[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]
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