Amaryllis Austin
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Deputy Chief U.S. Pretrial Services Officer
Northern District of California U.S. Pretrial Serv
Oakland, California
05.2024 - Current
- Reorganized the office to better manage investigations, including implementing a new policy of having record checks done ahead of the initial appearance
- Created an investigations unit with dedicated staff to ensure consistency, timeliness, and reduce strain on supervision officers
- Updated policies and procedures to align with statutory, Judicial Conference, and Administrative Office requirements, including running risk assessment on all cases, ensuring location monitoring program oversight aligned with national requirements, and interpreted statute in reviewing requests for disclosure of confidential information.
- Served as liaison between the U.S. Pretrial Services agency and various stakeholders, including the district and magistrate judges, federal public defenders office, and United States Attorney Office via private meetings, emails, educational presentations, and committee participation.
- Participated in the recruitment, selection, onboarding, and promotion of multiple staff, from U.S. Pretrial Services Officer Assistants to Officers to Specialists and multiple Supervisors.
- Supervised all Supervisory U.S. Pretrial Services officers in the district along with one specialist and several administrative staff to include corrective and disciplinary actions, evaluations, salary increases and promotions.
- Evaluated personnel, space allocation, and operating allowance needs, including leading the remodel of an office lobby.
- Led training for all supervisors and various stakeholders on topics including the Pretrial Risk Assessment Tool (PTRA), evidence based practices, confidentiality regulations, and the Bail Reform Act.
- Implemented qualitative and quantitative measures of work performance
- Worked with Chief U.S. Magistrate Judges Ryu and Cousins and Federal Public Defender Jodi Linker to make recommendations on pretrial release with special emphasis on data sharing and interview rates.
- Maintained cooperative relationships with other Pretrial Services agencies, in particular as a member of the Leadership Council for the Advancement of Pretrial Services (LCAPS).
- Managed the Fiscal Year 2025 budget including oversight over purchasing, contracting, internal controls, and accounting functions, to include both internal and external audits.
Supervisory U.S. Probation Officer
District of Minnesota U.S. Probation Office
Minneapolis, MN
08.2023 - Current
- Lead pretrial unit ensuring expeditious handling of investigative work and the application of evidence-based practices to effectively supervise defendants
- Formulate, modify and implement policies for the effective supervision of defendants
- Conduct training on Pretrial statutes, case law, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and other staff development programs
- Conduct data analysis to identify areas for improvements or increased efficiencies, measure work performance, and ensure accountability in the performance of duty
- Manage all Pretrial staff, including managing leave, travel, work schedules and encouraging enthusiasm, morale, and loyalty
- Manage annual pretrial budget, including making estimates of personnel, space, and operating needs, and communicating these needs to executive leadership
- Maintain fiscal controls for the Pretrial unit, including approving travel expenses and purchases of equipment, and soliciting contracts for carrying out Pretrial functions
Probation Administrator
Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts
Washington, DC
09.2017 - 08.2023
- Collaborated in the development of an outcome-based national pretrial justice strategy by establishing and managing short- and long- term goals
- Developed improvement initiatives including leading the effort to develop an evidence-based bond report
- Advocated for pretrial reform in congress
- Conducted research, analyzed data and monitored trends in the national Pretrial system including the presumption for detention
- Member of research team devoted to studying racial bias in the federal system and advancing initiatives to promote racial justice
- Selected candidates to serve temporary duty assignments (TDYs) for Pretrial Services at the Administrative Office, delegated duties and decision-making responsibility to these candidates, as appropriate.
- Collaborated with the Federal Judicial Center (FJC) to update and maintain national standards, best practices, and maintain effectiveness of Pretrial Services.
- Present at conferences, training events, and other large forums including the National Association of Pretrial Service Agencies, the National Pretrial Services Conference, the National Federal Defenders Conference, the Criminal Law Committee, the Magistrate Judges Advisory Group, the Chief Probation and Pretrial Services Advisory Group, and the Court Administration and Operations Advisory Council
Owner
Anytime Fitness
Galt
07.2013 - 11.2019
- Managed small business including setting priorities, optimizing resources, information technology upgrades, strategic planning, team building, and marketing.
- Managed staff including writing job descriptions, advertising, hiring and training. Also managed promotions, salary increases, disciplinary actions, dismissals, and the systematic evaluation of work.
- Oversaw full remodel of space and facility, from bid solicitation, contracting, performance management, budget management, and approval of work.
Director's Leadership Fellow
Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts
Washington, DC
09.2016 - 09.2017
- Conducted and published research on statutory presumption for detention and national pretrial trends in the federal system
- Presented policy recommendations to the Criminal Law Committee (CLC)
- Advocated for bail reform in Congress, specifically for the CLC's endorsement of a legislative amendment to 18:3142(e)(2), currently introduced into Congress as the Smarter Pretrial Detention for Drug Charges Act of 2025.
U.S. Pretrial Services Officer/LM Specialist
Eastern District of California
Sacramento, CA
01.2013 - 08.2016
- Supervised a location monitoring caseload of up to 30 high-risk defendants
- Conducted Pretrial investigations and verified information to ensure compliance with release conditions
- Used evidence based practices to address deficiencies in education, employment, mental health, and social structures
- Facilitated cognitive behavior therapy group of up to 20 defendants, including those with mental health concerns
U.S. Pretrial Services Officer Assistant/Officer
Northern District of California
San Francisco, California
10.2009 - 01.2013
- Supervised caseload of up to 125 low-moderate risk defendants
- Conducted Pretrial investigations and verified information to ensure compliance with release conditions
- Reported violations to court, requested arrest warrants, and recommended modifications to conditions, as appropriate
Education
Master of Advanced Studies - Criminology
University of California, Irvine
01-2012
Bachelor of Arts - Government
Cornell University
01-2008
Publications
- The Presumption for Detention Statute's Relationship to Release Rates Revisited: A Replication and Extension, September 2024
- Examining Federal Pretrial Release Trends Over the Last Decade, Federal Probation, December 2018
- The Effect of the Statutory Presumption for Detention on Low-Risk Pretrial Defendants, Federal Probation, June 2017
Presentations
- Four time presenter at the Federal Public Defenders Bail Boot Camp conference
- Yearly presenter at the National Association of Pretrial Services (NAPSA) 2016-2025
- Presenter at the 2024 Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference on Pretrial risk assessment and evidence based practices
- Keynote presenter at the National Pretrial Services Conference organized by the Administrative Office (2018)
- Led over eight visits of the Detention Reduction Outreach Program (DROP), traveling to districts to evaluate and assist in the improvement of Pretrial Services functions (2016-2023).
- By private invitation, have assisted several other districts with training new supervisors, and evaluating their Pretrial Services operations (2023-2026)
- Upcoming presenter at the Building Better Futures Pretrial Summit (September 2026) and the Technical Skills Symposium (September 2026)
Committees
- Member of the Criminal Practice Committee, Pretrial Services Subcommittee, and Remote Detention Management Group of the Northern District of California
- Incoming member of the Ninth Circuit Criminal Law Committee (effective October 2026)
- Led the National Pretrial Services Working Group between 2022 and 2023
- Member of the Federal Judicial Center Management and Professional Development Education Advisory Committee (2022-2023)
- Planning Committee for the yearly conference of the Leadership Council for the Advancement of Pretrial Services
Trainings and Certifications
- Teams and Leaders Deputy Circle
- Courage to Change Facilitator
- Contracting Officer Level I
- Chiefs: Managing a Court Budget
- FJC Becoming an Executive, Science Informed Decision Making
- Learning Center Administrator Level I
- Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt
- Agile Project Management Certified
- AO Foundations of Management
- Location Monitoring, OC Spray, PTRA Certified
Timeline
Deputy Chief U.S. Pretrial Services Officer
Northern District of California U.S. Pretrial Serv
05.2024 - Current
Supervisory U.S. Probation Officer
District of Minnesota U.S. Probation Office
08.2023 - Current
Probation Administrator
Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts
09.2017 - 08.2023
Director's Leadership Fellow
Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts
09.2016 - 09.2017
Owner
Anytime Fitness
07.2013 - 11.2019
U.S. Pretrial Services Officer/LM Specialist
Eastern District of California
01.2013 - 08.2016
U.S. Pretrial Services Officer Assistant/Officer
Northern District of California
10.2009 - 01.2013
Bachelor of Arts - Government
Cornell University
Master of Advanced Studies - Criminology
University of California, Irvine