Federal probation officers began as volunteers in 1900. In 1925, Congress passed legislation establishing the federal probation system. In 1929 the first United States probation officer was appointed under the United States Department of Justice. Until 1939, the United States Probation Office was under the administration of the United States Department of Justice. Congress then authorized the creation of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts. The Probation and Pretrial Services Division was created within the Administrative Office. (U.S. District Court, 2011) The Pretrial Services Act of 1982 was signed into law by President Reagan “authorizing the Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts of the United States, under the supervision and direction of the Judicial Conference of the United States , to provide, directly or by contract or otherwise, for the establishment of pretrial services in each judicial district of the United States.” (U.S. District Court, 2011) Today, there are 94 federal district courts, and each district has its own probation office in the United States, while many also have their own pretrial services offices in the United States. Federal probation and pretrial services officers are federal law enforcement officials, appointed individually by the chief judge of that district. Officers are entitled to a 20-year retirement and can be appointed before their 37th birthday, due to the mandatory separation age of 57. (U.S. District Court, 2011) Federal pretrial services offices are different from other federal law enforcement agencies because they are “regionally aligned” to their judicial districts, not a single master command office. All officials of the precautionary services report to the head of the precautionary services of that... medium of paper... which describes the cycle of crime into which individuals fall, due to social and economic struggles. These people are more likely to continue in the cycle of crime, due to certain policies that have been created to "punish" these individuals (e.g. the three strikes law). These populations are often negatively targeted by politicians. This policy change provides a realistic view of how political decisions can negatively affect some populations, in turn causing more problems for society and allowing the cycle of crime to continue. Works Cited Functions and Powers Relating to Pretrial Services, United States Code, Title 18 Part II Chapter 207 http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/usc_sec_18_00003154----000-.html, accessed December 3, 2011 . United States District Court, Southern District of California US Pretrial Services, http://www. .caspt.uscourts.gov/, Retrieved December 3, 2011.