[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 178 (Friday, September 15, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43407-43408]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-19641]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

National Institute of Justice

[OMB Number 1121-NEW]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed New 
Information Collection Activity; Comment Request, Proposed Study 
Entitled ``Evaluation of the Bureau of Justice Assistance Sexual 
Assault Kit Initiative''

AGENCY: National Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice.

ACTION: 30-Day notice.

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SUMMARY: 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 
Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Comments are encouraged and will be accepted for 60 days until 
November 14, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Written comments and/or suggestions 
regarding the items contained in this notice, especially the estimated 
public burden and associated response time, should be directed to 
Christine Crossland, National Institute of Justice, Office of Research 
& Evaluation, 810 Seventh Street NW., Washington, DC 20531 (overnight 
20001) or via email at [email protected].
    Written comments and/or suggestions can also be sent to the Office 
of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Attention Department of Justice Desk Officer, Washington, DC 20503 or 
sent to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This process is conducted in accordance with 
5 CFR 1320.10. 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 National Institute 
of Justice, 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;
--Evaluate whether, and if so how, the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected can be enhanced; 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: Site visits, which will include 
individual and group interviews.
    2. The Title of the Form/Collection: Evaluation of the Bureau of 
Justice Assistance Sexual Assault Kit Initiative.
    3. The agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of 
the Department sponsoring the collection: The applicable component 
within the U.S. Department of Justice is the National Institute of 
Justice in the Office of Justice Programs.
    4. Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as 
well as a brief abstract: Sexual assault kits (SAKs) are invaluable 
tools used in investigations to collect evidence such as DNA and to 
document injuries from alleged victims; this evidence in turn is used 
to identify and prosecute offenders and to exonerate innocent suspects. 
Despite the importance of SAKs, backlogs of

[[Page 43408]]

unsubmitted and untested kits have emerged in jurisdictions across the 
country (e.g., Peterson and Hickman, 2005; Strom et al., 2009). The 
Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) established the Sexual Assault Kit 
Initiative (SAKI) to provide assistance to jurisdictions who are 
addressing these issues. In FY 2015, 20 sites were funded through SAKI 
to engage in reforms intended to improve the national response to 
sexual assault cases.
    The objectives of the current study are to conduct an evaluability 
assessment of all 20 FY 2015 sites to determine their readiness to 
participate in an evaluation of the SAKI and to develop a comprehensive 
and rigorous evaluation plan to ultimately determine the extent to 
which SAKI reforms have resulted in intended (and/or unintended) system 
changes. The evaluability assessment data collection process will 
include visits to the 20 sites, which will be comprised of individual 
and group interviews with a maximum of 20 respondents per site.
    The types of respondents who will be asked to respond to requests 
for interviews will include the SAKI Site Coordinator, representatives 
from sectors involved in working groups (e.g., law enforcement, 
forensic medical personnel, forensic laboratory personnel, prosecutors, 
victim advocates, victim treatment providers), specialized staff (e.g., 
cold case detectives, police administrative support, victim 
compensation staff).
    5. An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount of 
time estimated for an average respondent to respond: The estimated 
average burden for a respondent completing a site visit interview is 
approximately 60 minutes. A maximum of 20 respondents will be 
interviewed, either individually or in groups, at each of the 20 sites. 
Therefore, the total number of estimated respondents for the entire 
evaluability site visit data collection is 400 (20 sites x 20 
respondents per site).
    6. An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated 
with the collection: The maximum estimated public burden associated 
with this collection is 400 hours. It is estimated that each of the 400 
site visit interviews will take 60 minutes to complete (400 respondents 
x 60 minutes = 400 hours).
    If additional information is required contact: Melody Braswell, 
Department Clearance Officer, United States Department of Justice, 
Justice Management Division, Policy and Planning Staff, Two 
Constitution Square, 145 N Street NE., 3E.405A, Washington, DC 20530.

    Dated: September 12, 2017.
Melody Braswell,
Department Clearance Officer for PRA, U.S. Department of Justice.
[FR Doc. 2017-19641 Filed 9-14-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4410-18-P