[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 39 (Wednesday, February 27, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6440-6441]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-03355]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

[OMB Number 1121-0339]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection 
eComments Requested; Extension of a Currently Approved Collection; 
Comments Requested: Generic Clearance for Cognitive, Pilot and Field 
Studies for Bureau of Justice Statistics Data Collection Activities

AGENCY: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Department of Justice.

ACTION: 30-Day notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs 
(OJP), Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), intends to request approval 
from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a generic 
information collection clearance that will allow BJS to conduct a 
variety of cognitive, pilot, and field test studies. BJS will submit 
the request for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995.
    Over the next three years, BJS anticipates undertaking a variety of 
new surveys and data collections, as well as reassessing ongoing 
statistical projects, across a number of areas of criminal justice, 
including law enforcement, courts, corrections, and victimization. This 
work will entail developing new survey instruments, redesigning and/or 
modifying existing surveys, procuring administrative data from state 
and local government entities, and creating or modifying establishment 
surveys. BJS will engage in cognitive, pilot, and field test activities 
to refine instrumentation and data collection methodologies, inform BJS 
data collection protocols, develop accurate estimates of respondent 
burden, and minimize respondent burden associated with each new or 
modified data collection. BJS envisions using a variety of techniques, 
including (but not limited to): Tests of different types of survey and 
data collection operations; focus groups; cognitive testing; pilot 
testing; exploratory interviews; experiments with questionnaire design; 
and usability testing of electronic data collection instruments.
    Following standard Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
requirements, BJS will submit a change request to OMB individually for 
every group of data collection activities undertaken under this generic 
clearance. BJS will provide OMB with a copy of the individual 
instruments or questionnaires (if one is used), as well as other 
materials describing the project.

DATES: Comments are encouraged and will be accepted for 30 days until 
March 29, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have additional 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 
Devon Adams, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 810 Seventh Street NW, 
Washington, DC 20531 (email: [email protected]; telephone: 202-307-
0765).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 Bureau of Justice 
Statistics, including whether the information will have practical 
utility;
--Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the

[[Page 6441]]

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: Extension of a currently 
approved collection.
    (2) The Title of the Form/Collection: Generic Clearance for 
cognitive, pilot and field studies for Bureau of Justice Statistics 
data collection activities.
    (3) The agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of 
the Department sponsoring the collection: Form numbers not available 
for generic clearance. The applicable component within the Department 
of Justice is the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in the Office of 
Justice Programs.
    (4) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as 
well as a brief abstract: Administrators or staff of state and local 
agencies or programs in the relevant fields; administrators or staff of 
non-government agencies or programs in the relevant fields; 
individuals; policymakers at various levels of government.
    (5) An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount 
of time estimated for an average respondent to respond: We estimate 
that approximately 50,000 respondents will be involved in exploratory, 
field test, pilot, cognitive, and focus group work conducted under this 
clearance over the requested 3-year clearance period. The average 
response time per respondent will be specific to each project covered 
under the clearance. Specific estimates of the number of respondents 
and the average response time are not known for each pilot study or 
development project covered under a generic clearance at this time. 
Project specific estimates will be submitted to OMB separately for each 
project conducted under this clearance. BJS originally estimated that 
30,000 respondents would be involved in the statistical activities 
covered under this clearance. Upon reviewing additional projects that 
were identified after the 60-day notice was posted, BJS increased the 
estimate to 52,000 to account for the additional efforts.
    (6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated 
with the collection: The total respondent burden for identified and 
future projects covered under this generic clearance over the 3-year 
clearance period is approximately 25,000 hours. BJS originally 
estimated that 20,000 burden hours would be needed, but upon reviewing 
additional projects that were identified after the 60-day notice was 
posted, BJS increased the estimate to 25,000 to account for the 
additional efforts.
    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: February 22, 2019.
Melody Braswell,
Department Clearance Officer for PRA, U.S. Department of Justice.
[FR Doc. 2019-03355 Filed 2-26-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4410-18-P