[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 112 (Friday, June 9, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36722-36723]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-14486]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Bureau of Justice Statistics

[OJP(BJS)-1272]


Profiles of Criminal Justice Systems in Selected Countries

AGENCY: Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 
Justice.

ACTION: Notice of solicitation.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to announce a solicitation for 
the preparation of criminal justice system profiles for five countries 
in Latin America, to be added to BJS's World Factbook of Criminal 
Justice Systems.

DATES: Proposals must be received by 5 p.m. EST on July 24, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Proposals should be mailed to Lea S. Gifford, Statistician, 
Bureau of Justice Statistics, 810 Seventh Street NW, Washington, D.C. 
20531; Phone: (202) 307-0765 [This is not a toll-free number].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lea S. Gifford, Statistician, Bureau 
of Justice Statistics, 810 Seventh Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20531; 
Phone: (202) 307-0765 [This is not a toll-free number].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Statutory Authority

    The grant awarded through this solicitation will be funded by the 
Bureau of Justice Statistics consistent with its mandate under 42 
U.S.C. 3732(c).

Program Goals

    The purpose of this award is to support the development of 
descriptive criminal justice system profiles of individual countries 
written in English, designed to facilitate comparisons between the 
United States and the other Latin American countries profiled. These 
profiles will serve as a resource for program and policy development in 
Latin America, for researchers engaged in cross-country analysis, and 
for those examining the relationship between differing systems of 
justice and cross-national crime.

[[Page 36723]]

Background

    In the early 1990s, the Bureau of Justice Statistics funded a 
project entitled the World Factbook of Criminal Justice Systems. When 
the Factbook was first compiled, it consisted of articles on 42 
countries, each written to a common template by someone fluent in the 
language of, and having detailed knowledge of, that country. These 
profiles are available on the BJS website at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/wfcj.htm. This project was undertaken to improve the 
availability and comparability of descriptions of the criminal justice 
systems in various countries. Such descriptions are necessary to enable 
the appropriate collection and accurate analysis of crime and justice 
data from these countries, as well as to inform researchers and 
officials who plan to work with such countries with regard to their 
criminal justice operations.

Scope of Work

    The objectives of the proposed project are to expand the World 
Factbook template for maximum utility, update the pre-existing profile 
of the criminal justice system in Costa Rica accordingly, and to create 
criminal justice system profiles for four additional Latin American 
countries based on the revised template. Applicants should familiarize 
themselves with the current template which appears at 
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/ascii/wfbcjint.txt and should carefully read 
the entire introduction as well as one or two of the profiles.
    Phase One of the project will consist of collaborating with BJS and 
other interested parties in order to revise the template, so that 
resulting profiles will include all the information that a researcher 
or visitor would reasonably need to know to accurately analyze and 
understand crime and justice data. The grantee will then update the 
profile of Costa Rica according to the revised template. Upon 
completion of this task to BJS'' satisfaction, the grantee will proceed 
to Phase Two.
    Phase Two will consist of preparing new criminal justice system 
profiles for four Latin American countries (other than Costa Rica).
    Preparation of the country profiles will require significant 
contact with persons at all stages of the criminal justice system 
within each country. It is strongly suggested, but not required, that 
the applicant collaborate with a local criminal justice researcher in 
each profiled country. The grantee is encouraged to propose which four 
Latin American countries will be profiled; however BJS will make the 
final selection by considering the following factors: (1) 
Representation of the diversity of criminal justice systems in Latin 
America (Central America, Mexico, South America), (2) recent systemic 
changes that have policy relevance and merit documentation, (3) 
availability of reliable contacts and statistical data, and (4) 
importance as a source of transnational crime.
    Statistical material for each country will be the latest available 
official data from the country. Sources and contacts made for each 
country will be carefully documented. The profiles should include 
descriptions of how statistics are collected and maintained in each 
country and how the public can access them. The profiles should 
incorporate important information from and/or reference similar country 
profiles, such as those provided by the CIA and the Library of 
Congress, and any country-specific sources of crime or criminal justice 
data.

Products

    The grantee will deliver to BJS Web-ready electronic versions of 
the template and all five country profiles on diskette in text file 
format. These files will be posted on the BJS Website and may be used 
for subsequent publications.

Application and Award Process

    An original and three (3) copies of a full proposal must be 
submitted with a Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance, 
Budget Detail Worksheet, OJP Forms 4000/3, and 4061/6. These forms can 
be obtain online www.ojp.usdoj.gov/forms.htm. In addition, fund 
recipients are required to comply with regulations designed to protect 
human subjects and ensure confidentiality of data. In accordance with 
28 CFR Part 22, a Privacy Certificate must be submitted to BJS. 
Furthermore a Screening Sheet for Protection of Human Subjects must be 
completed prior to the award being issued. Questions regarding 
Protection of Human Subjects and/or privacy certificate requirements 
can be directed to the Human Subject Projection Officer (HPSO) at (202) 
616-3282 [This is not a toll-free number].
    Proposals must include both narrative description and a detailed 
budget. The narrative shall describe activities as discussed in the 
previous section. The budget shall contain detailed costs of personnel, 
travel, equipment, supplies and other expenses. The grant award will be 
in the form of a copperative agreement. It is anticipated that the 
entire project can be completed for less than $30,000.

Timing

    This award will be made for a period of 12 months. The first phase 
will be concluded and evaluated within two months. The second phase 
will commence upon the successful completion of the first phase and 
will be completed within 12 months of the award date.

Eligibility Requirements

    Applicants must be reasonably proficient in the Spanish language. 
If applicants contemplate preparing each profile themselves, they need 
to have demonstrated fluency in speaking, reading, and writing both 
Spanish and English. Applicants should have a background in criminal 
justice. Knowledge of Latin American organizations and governmental 
structures, including political events which might influence the 
criminal justice system, and contacts with individuals in these 
countries will be extremely beneficial. Familiarity with Latin America 
through travel, residence, and/or study is highly desirable.
    BJS will evaluate proposals based on (1) the credentials of the 
applicant (how experienced the applicant is in work related to criminal 
justice in Latin America), (2) the merit of the proposal (how the 
applicant intends to satisfy the needs described in this announcement), 
and (3) the competitiveness of the proposed budget.

Jan M. Chaiken,
Director, Bureau of Justice Statistics.
[FR Doc. 00-14486 Filed 6-8-00; 8:45 am]
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