Bureau of Justice Statistics; Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Office of Justice Programs

Bureau of Justice Statistics; Agency Information Collection

Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

ACTION: Notice of Information Collection Under Review; New collection;

1998 National Study of DNA Laboratories.

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The Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, has

submitted the following information collection request for review and

clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

Office of Management and Budget approval is being sought for the

information collection listed below. This proposed information

collection was previously published in the Federal Register on March

16, 1998 allowing for a 60-day public comment period.

The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for

public comment until September 17, 1998. This process is conducted in

accordance with 5 CFR 1320.10.

Written 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 the Office of

Management and Budget, Office of Information Regulatory Affairs,

Attention: Department of Justice Desk Officer, Washington, DC 20530.

Additionally, comments may be submitted via facsimile to (202) 395-

7285. Comments may also be submitted to the Department of Justice

(DOJ), Information Management and Security Staff, Justice Management

Division, Attention: Department Clearance Officer, Suite 850,

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

Additionally, comments may be submitted to DOJ via facsimile to (202)

514-1590.

Written comments and/or suggestions from the public and effected

agencies concerning the proposed collection of information 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

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whether the information will have practical utility;

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

the proposed collection 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 technological collection techniques or

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

submission of responses.

If you have additional comments, suggestions, or need a copy of the

proposed information collection instrument with instructions, or

additional information, please contact Greg Steadman, Statistician,

Bureau of Justice Statistics, 810 7th Street, NW., Washington, DC

20531, or via facsimile (202) 307-5846.

Overview of this information collection:

(1) Type of information collection: New collection.

(2) The title of the form/collection: 1998 National Study of DNA

Laboratories.

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

the Department sponsoring the collection: Form number CLAB-1. Bureau of

Justice Statistics, 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:

Primary: State, Local or Tribal Government

Other: None.

This information collection is a census of public crime

laboratories that perform DNA analysis. The information will provide

statistics on laboratories' capacity to analyze DNA evidence, the

number and sources of DNA evidence received per year, the number,

types, and costs of analyses completed. It will also identify the

capacities of states to participate in a national DNA database.

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

of time estimated for an average respondent to respond/reply: 160

respondents each taking an average 0.75 hours to respond.

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

with the collection: 120 annual burden hours.

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: August 12, 1998.

Robert B. Briggs,

Department Clearance Officer,

United States Department of Justice.

[FR Doc. 98-22151 Filed 8-17-98; 8:45 am]

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