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: Request OMB Emergency Approval; Application to Register the

Annual Survey of Jails, Form CJ-5.

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The Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of

Justice Statistics (BJS) has submitted the following information

collection request (ICR) utilizing emergency review procedures, to the

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

accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. OMB approval has

been requested by December 2, 1997. If granted, the emergency approval

is only valid for 180 days. All comments and/or questions pertaining to

this pending request for emergency approval must be directed to OMB,

Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Patrick Boyd,

(202) 395-5871, Department of Justice Desk Officer, Washington, DC

20503. You may also submit comments to Mr. Boyd via facsimile and (202)

395-7285.

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

this information collection is also being undertaken. Comments are

encouraged and will be accepted until; April 28, 1998. During the 60-

day regular review 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 Allen J. Beck, Ph.D., Chief, Corrections Statistics, Bureau of

Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, 810 Seventh Street, NW,

Washington, DC 20531. 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 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 Collection

(1) Type of Information Collection: Extension of a currently

approved information collection.

(2) Title of the Form/Collection: Annual Survey of Jails.

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

Department of Justice sponsoring the collection: Form CJ-5. 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: County and City jail authorities.

The ``Annual Survey of Jails'' (AJS) is the only collection effort that

provides an ability to maintain important jail statistics in years

between the jail censuses. The AJS enables the Bureau; Federal, State,

and local correctional administrators; legislators; researchers; and

planners to track growth in the number of jails and their capacities

nationally; as well as, track changes in the demographics and

supervision status of the jail population and the prevalence of

crowding.

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

of time estimated for an average respondent to respond: 825 respondents

at .75 hours per response.

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

with the collection: Annual burden hours are 619.

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

proposed information collection instrument with instructions, or

additional information, please contact Allen J. Beck, Ph.D., Chief,

Corrections Statistics, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Office of Justice

Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, 810 Seventh Street, NW,

Washington, DC 20531 (202-616-3277).

If additional information is required contact Robert B. Briggs,

Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Justice, Information Management

and Security Staff, Justice Management Division, Suite 850, Washington

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

Dated: February 23, 1998.

Robert B. Briggs,

Department Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Justice.

[FR Doc. 98-5042 Filed 2-26-98; 8:45 am]

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