[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 156 (Thursday, August 13, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43414-43415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-21685]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Office of Community Oriented Policing Services; Agency 
Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

ACTION: Request OMB Emergency Approval; National Survey of Police 
Executives, District Commanders and Agencies

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    The Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing 
Services (COPS) has submitted the following information collection 
request (ICR) utilizing emergency review procedures, to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. OMB approval has been requested by 
August 17, 1998. If granted, the emergency approval is only valid for 
180 days. All comments and/or questions pertaining to this pending 
request for emergency approval must be directed to OMB, Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Department of Justice 
Desk Officer, Washington, DC 20530.
    During the first 60 days of this same period a regular review of 
this information collection is also being undertaken. Comments are 
encouraged and will be accepted until; October 13, 1998. During the 60-
day regular review all comments and suggestions, or questions regarding 
additional information, to include obtaining a copy of the proposed 
information collection instrument with instructions, should be directed 
to the COPS Office, Program/Policy Support and Evaluation Division, 
COPS Office, U.S. Department of Justice, 1100 Vermont Avenue, NW, 
Washington, DC 20530. Comments also may be submitted to the COPS Office 
via facsimile to 202-633-1386. Your comments should address one or more 
of the following four points:
    (1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and
    (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses.
    Overview of this information collection:
    (1) Type of Information Collection: New collection.
    (2) Title of the Form/Collection: National Survey of Police 
Executives, District Commanders and Agencies
    (3) Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the 
Department of Justice sponsoring the collection: Form: COPS 28/01. 
Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, U.S. Department of 
justice.
    (4) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as 
well as a brief abstract: A sample of local law

[[Page 43415]]

enforcement agency heads and precinct/district commanders that have 
received grant funding from the COPS Office will be surveyed regarding 
the nature and extent of community policing implementation in their 
agencies and precincts/districts.
    To uphold its mandate, the COPS Office has awarded hiring and 
redeployment grants, innovative grants, and training grants to over 
10,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide. While the COPS Office has 
made significant strides in funding officers it is important to 
consider the 1994 Crime Bill and the emergence of COPS in a long-term 
perspective. The proposed survey aims to answer questions regarding the 
nature and extent of community policing implementation across the 
United States.
    COPS data and prior national surveys of community policing 
implementation are limited in their capacity to describe how extensive 
community policing implementation is. In addition, existing data sets 
do not permit exploration of the likelihood that implementation of 
community policing varies within jurisdictions, particularly large ones 
that are decentralized to precinct or district levels. The National 
Survey of Police Executives, District Commanders and Agencies will be 
able to capture variations within a jurisdiction.
    Surveys will incorporate elements that the COPS Office has 
identified as key components of community policing and will draw upon 
prior surveys, other literature, and prior knowledge to develop a 
comprehensive listing of community policing elements. Questions will 
provide more precise information about the extent to which each element 
is implemented.
    (5) An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount 
of time estimated for an average respondent to respond: This collection 
is being conducted in two phases as a pilot survey and a larger follow-
up survey. Two sections, Section A and Section B will be utilized; a 
total of approximately 6700 respondents will be surveyed. Estimated 
time to complete Section A is 20 minutes with no preparation time; 
estimated time to complete Section B is 1.5 hours including preparation 
time.
    (6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated 
with the collection: Approximately 6141.6 hours.
    In additional information is required contact: Mr. Robert B. 
Briggs, Clearance Officer, United States Department of Justice, 
Information Management and Security Staff, Justice Management Division, 
Suite 850, Washington Center, 1001 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20530.

    Dated: August 6, 1998.
Robert B. Briggs,
Department Clearance Officer, United States Department of Justice
[FR Doc. 98-21685 Filed 8-12-98; 8:45 am]
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