[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 141 (Friday, July 23, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40045-40046]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-18775]
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
National Institute of Corrections
Solicitation for a Cooperative Agreement
Summary: The Department of Justice (DOJ), National Institute of
Corrections (NIC), announces the availability of funds in FY 1999 for a
cooperative agreement to fund the ``Development of a Training
Curriculum for Investigation Allegations of Staff Sexual Misconduct
With Inmates.''
The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) invites applications
for a cooperative agreement to develop a standard, core curriculum for
training persons responsible for the investigations of staff sexual
misconduct in correctional settings. To enable the Institute to offer
state of the art investigative training in addressing staff sexual
misconduct, the award recipient will develop a 24 hour training
curriculum with a faculty guide and a participant workbook. The 24 hour
training program will provide an overview of the national scope of
correctional staff sexual misconduct while providing information and an
interactive training experience that will enhance the knowledge and
skills of investigators and administrators from state and local
jurisdictions specifically charged with investigating staff sexual
misconduct with inmates. (It is not within the scope of this
cooperative agreement to provide skill development for individual
investigative techniques requiring extensive technical application).
The award recipient will become familiar with the work currently
being done at NIC on issues related to staff sexual misconduct and will
contribute to the development of information on current investigative
practices in this sensitive subject matter area.
As a collaborative venture with the NIC Prisons Division, the
recipient will develop training outcomes for the project in partnership
with the NIC project manager. A total of $60,000 is reserved for the
project which will support one cooperative agreement for a 10 month
period. The recipient of the award will be selected through a
competitive solicitation process. Andie Moss is the designated NIC
project manager.
Background
The fine balance in the relationship of staff and inmates is
critical to the well being of healthy institutional and organizational
cultures in corrections. The need for effective investigations into
allegations of staff sexual misconduct is at the core of the
correctional management response to the issue of staff sexual
misconduct. Investigations must be objective and professional and serve
as a tool to support and protect both staff and inmates from
individuals who compromise security and create personal and
professional disruption through misconduct. Since the mid nineties NIC
has provided leadership in addressing the issues of staff sexual
misconduct through training seminars and on-site technical assistance
to state and local departments of corrections. The Institute has
developed training materials for state prison systems that address
policy and practice, the importance of state law, the investigative
process, staff training and responses to the media. Through this work,
NIC recognizes the need for a training curriculum that specifically
addresses the training of investigators in more depth.
Purpose
This project is intended to provide agency investigators and
administrators with:
A training curriculum that provides investigators with an
in depth understanding of the dynamics of staff sexual misconduct and
the most effective investigative responses identified through
experienced investigators and subject matter experts.
An interactive training format minimally using a trainer's
guide and a participant notebook that provides participants with a
record of core principles and concepts learned in the training
experience.
Project Content
The award recipient will propose a strategy for identifying
effective models for investigating staff sexual misconduct and
demonstrate knowledge of the legal and administrative considerations in
the use of investigative practices and techniques in prison and/or jail
settings. The award recipient will develop case studies clearly
demonstrating the fact patterns of a variety of cases and the
investigative techniques applied. Additional topics for development may
include, though not limited to: legal issues and case law; the
potential role of the medical and mental health staff; the human
resource personnel in the administrative review of investigations; the
role of external law enforcement; the dynamics of staff-offender
relationships when sexual misconduct develops; examples of
organizational structure of investigative units; and the tracking and
analysis of incidents within the institutional setting. The overall
development of a strong investigative policy should be addressed in the
training curriculum.
A. Required Activity
Initial meeting with NIC staff for an overview of the
Institute's training and technical assistance activities that are
relevant to the development of an investigative training curriculum.
B. Other Possible Activities
Interviews or focus groups with key personnel in state and
local jurisdictions with experience in the management of or
investigative response to sexual misconduct.
Review of current investigative policies, case law and
other related written materials and reports.
Development and presentation of case examples involving
staff misconduct that lead to or conclude with inappropriate
involvement with inmates.
Authority: Public Law 93-415.
Funds Available: The award will be limited to a maximum total of
$60,000 (direct and indirect costs) and project activity must be
completed within 10 months of the date of the award. Funds may only be
used for the activities that are linked to the desired outcomes of the
project.
All products from this funding effort will be in the public domain
and available to interested agencies through the National Institute of
Corrections.
Deadline for Receipt of Applications: Applications must be received
by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 27, 1999. They should be addressed to:
National Institute of Corrections, 320 First Street, NW, Room 5007,
Washington, DC 20534, Attention: Administrative Officer. Hand delivered
applications can be brought to 500 First Street, NW, Washington, DC
20534. The front desk will call Bobbi Tinsley at (202) 307-3106,
extension 0 for pickup.
Addresses and further information: Requests for the application
kit, which consists of a copy of this announcement and copies of the
required forms, should be directed to Judy Evens, Cooperative Agreement
Control Office, National Institute of Corrections, 320 First Street,
NW, Room 5007, Washington, DC 20534
[[Page 40046]]
or by calling (800) 995-6423, extension 159 or (202) 307-3106,
extension 159. She can also be contacted by E-mail via [email protected].
All technical and/or programmatic questions concerning this
announcement should be directed to Andi Moss at the above address or by
calling (800) 995-6423, or (202 307-3106, extension 140, or by E-mail
via [email protected]. Application forms may also be obtained though the
NIC website: http://www.nicic.org. (Click on ``What's New'' and
``cooperative agreements.''
Eligible Applicants: An eligible applicant is any private or non-
profit organization, institution, individual, or team with expertise in
production of training videos and related training materials.
Review Considerations: Applications received under this
announcement will be subjected to an NIC three to five member Peer
Review Process.
Number of Awards: One (1).
NIC Application Number: (99P13) This number would appear as a
reference line in the cover letter and also in box 11 of Standard Form
424.
(The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is: 16.601)
Morris. L. Thigpen,
Director, National Institute of Corrections.
[FR Doc. 99-18775 Filed 7-22-99; 8:45 am]
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