United States Probation Officers Advisory Group
to the
United States Sentencing Commission


Charter

Mission Statement

The U.S. Probation Officers Advisory Group (POAG) is established by the U.S. Sentencing Commission (USSC) to assist the Commission in carrying out its statutory responsibilities under the Sentencing Reform Act, 28 U.S.C. 994(o), and to represent U.S. Probation Officers (USPOs) in the area of sentencing.

Priorities and Scope

The POAG shall report to the Commission their observations on the operation of the sentencing guidelines, any proposed amendments, and other sentencing issues. The POAG will provide feedback and disseminate information regarding sentencing issues to USPOs.

Organizational Structure

The POAG consists of:

One representative from each judicial circuit who will represent his/her circuit at Advisory Group meetings, except that there shall be two representatives from each of the 5th, 9th and 11th circuits where one representative shall be from each of the districts in Texas, California, and Florida, respectively;

One representative from the Federal Probation/Pretrial Services Officers Association (non-voting);

One representative from the Federal Corrections and Supervision Division (non-voting); and

One representative of each district (will not vote nor attend POAG meetings).

Term of Members

The term for members shall be three years (or at least six POAG meetings, in the event the POAG is not convened by the USSC for any length of time). A member's term may be extended if needed to provide continuity for the group. In the event that the circuit representative relocates to another circuit, he/she will vacate the position in the group and another circuit representative will be selected.

Selection Process for Circuit Representatives

The outgoing circuit representative will solicit a candidate from each district in their circuit who has received approval from their Chief Probation Officer. The candidate will submit a letter of interest with qualifications for serving on the POAG. The outgoing representative will select the successor with consideration given, where practical, for rotating the representation among the districts represented.

Chairperson & Vice Chairperson

The Chairperson will be elected by a vote of the circuit representatives present and will serve a term of two years. The vote will be taken in a secret ballot at a POAG meeting, after nominations and acceptances have been made from the group. The officer with the second highest number of votes will be the Vice Chairperson. The Vice Chairperson will preside in the absence of the Chairperson.

Duties of the Chairperson :

  >   Preside at POAG meetings and collaborate with USSC staff in the development of meeting agendas;

  >   Serve as the liaison to the USSC and communicate with all members of the POAG when necessary;

  >   Attend or designate an alternate for Commission and other special briefings held by the Commission;

  >   Survey USPOs on related sentencing issues through circuit and district representatives.

District Representatives

District representatives shall be selected by the circuit representative, with the approval of the selectee's Chief Probation Officer.

A circuit representative may serve as the representative of his/her district.

The term of the district representative shall be at the discretion of the circuit representative with approval of the district representative's Chief Probation Officer.

When a circuit representative is unable to attend a POAG meeting, a district representative in that circuit should be asked to attend. If no district representatives can attend, the circuit representative may designate another officer to attend.

Voting

A simple majority of all members present shall decide all votes.

All circuit representatives have voting rights at POAG meetings.

The Chairperson votes for his/her circuit and, in the event of a tie the Chairperson will break the tie.

Committees

The Chairperson may form committees as needed.

Meetings

POAG meetings will be held in Washington, D.C. and funded by the USSC. There shall be at least one meeting per year, while there is a quorum of commissioners.

Communication:

The Chairperson shall designate one or more circuit representatives to record the minutes of POAG meetings. The minutes of the POAG meetings shall be communicated to all district representatives for further dissemination to the field. Prior to distribution, the Chairperson shall review and approve the minutes. Following each meeting, a synopsis of the minutes shall be prepared, at the direction of the Chairperson, for inclusion in News & Views.