Pretrial Services Officer Assistant

Qualification

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. Candidates must be responsible, organized and demonstrate sound ethics and judgment. Candidates must also possess a positive attitude, integrity, tact, initiative, and the ability to work with a wide variety of people with diverse backgrounds. Must be able to work well under pressure and meet deadlines. Excellent professional references and computer abilities, including the ability to scan and submit documents electronically, are required. A driver’s license is required to conduct field work.

Medical Requirements and Maximum Entry Age
The duties of pretrial 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 coordinate necessary for office safety, 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.

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 un untreated hernia, cardiovascular disorders, serious deformities or disabilities of the extremities, mental health disorders, fainting and/or seizure disorders, metabolic disorders, bleeding disorders, pulmonary disorders, and marked speech abnormalities.

First-time appointees to positions covered under 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 officer experience under 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.

This is a hazardous duty position and as such the individual selected will be subject to mandatory separation at age 57, and/or upon completion of the necessary 20 years of service.

The U.S. Pretrial Services Office requires a credit and background check for selectees. The selectee(s) considered for this position is required to undergo an FBI Background Check and/or Investigation. The selectee may be appointed provisionally, and retention will depend upon favorable suitability determination of the background investigation.

General Experience

Conditions of Employment :

• Applicants must be a United States citizen or eligible to work in the United States. Appointment is contingent upon providing proof of United States citizenship or proof of authorization to work in the United States as required by the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.
• In that officer assistant positions are provisional appointments, candidates will undergo internal investigations conducted by the U.S. Pretrial Office, Eastern District of Missouri
• After the internal investigation is completed and approved by the Chief Judge, applicants will receive a written offer for provisional hire. Pursuant to Judicial Conference policy, all final applicants for officer positions will undergo a medical examination by Public Health Service physicians or other Federal Occupational Health, Law Enforcement Medical Program. Applicants will also undergo drug screening and will also be subject to random drug screening and updated background investigations every five years
• After appointment, OPM investigations will be conducted, and if the report reflects any negative nature, as to reflect continued employment as a U.S. Pretrial Officer would be ill advised, employment will be terminated
• The position is subject to mandatory electronic direct deposit of salary payment
• Applicants selected for interviews must travel at their own expense. The office does not pay for relocation expenses.
• Judiciary employees serve under excepted appointments and are considered “at will” and can be terminated with or without cause by the Court
• The U.S. Courts require employees to adhere to a Code of Conduct that is available to applicants for review upon request

Specialized Experience

A minimum of one year of specialized experience is necessary to qualify at the CL 25 level. Specialized experience is defined as: progressively responsible experience in such fields as probation, parole, corrections, criminal investigations, or work in substance/addiction treatment. Experience as police, custodial, or security officer, other than any criminal investigative experience, is not creditable

Benefits

Judiciary employees serve under excepted appointment (not civil service). The Federal benefits package includes:

• Generous Paid Time Off Program
• 11 Paid Holidays
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness
• Group Health, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance Defined Benefit Pension Plan
• Defined Contribution Plan
• (TSP) with Employer Match
• Long-Term Insurance
• Health and Dependent Flexible Spending Accounts Parking/Commuter Benefit Program
• Employee Assistance Program
• Work Life Services
• Virtual Judiciary Online University