Public Safety Background Investigator

Salary$55,789.55 – $92,981.62 Annually

LocationFAIRFAX (FJ23), VA

Job Type   FT Hourly W BN

Job Number    25-00837

Department   Sheriff

Closing Date    5/9/2025 11:59 PM Eastern

Job Announcement

This position serves as a Civilian Background Investigator for the Sheriff’s Office; and is assigned to the Administrative Services Division, Applicant Recruiting & Screening. Conducts background investigations of applicants seeking employment with the Sheriff’s Office. As assigned, assists in applicant recruitment, testing, and initial screening. In depth background investigations of departmental applicants.

Illustrative Duties

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position description.) 

• Conducts thorough background investigations through interviews with applicants or related parties;
• Verifies references, reports, evaluations and/or other documents in conjunction with the background investigation;
• Assists in recruiting prospective applicants;
• Assists in testing and processing applicants;
• Prepares written recommendations and reviews comprehensive background summaries with supervisor.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

• Thorough knowledge of the principles and techniques of law enforcement investigative principles and interview techniques;
• Knowledge of principles and practices of Public Safety departmental procedures;
• Knowledge of statistical methods;
• Knowledge of equal employment opportunity laws;
• Ability to present ideas effectively both orally and written form;
• Ability to conduct detailed analytical evaluations and to prepare related reports and recommendations;
• Ability to maintain a high level of ethical standards;
• Ability to demonstrate a high level of integrity and to be truthful at all times.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following: (Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for “Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to”)

An associate’s degree with major course work in Human Resources, Police Science, or related field; Plus 3 years’ experience in investigations or law enforcement.PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Three (3) years of general investigative/employment experience.
• Experience using law enforcement databases (VCIN, NCIC, Linx, TLO, Wooster) and open- source materials to conduct investigations, bilingual, exceptional communication skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing,
• Experience using Microsoft office products and internet research tools.
• Be eligible to obtain certification as a Virginia Criminal Information Network (VCIN) Operator Level B within 6 months of hire.
• Experience as a law enforcement officer for a local, state, federal agency, or military.

Probation Officer (Probation Counselor II)
Location: Fairfax, VA
Job Number: 25-00899
Salary: $64,190.88 – $106,984.59
Closing Date: May 2, 2025

This position is located in the Community Corrections Services Unit of the Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, which serves a diverse, multi-lingual adult population referred to the Court for charges that are domestic in nature or where the victim is a minor. Provides high quality supervision and case management services in conjunction with evidence-based practices to adult offenders held in the Adult Detention Center or referred to pre-trial and probation supervision in the Community Corrections Services Unit. Maintains a caseload of adult offenders placed on pretrial and probation supervision, conducts intakes including collecting data from arrest documents, personal interview with defendants and criminal histories. Uses various risk assessment tools including the VPRAI (Virginia Pretrial Risk Assessment Instrument) and OST (Offender Screening Tool) in determining level of risk, level of supervision, and criminogenic needs for development of case success planning. Completes court ordered pre-sentence investigation reports, affidavits for court order violations, notice of positive drug screen reports, termination reports, and progress reports to the referring Court as appropriate. 

These cases require specialized counseling skills and treatment approaches (e.g. dual diagnosis, batterer intervention, mental health and substance abuse) by coordinating with all necessary service providers in different disciplines. Uses Evidence Based Practices such as Motivational Interviewing (MI), and interventions such as Carey Guides and EPICS (Effective Practices in Community Supervision) in developing case success plans to assist in the rehabilitation of offenders through supervision, counseling, or referral to public and private agencies. Aids defendants in obtaining employment, treatment, housing, and other community services. Ensures case data is entered into the Department of Criminal Justice Services database, PSLP (Pretrial Services and Local Probation), in accordance with agency and state-mandated guidelines. Conducts record checks using NCIC/VCIN and must have extensive working knowledge of applicable agency, county, and public databases. Requires extensive knowledge of court processes, attends court hearings and testifies before the Judiciary on matters concerning bond, pretrial and probation supervision, and pre-sentence investigation report cases. Conducts alcohol and drug testing as appropriate. Provides coverage for Arraignment Officer duties as needed which involves the review of all defendants’ cases prior to arraignments using the arrest warrant, bail determination sheet, Virginia Court Appointed Counsel sheet, criminal and traffic histories, defendant demographics sheet, the VPRAI with Praxis recommendation, the Brief Jail Mental Health Screen and all reference notes collected during the initial jail interview. Formulates a recommendation and presents recommendations regarding bond, conditions of release and court appointed counsel eligibility to the Judiciary in court at arraignments. Conducts initial interview of defendants in the jail if not completed at time of arrest. Must maintain valid NCIC/VCIN certification.

The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 38.7% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others) and we encourage qualified candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this job opportunity.

FBI Counterterrorism and Forensic Science Research Unit (CFSRU)

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Counterterrorism and Forensic Science Research Unit’s (CFSRU) provides technical leadership for the FBI as well as for other law enforcement and intelligence agencies through applied research and development.

What will I be doing? As a participant with the Counterterrorism and Forensic Science Research Unit (CFSRU) Visiting Scientist Program (VSP), you will have an opportunity to enhance your professional development and increase your research capabilities and contributions by participating in forensic research initiatives utilizing state-of-the-art equipment under the mentorship of CFSRU scientists. The VSP will expose you to a research environment in a high security government facility and provides an opportunity to perform research in areas of interest unique to law enforcement and national security.

You may be involved in research including:

• Human identification
• Detection of Bio-threat agents
• Detection of explosives and drugs
• Characterization and comparison of forensic materials
• Elemental analysis of trace evidence
• Mass spectrometry applications to chemical and biological analyses, including IRMS
• Development of instrumental methods
• Evaluation of field portable instrumentation
• Advancement of forensic chemistry, specifically in toxicology, and trace volatiles
• Advancement of techniques for Imaging and Visualization

Under the guidance of a mentor, you may be involved in some or all of the following:

• Conducting searches of scientific literature
• Designing experimental plans
• Conducting field tests
• Performing analytical laboratory analyses
• Analyzing instrumental data/ documenting results
• Preparing and presenting research findings to diverse audiences, both orally and in writing

Why should I apply?  Under the guidance of a mentor, you will perform sophisticated laboratory techniques using emerging technologies, judge the completeness and accuracy of research results, perform statistical analyses on data, and prepare written manuscripts for FBI review and publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Release of any information acquired during participation in this program is at the sole discretion of the FBI.

Where will I be located? Quantico, Virginia

Participant Benefits:

As a participant you will receive a stipend as support for your living and other expenses during this appointment. Stipend rates are determined by the CFSRU officials and are based on your academic and professional background. One time dislocation expense of $2,000, incurred in relocating from your current address to Quantico, Virginia (if more than 50 miles from the address shown on the application), may be reimbursed. You will receive a travel allowance of $5,000 per appointment year to cover travel-related expenses to scientific and professional development activities. The initial appointment is for one year with the opportunity to extend up to additional 3 years for BS and MS level and up to four years for PhD level based on eligibility and availability of the participant and their mentor. The appointment is full time during standard business hours. Part time appointments will be considered under special circumstances.

For more information about the Visiting Scientist Program, please visit https://www.fbijobs.gov/students/undergrad

Eligibility Requirements

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, or Doctoral Degree.
• Discipline(s):
  • Chemistry and Materials Sciences (10 )
  • Computer, Information, and Data Sciences (2 )
  • Earth and Geosciences (6 )
  • Engineering (4 )
  • Environmental and Marine Sciences (4 )
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences (19 )
  • Mathematics and Statistics (6 )
  • Physics (2 )
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 )
• Age: Must be 18 years of age