National Institute of Justice; Office of Research and Evaluation; Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Requested

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Office of Justice Programs

National Institute of Justice; Office of Research and Evaluation;

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment

Requested

ACTION: Request for OMB emergency approval; Crime mapping survey.

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The Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National

Institute of Justice has submitted the following information collection

request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for emergency

review and approval in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.13(a)(1)(ii) and

(a)(2)(iii) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Emergency OMB

approval has been requested by September 12, 1997, and public comments

will be accepted until October 20, 1997. If granted, the emergency

approval is only valid for 180 days.

This notice was originally published in the Federal Register on

June 2, 1997, and requested emergency approved by OMB and allowed a 60

day public comment period. Comments should be directed to OMB, Office

of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: DOJ Desk Office,

Washington, DC 20503. During the first 30 days of this same period a

regular review of this information collection is also being conducted.

Request written comments and suggestions from the public and

affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of information.

Your comments should address one or more of the following four points:

(1) 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;

(2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agencies estimate of the burden of

the proposed collected of information, including the validity of the

methodology and assumptions used;

(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to

be collected; and

(4) 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 technology collection techniques or

other forms of information technology, e.g. permitting electronic

submission of responses.

Comments and/or suggestions regarding the item(s) contained in this

notice, especially regarding the estimated public burden and associated

response time should be directed to Cyndy Nahabedian (phone number and

address listed below). If you have additional comments, suggestions, or

need a copy of the proposed information collection instrument with

instructions, or additional information, please contact Cyndy

Nahabedian, (202) 514-5981, Office of Research and Evaluation, National

Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of

Justice, 633 Indiana Avenue, NW, Room 303, Washington, DC 20531.

Additionally, comments may also be submitted to ORE via facsimile to

(202) 307-6394.

Overview of this information collection:

(1) Type of information collection: New collection.

(2) Title of the form/collection: Crime Mapping Survey.

(3) Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the

Department of Justice sponsoring the collection: Form: none Office of

Research and Evaluation, National Institute of Justice, Office of

Justice Programs, United States Department of Justice.

(4) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as

well as a brief abstract: Primary: Law enforcement agencies. Other:

none. This national survey is designed to determine the extend to which

police departments, specifically crime analysts, are using computerized

crime mapping. Surveys will be mailed to a randomly select sample of

police departments. The questionnaire will determine the level of crime

mapping within departments, both in terms of hardware and software

responses as well as the types of maps that are produced and how they

are used. The information collected from this survey will be used to

advise our newly established Crime Mapping Research Center.

(5) An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount

of time estimated for an average respondent to respond: 2,798

respondents at an average of 33 minutes per response.

(6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated

with the collection: 562 burden hours.

[[Page 49031]]

If additional information is required contact: Mr. Robert B.

Briggs, Clearance Officer, United States Department of Justice,

Information Management and Security Staff, Justice Management Division,

Suite 850, Washington Center, 1001 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20530.

Dated: September 12, 1997.

Robert B. Briggs,

Department Clearance Officer, United States Department of Justice.

[FR Doc. 97-24771 Filed 9-17-97; 8:45 am]

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