The United States Probation Office for the District of Colorado is accepting applications for the position of US Probation Officer in our Durango location. The oversight of the Durango division includes La Plata, Archuleta, Dolores, San Juan, Montezuma, Ouray, and San Miguel counties, including two Indian reservations. The Durango division supports a part-time United States Magistrate Judge and a United States District Judge and is generally staffed with two probation officers.
Summary
The United States Probation Office for the District of Colorado is accepting applications for the position of US Probation Officer in our Durango location. The oversight of the Durango division includes La Plata, Archuleta, Dolores, San Juan, Montezuma, Ouray, and San Miguel counties, including two Indian reservations. The Durango division supports a part-time United States Magistrate Judge and a United States District Judge and is generally staffed with two probation officers.
A US Probation Officer works in a team environment, serves in a judiciary law enforcement position, and assists in the administration of justice. The incumbent promotes community safety, gathers information, supervises defendants/offenders, interacts with collateral agencies, prepares reports, conducts investigations, and presents recommendations to the court.
The primary focus of the job is to fulfill statutory requirements to conduct pretrial and presentence investigations, supervise defendants/offenders, make recommendations to the court, evaluate needs and conditions, and maximize compliance for the purpose of ensuring community safety. The job involves making independent decisions within the context of professional standards, broad policies, and general goals. Probation officers gather and analyze information to determine or recommend the best course of action. The primary judiciary contacts are other probation/pretrial services staff, judicial officers, and staff of other court units for the purpose of conducting investigations and maintaining accurate and up-to-date information in case files. The primary external contacts are defendants and their families, other government agencies, U.S. Attorney's Office, U.S. Marshals, Bureau of Prisons, Parole Commission, attorneys, public safety/law enforcement officials, treatment providers, victims, and other members of the community for the purpose of investigating backgrounds, obtaining and verifying arrest information, drafting sentencing guidelines, and similar activities. Work is performed in an office setting and in the community and may be subject to variable hours, including nights and weekends. Work requires regular contact with persons who have violent backgrounds. These contacts may be made in both generally controlled office settings as well as in field situations (such as uncontrolled and unsafe neighborhoods/environments where illegal activities and violence may occur). Travel within the state is required.
These representative duties are intended to provide generalized examples of duties and responsibilities that may be performed by the position, but this list is not intended to reflect all duties that may be performed.
Conduct investigations and prepare reports for the court with recommendations, which requires interviewing offenders/defendants and their families, as well as collecting background data from various sources. An integral part of this process is the interpretation and application of policies and procedures, statutes, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedures, and may include U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, Guide to Judiciary Policy (including Volume 8 (Probation and Pretrial Services)), and relevant case law. Track legal developments, and update staff and the court.
Enforce court-ordered supervision components and implement supervision strategies. Maintain personal contact with defendants and offenders. Investigate employment, sources of income, lifestyle, and associates to assess risk and compliance. Address substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence, and similar problems and implement the necessary treatment or violation proceedings, through assessment, monitoring, and counseling.
Schedule and conduct drug use detection tests and DNA collection of offenders/defendants, following established procedures and protocols. Maintain paper and computerized records of test results. Maintain chain of custody of urinalysis testing materials. Respond to judicial officer's request for information and advice. Testify in court as to the basis for factual findings and (if warranted) guideline applications. Serve as a resource to the court. Maintain detailed written records of case activity. May conduct surveillance and/or search and seizure at the direction of the court.
Investigate and analyze financial documents and activities and take appropriate action. Interview victim(s) and provide victim impact statements to the court. Ensure compliance with Mandatory Victims Restitution Act. Responsible for enforcement of home confinement conditions ordered by the court, and in some districts may perform home confinement reintegration on behalf of the Bureau of Prisons.
Analyze and respond to any objections. This may include resolving disputed issues and presenting unresolved issues to the court for resolution. Assess offenders'/defendants' level of risk and develop a blend of strategies for controlling and correcting risk management.
Communicate with other organizations (such as the U.S. Parole Commission, Bureau of Prisons, law enforcement, treatment agencies, and attorneys) concerning offenders'/defendants' behavior and conditions of supervision. Identify and investigate violations and implement appropriate alternatives and sanctions. Report violations of the conditions of supervision to the appropriate authorities. Prepare written reports of violation matters and make recommendations for disposition. Testify at court or parole hearings.
Must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident seeking U.S. citizenship.
Employees are required to use electronic funds transfer for payroll deposit.
The Court requires employees to adhere to a Code of Conduct as well as specific employee policies and performance expectations.
MAXIMUM ENTRY AGE :
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 FERS or CSRS, 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.
MEDICAL AND BACKGROUND REQUIREMENTS:
The duties of probation officers require the investigation and management of pretrial defendants or convicted persons under supervision who present physical danger to officers and to the public. In the supervision, treatment, and control of these individuals, these duties require moderate to arduous physical exercise, including prolonged periods of walking and standing, physical dexterity and coordination necessary for officer safety, and use of self-defensive tactics. On a daily basis, officers face unusual mental and physical stress because they are subject to danger and possible harm during frequent, direct contact with individuals who are charged with criminal offenses or convicted of committing federal offenses.
Qualifications
For placement as a CL 25, the applicant must have a minimum of one year of specialized experience (defined below) AND completion of a bachelor's degree in a field of study closely related to the subject matter of the position.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:
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.
Education
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a field of study which provides evidence of the capacity to understand and apply the legal requirements and human relations skills involved in the position.
Additional information
ADDITIONAL MEDICAL AND BACKGROUND REQUIREMENTS:
The medical requirements for law enforcement officer positions are available for public review on www.uscourts.gov under Officer and Officer Assistant Medical Requirements. Prior to appointment, the selectee considered for this position will undergo a medical examination and a drug screening. Upon successful completion of the medical examination and drug screening, the selectee may be appointed provisionally, pending a favorable suitability determination by the court once the ten-year, high-sensitive background investigation is completed. 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. For transfer applicants, at the Chief USPO's discretion, the most recent background investigation/reinvestigation report completed on behalf of the officer may be examined prior to an employment offer being made. If a selectee's initial background investigation has not been completed at the time of transfer, the selectee would be appointed in our district provisionally, pending a favorable suitability determination by our court.
TRAINING:
Probation officers receive extensive local training and are required to successfully complete a six-week intensive national training program at the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Training Academy in Charleston, South Carolina.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
We offer a robust benefits package, flexible schedules, and up to 50% telework. Benefits include:
13 days of vacation during the first three years (increasing with tenure),
13 days of sick leave,
11 paid holidays,
Retirement benefits, and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with up to a 5% government match.
Optional benefits include health, dental, vision, and life insurance; a flexible benefits program with health, dependent care, and parking reimbursement.
Employees also have access to Federal Occupational Health (FOH)/Employee Assistance Program (EAP) resources and may qualify for student loan forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.
See our employment website for the full list of benefits.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Applicants will be evaluated based on their application documents which should include their education and experience. Finalists will be subject to assessments and interviews for further selection.
We offer a robust benefits package, flexible schedules, and up to 50% telework. Benefits include:
13 days of vacation during the first three years (increasing with tenure),
13 days of sick leave,
11 paid holidays,
Retirement benefits, and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with up to a 5% government match.
Optional benefits include health, dental, vision, and life insurance; a flexible benefits program with health, dependent care, and parking reimbursement.
Employees also have access to Federal Occupational Health (FOH)/Employee Assistance Program (EAP) resources and may qualify for student loan forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.
See our employment website for the full list of benefits.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Your application packet must be submitted as a single pdf document by email to: cod_hrd@cod.uscourts.gov. Please note "Vacancy Announcement: 2026-01-USPO" in the subject line of the email.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Your application packet must be submitted as a single pdf document by email to: cod_hrd@cod.uscourts.gov. Please note "Vacancy Announcement: 2026-01-USPO" in the subject line of the email.
