Job Details for Sentencing Guidelines Specialist

Representative Duties
A Sentencing Guidelines Specialist performs duties and responsibilities such as, but not limited to, the following:

• Perform investigative and supervision responsibilities for defendants/offenders in both general and specialized cases. Conduct investigations and prepare reports for the court with recommendations, which require 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 and relevant case law.
• Serve as a resource and expert to the court, line officers, and staff in specialized cases. Guide, advise, train, and make recommendations to other officers, the court, and other individuals in cases involving area of specialization. Assist in developing policies and proposals to provide needed services. Train line officers on identification and treatment of offenders/defendants with special needs.
• Participate in on-going training and educational opportunities to further develop and/or enhance techniques and skills relating to investigation and supervision practices of offenders/defendants in area of specialization. Provide management and staff with ongoing updates related to changes with this offender/defendant population.
• Track developments in the law, and update staff and the court. Enforce court-ordered supervision components and implement supervision strategies. Maintain personal contact with defendants and offenders through office and community contacts and by telephone. 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.
• Serve as district authority on sentencing and sentencing guidelines issues. Maintain current knowledge of case law and Sentencing Commission, Administrative Office, and local policies and procedures pertaining to sentencing. Maintain up-to-date district-wide resource materials relating to the sentencing process.
• Train district staff including law clerks, law enforcement agencies, U.S. Attorney’s staff, and/or defense attorneys on sentencing guidelines and sentencing matters, including new developments in sentencing issues, guideline amendments, case law, etc.
• Serve as the lead with district presentence groups by conducting regularly scheduled meetings. Serve as the group’s representative to management and address any group issues of concern during management meetings.
• Complete presentence investigations for cases involving extremely complex issues and/or cases of unusual notoriety (e.g., white collar, organized crime, large conspiracy drug cases, and criminal organizations).
• Conduct the investigation on the lead and/or the “most culpable” defendant in multi-defendant cases and coordinate the preparation of the offense conduct section of the presentence reports in applicable cases. Coordinate the preparation of the victim impact portion of the presentence report in multi-defendant cases, when assigned lead responsibilities in such cases.
• Serve as expert in the use of Westlaw and Lexis and act as trainer for district staff in research procedures. Service as district representative/liaison with Westlaw, Lexis, and PSX.
• Serve as a consultant to presentence officers and attorneys as problems arise during the course of an investigation and/or during preparation of a presentence report, in the absence of, or at the request of a SUSPO. Consistently provides solid and thorough supervisor duties, when unit supervisor is on leave or otherwise unavailable.
• Demonstrate and maintain proficiency in financial investigation techniques and assist other officers with these matters, as requested. Maintain resource materials for the district relating to financial investigations. Train district staff on financial matters.
• Serve as resource to SUSPOs by reviewing presentence reports and/or sentencing litany prepared by officers, and make appropriate recommendations for addressing any performance review concerns.
• Update policy and procedures related to the investigation and preparation of presentence reports and provide related training to staff at least annually.
• Perform administrative duties related to presentence investigations and sentencing guidelines.