Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Office of Community Oriented Policing Services

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;

Comment Request

ACTION: Notice of Information Collection Under Review; Problem Solving

Partnerships: Analysis and Assessment Surveys.

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The Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing

Services, has submitted the following information collection request to

the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in

accordance with emergency review procedures of the Paperwork Reduction

Act of 1995. OMB approval has been requested by October 23, 1998. The

proposed information collection is published to obtain comments from

the public and affected agencies. If granted, the emergency approval is

only valid for 180 days. Comments should be directed to OMB, Office of

Information Regulation Affairs, Attention: Mr. Stewart Shapiro, (202)

395-7857, Department of Justice Desk Officer, Washington, DC 20530.

During the first 60 days of this same review period, a regular

review of this information collection is also being undertaken. All

comments and suggestions, or questions regarding additional

information, to include obtaining a copy of the proposed information

collection instrument with instructions, should be directed to Stacy

Curtis, 633-1297, Social Science Analyst, Office of Community Oriented

Policing Services, 1100 Vermont Avenue, Washington, DC 20530. 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 agency's 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.

Overview of this Information

(1) Type of Information Collection: new collection.

(2) Title of the Form/Collection: Problem Solving Partnerships:

Analysis and Assessment Surveys.

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

Department sponsoring the collection: Form: COPS 29/01. Office of

Community Oriented Policing Services, U.S. Department of Justice.

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

as a brief abstract: Primary: State, Local or Tribal Government. Other:

None. Local law enforcement agencies that received grant funding for

the Problem Solving Partnerships (PSP) grant from the COPS Office will

be surveyed regarding the

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activities and outcomes of the analysis and assessment phases of their

grant project. The agencies implementing the problem-solving process

through their PSP grants vary significantly in terms of population

size, primary problems, location, partners, evaluators, and

demographics. The agencies and their partners are working together to

target either specific property crimes, violent crimes, problems

associated with drugs and/or alcohol, or crimes related to public

disorder.

The COPS Office is looking to provide documentation that may

stimulate the promotion of problem solving as a way of addressing

crime/disorder problems for both current and future grantees looking to

implement the problem-solving approach. The Analysis Survey will be

distributed to grantees once OMB approval is obtained. The Assessment

Survey will be distributed to grantees at a later date, once agencies

have completed evaluating the impact of their tailor-made responses.

Information obtained from these surveys will be disseminated to other

departments to promote the adoption of problem-solving approaches.

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

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

survey, the Analysis Survey and the Assessment Survey, will be

administered one time. Approximately 470 respondents per survey

administration, at 55 minutes per respondent per survey (including

record-keeping).

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

with the collection: Approximately 861.6 hours.

If additional information is required contact: Ms. Brenda E. Dyer,

Deputy Clearance Office, 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: October 8, 1998.

Brenda E. Dyer,

Department Deputy Clearance Officer, United States Department of

Justice.

[FR Doc. 98-27783 Filed 10-15-98; 8:45 am]

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