Preparing reports. Based on the information they gather during the investigation stage, officers write reports that judges use to make informed decisions during key phases of the criminal justice process. The reports contain assessments about whether someone awaiting trial should be detained or the conditions that should be imposed before releasing someone awaiting trial. They also produce reports assessing the factors to be considered when a judge must decide an appropriate sentence for a person convicted of a crime. 
• Supervising people released to the community. Officers supervise people released while awaiting trial or after they’ve served their sentences. They make sure that conditions set by the court are followed and they help individuals access services or gain skills necessary to maintain stability in the community. Officers work to assess the individual needs of each person on supervision and connect them with resources such as counseling, education, and employment. 

Officer Assistants 

Officer assistants serve under the direction and guidance of a supervisor and assist probation and pretrial services officers with a wide range of tasks, including compiling information for investigations, supervising individuals released to the community, and preparing reports for courts. Applicants must be high school graduates or the equivalent. Officer assistants receive safety training but are not authorized to carry firearms and do not participate in the Federal Probation and Pretrial Services Academy. Officer assistants receive training in the district where they are employed and must meet similar professional standards required for officers.   

Learn more about becoming an officer or officer assistant.