[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 226 (Monday, November 26, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65985-65986]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-22917]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Office of Justice Programs

[OMB Number 1121-NEW]


National Institute of Justice; Agency Information Collection 
Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Requested

ACTION: 60-Day Notice of Information Collection Under Review: New. 
Survey of Law Enforcement's Forensic Backlogs.

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    The Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs, 
National Institute of Justice, will be submitting the following 
information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork

[[Page 65986]]

Reduction Act of 1995. The proposed information collection is published 
to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. Comments are 
encouraged and will be accepted for ``sixty days'' until January 25, 
2008. This process is conducted in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.10.
    If you have comments especially on the estimated public burden or 
associated response time, suggestions, or need a copy of the proposed 
information collection instrument with instructions or additional 
information, please contact John Paul Jones, (202) 307-5715, National 
Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of 
Justice, 810 Seventh Street, NW., Washington, DC 20531.
    Request written comments and suggestions from the public and 
affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of information are 
encouraged. Your comments should address one or more of the following 
four points:
    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;
    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;
    Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and
    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.
    (2) Title of the Form/Collection: Survey of Law Enforcement's 
Forensic Backlogs.
    (3) Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the 
Department of Justice sponsoring the collection: None. National 
Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of 
Justice.
    (4) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as 
well as a brief abstract: State and local law enforcement officials.
    The National Institute of Justice will use this survey to determine 
the size and nature of forensic evidence backlogs in state and local 
law enforcement agencies. For the purposes of this survey, these 
forensic backlogs are defined as the number of homicide, rape, and 
property crime cases that contain forensic evidence but that have not 
been submitted to forensic crime laboratories for analysis. The 2005 
Census of Crime Laboratories conducted by the Bureau of Justice 
Statistics details the size of forensic evidence backlogs in the 
nation's crime laboratory system. In order to develop a complete 
picture of forensic backlogs across the criminal justice system, the 
Survey of Law Enforcement's Forensic Backlogs will provide much needed 
information on forensic evidence backlogs in state and local law 
enforcement agencies.
    (5) An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount 
of time estimated for an average respondent to respond: An estimated 
2,975 respondents with an average burden time of 30 minutes--1,488 
hours total.
    (6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated 
with the collection: The estimated public burden associated with this 
collection is 1,488 hours.
    If additional information is required contact: Lynn Bryant, 
Department Clearance Officer, Policy and Planning Staff, Justice 
Management Division, Department of Justice, Patrick Henry Building, 
Suite 1600, 601 D Street, NW., Washington, DC 20530.

    Dated: November 16, 2007.
Lynn Bryant,
Department Clearance Officer, PRA, Department of Justice.
[FR Doc. E7-22917 Filed 11-23-07; 8:45 am]
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