Officers investigate defendants and offenders for the court by gathering and verifying information about them. Pretrial services officers investigate defendants who are charged with federal crimes and awaiting a court hearing. Probation officers investigate offenders who are convicted of crimes and awaiting sentencing, as well as those who are serving a term of supervision after release from prison or following a sentence of probation.

Officers prepare reports that the court relies on in making decisions. Pretrial services reports help the court decide whether to release or detain defendants while they are awaiting trial. Presentence investigation reports help the court impose fair sentences for offenders in accordance with federal sentencing guidelines and applicable federal law. Officers also prepare other reports for the court, including reports that address individuals’ adjustment to supervision and their compliance with conditions of release.

Officers supervise defendants and offenders in the community and in doing so reduce the risk these persons pose to the public. Pretrial services officers supervise defendants released pending trial. Probation officers supervise offenders who are sentenced to a term of probation by the court or who are on parole or supervised release after they are released from prison.

Officers intervene with a variety of strategies aimed at maximizing defendant and offender success during the period of supervision. These strategies include techniques both to control and to correct in 93 of them. (Probation and pretrial services for the District of the Northern Mariana Islands are provided by the District of Guam.) Some districts have both a probation and pretrial services office. In other districts, probation and pretrial services are combined in one office. In one district, the District of Columbia, only the probation office is part of the federal probation and pretrial services system.