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Duties About The CRS Graduate Recruit Program Initial appointments under the CRS Graduate Recruit Program will be made for a period up to 120 days. Initial appointments are expected to convert to permanent, contingent upon the participant’s successful performance, completion of all degree requirements, and availability of funding. Those students who return to school to complete their advanced degree program may be eligible for a permanent position once they obtain their degree.
About CRS
CRS works exclusively for the United States Congress, providing policy and legal analysis to committees and Members of both the House and Senate, regardless of party affiliation. As shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress, CRS experts assist at every stage of the legislative process-from the early considerations that precede bill drafting, through committee hearings and floor debate, to the oversight of enacted laws and various agency activities.
CRS is well known for analysis that is authoritative, confidential, objective, and nonpartisan. Its highest priority is to ensure that Congress has immediate access to the nation’s best thinking on public policy issues of interest to its Members and Committees.
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that ensures the Service is well positioned to anticipate and meet the information and analytical research needs of a 21st-century Congress.
Job Responsibilities
The Congressional Research Service (CRS), Domestic Social Policy Division (DSP), seeks an Analyst in Crime Policy. The selected candidate will work on issues related to the juvenile justice system, tribal justice system, criminal justice system, sex offenders, DNA, and crime victim policy. Ideal candidates will have an academic background in criminology, criminal justice, public policy, and/or other social sciences, and will have knowledge of how the justice system works, including the interactions between system components. Understanding how the federal criminal justice system works and how the federal government influences state and local justice systems would be an asset.
The Analyst in Crime Policy will provide objective, expert public policy analysis and consultation on policies and issues related to the criminal, juvenile, and tribal justice systems for Members and committees of the U.S. Congress. The analyst will locate/interpret factual information; conduct research; prepare objective, non-partisan descriptive, background, and analytical reports; and participate in team research projects and presentations. This position requires the ability to utilize analytical methods and techniques to analyze policy issues for the U.S. Congress. The candidate should be comfortable with quantitative and qualitative approaches in research and be familiar with public policy issues related to the criminal, juvenile, and tribal justice systems.
Strong writing, research, and presentation skills are essential, including the ability to synthesize complex analyses into easy-to-understand language for a non-technical audience.
The analyst position carries promotion potential to the GS-15 level.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
Library of Congress employees are prohibited from using illegal drugs, including marijuana. The Library is part of the Federal Government and abides by federal law, so regardless of individual state or District of Columbia laws, marijuana use is illegal, considered criminal activity, and can affect your employment at the Library. In addition, past or current drug use and activities (e.g., selling or distributing) may deem you ineligible for employment.
Qualifications
Who may be considered
Graduate students and Library of Congress employees who meet all of the following eligibility requirements:
- U.S. Citizenship
- Current enrollment in or anticipated graduation from an appropriate, accredited advanced degree program recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. (Library of Congress employees who already possess a graduate degree may be considered for appointment under the CRS Graduate Recruit Program).
- General education requirements for a GS-09 and GS-11 appointment (see table below).
GS–09 Grade Level
Two years of progressively higher level appropriate graduate education leading to a Master’s degree, OR Master’s or equivalent graduate degree, OR one year of specialized experience at the GS-07 grade level in the federal service or at a comparable level of difficulty outside the federal service.
GS–11 Grade Level
Three years of progressively higher appropriate graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree, OR a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, OR one year of specialized experience at the GS-09 grade level in the federal service or at a comparable level of difficulty outside the federal service.
Additional Education Requirements
Degree: behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
or
Combination of education and experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.
or
Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.
Transcripts (official or unofficial) of all completed graduate courses or a self-prepared course list showing grades and the number of credits received must be attached to your online application. Graduate transcripts/course list are mandatory; undergraduate transcripts are optional.
Knowledge, Skill, And Ability Requirements
The critical knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs), gained through education, experience and/or training, needed to successfully perform the duties of the position:
GS–09 Grade Level
GS–11 Grade Level
Knowledge of federal policies and programs related to the juvenile, tribal, and criminal justice systems**:
To provide objective background information and limited public policy analysis on federal policies and issues related to the juvenile, tribal, and criminal justice systems for Members and committees of the U.S. Congress.
Knowledge of federal policies and programs related to the juvenile, tribal, and criminal justice systems**:
To provide objective, in-depth public policy analysis and background information on federal policies and issues related to the juvenile, tribal, and criminal justice systems for Members and committees of the U.S. Congress.
Ability to design and utilize research and analytical methods and techniques**:
To assemble, analyze, and interpret information to identify and evaluate public policy issues and options.
Ability to design and utilize research and analytical methods and techniques**:
To research, analyze and synthesize complex information and evaluate implications of various policy alternatives.
Ability to write on issues related to juvenile, tribal, and criminal justice system policy**:
To write descriptive and background reports, memoranda, and other documents with limited analysis for Congress.
Ability to write on issues related to juvenile, tribal, and criminal justice system policy**:
To write analytical and descriptive reports, memoranda, and other products supported by appropriate background research for Congress.
Education
Additional Information
The Congressional Research Service, within the Library of Congress, is part of the Legislative Branch of the federal government. As such, all positions are in the excepted service.
The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustment for the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.
This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position.
The appointment tenure for this position is full-time temporary with the expectation of subsequent conversion to permanent; flexible work schedules may be available.
The position description number for this vacancy announcement is GS-09-004745 or GS-11-004746.
Relocation expenses are not authorized for the person(s) selected under this vacancy announcement.
The Library reserves the right to fill a lesser or greater number of vacancies indicated during the life of this vacancy announcement.
Appointment/retention is subject to a favorable evaluation of an appropriate personnel security/suitability investigation.
Those Graduate Recruit Program participants who are converted from a temporary appointment to a permanent position, and who have not yet completed the one-year probationary period, which is required of all new Library employees, will be required to do so. Time served in the temporary appointment will not count toward completion of this one-year probationary period requirement.
CRS staff not placed in a permanent position under the Graduate Recruit Program will return to the position occupied before entering the program or a position of similar grade and duties without loss of federal service tenure or seniority. Before applying, other Library of Congress employees should consult their supervisor or service unit management regarding the status of their position should they be selected for the program but not placed in a permanent position.
A “Not to Exceed” (NTE) status identifies an appointment with a specific ending date. However, the Library has the right to separate a NTE employee at any time due to either performance issues or budget constraints.
This agency provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify Carmen Reese at [email protected] or (202) 707-6275. The decision on granting reasonable accommodations will be made on a case-by-case basis.