Updated August 16, 2006

The U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services System is a part of the federal judiciary. As of September 2004, the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts employed 4,593 probation officers and 607 pretrial service officers. Officers investigate and supervise defendants released pending trial and offenders conditionally released on probation by the court or on parole or supervised release after they are released from prison. Officers’ primary responsibilities are to:

• Investigate the backgrounds of defendants and offenders for the court.
• Prepare reports about these individuals for the court to use in making informed release and sentencing decisions.
• Supervise defendants and offenders in the community to reduce the risk these persons pose to the public.
• Direct defendants and offenders to court-ordered services, including substance abuse and mental health treatment.

U.S. probation and pretrial services officer positions are designated hazardous duty positions. Probation officers have the power to arrest supervisees for a violation, but are encouraged to obtain an arrest warrant from the court, which is executed by the Marshal's Service. Pretrial services officers do not have statutory arrest powers. Both probation and pretrial services officers have federal statutory authority to carry firearms, with the concurrence of their individual district courts. Officers request authorization to carry firearms in the performance of their duties from the chief probation or pretrial services officer.

The following districts do not allow any officers to carry a firearm while on duty:

California, Central
Connecticut
Massachusetts
Virgin Islands
Virginia, Eastern
Wisconsin, Eastern & Western

Officers do not undergo psychological testing as a prerequisite to carrying firearms. They do, however, receive specialized training. A district firearms instructor provides this training in each district, from an officer who has undergone instructor training offered by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts. The instructor’s training lasts for approximately two weeks while the field officer’s initial training lasts for a minimum of three days. Instructors must pass a written exam and two qualification courses of fire with a score of at least 90%. The field officers must pass a written exam and two qualification courses of fire with a score of at least 80% before they can carry. The field officers must re-qualify at least once a year, but many districts re-qualify at least twice a year.

Officers are required to carry a .40 caliber, which is provided by the government.

For updates or corrections to the information on this page, please contact: Diane Kincaid