US Probation Officer

[rtv]

just came upon this thread and find it helpful. i recently applied to a couple of USPO positions in the midwest. i've got a ba in criminal justice and two years of federal correctional officer experience working primarily in max security at a FCI. it seems that most USPO's who have provided input say that a masters degree plus experience is the ticket to getting hired. are there many out there who have only bachelors degree and less than, say 3 years experience? i didn't initially realize it was so highly competitive. thx.

[satxparoleofcr]

To the current USPO's, what is the dress code in your district? Do you wear a dress shirt and tie or can you wear a polo shirt?

My office is in a courthouse and I'm in PTS so there's always a good chance you'll have to run up to court for something. We wear slacks/dress pants and a dress shirt, and I refer to my days with no court as casual days since I don't have to get suited up. If you do PTS, expect to have a coat and tie handy. Field attire here varies, as in most places. I usually wear cargo pants and a short sleeve overshirt to conceal the belt and the goodies attached.

[Odaat1]

Can someone provide any insight on the 1st and possible 2nd interview? I believe the second one is panel. Are the interviewers more interested in your experience? Or your answer to their designed probation-related questions?

[holycrikey]

To the current USPO's, what is the dress code in your district? Do you wear a dress shirt and tie or can you wear a polo shirt?

Dress code varies greatly from district to district. Our main office (where the deputy chief and chief are located) are more formal than the satellite offices. It's pretty much at least a pair of slacks and a tie. The satellite offices are more informal. No tie required. Mainly just nice khakis and a plaid button up or similar. Court is always suit & tie of course. We have casual Friday where polos are fine.

Fieldwork is whatever you want, so long as it is appropriate. Jeans are okay. Most people wear some type of tac cargo pant and a larger button up shirt to conceal the firearm. Some wear tac vests to conceal.

[dsb05c]

Both in my district. If your office is in a courthouse, you were a shirt and tie. My office isn't. Our new chief changed it so we can were polos now.

[jdg0044]

To the current USPO's, what is the dress code in your district? Do you wear a dress shirt and tie or can you wear a polo shirt?

[holycrikey]

I had a quick question about pay....

Trying to determine what starting salary would be, or what I could potentially make once off probation. Deciding whether is worth leaving my local LEO job, and if pay will be somewhat the same.

The good: Raises every six months. Large 12-14% increases at each year mark up to year #3. It levels off after that, but you still get your six month increases. I've talked with other local/state/county PO's around the nation, and I have yet to find a department that pays better than the feds. You may end up starting at a lower pay than what you have at your current probation department, but you rise above that very quickly with the feds. I certainly know that is my case. Take what I said with a grain of salt though.

The bad: Discretionary step increases are gone and have been for awhile now. No idea if they'll ever return. If they ever return, USPO's can make some very nice money if you have good management and are doing the job at or above your requirements on evaluation. Hopefully we get these back. No LEAP pay with US Probation. Overtime is very rare. Because of this, you may not earn as much as a traditional LEO at the state/county level. Depends...

Check out the pay tables for your area of the US.

http://www.uscourts.gov/Careers/Comp...ntOfficer.aspx

Most people fall under the "Rest of United States". Don't look at the base pay.

That being said, I know many (most?) districts can only hire new employees at CL25, regardless of education or other experience (unless you're a former USPO). Some districts have a little more cash or play more games with their budgets and therefore can afford to hire above 25... but by what I've seen, that is pretty rare. Most districts are more conservative with their budget now and CL25 is the standard. You'll be at CL27 in a year after hire anyway, so it doesn't impact you in the longer term too terribly.

Hope that info helps a little. Remember that a lot depends on if your city/office has a bigger locality pay increase.

As a broad example: Start at CL25, you are considered "Rest of United States".. by start of your third year in, you'll be CL28 making right around 58k. This assumes we don't get discretionary steps back. If we do, it could be much higher than that.

[TPD85]

I had a quick question about pay....

Trying to determine what starting salary would be, or what I could potentially make once off probation. Deciding whether is worth leaving my local LEO job, and if pay will be somewhat the same.

[AKtransplant]

What state/city did you apply for? Congrats.

[jdg0044]

Thanks guys. I have 7 years of state probation and 3/4 of my masters completed.

[DaBulls]

I've been offered a job as a USPO and am both excited and nervous about the opportunity. It seems like the current USPO's in this thread are satisfied with the job, which is encouraging.

Congrats!!! What is your background and where will you be working?

[Odaat1]

Congrats! Jdg0044. Very exciting news.

[Odaat1]

I've been offered a job as a USPO and am both excited and nervous about the opportunity. It seems like the current USPO's in this thread are satisfied with the job, which is encouraging.

[jdg0044]

I've been offered a job as a USPO and am both excited and nervous about the opportunity. It seems like the current USPO's in this thread are satisfied with the job, which is encouraging.

[Odaat1]

Did anyone apply to the recent USPO openings in the east coast?