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: National Prisoner Statistics:

Prison Population Reports Midyear Counts (NPS-1A) and Advance Yearend

Counts (NPS-1B)--Revision of a currently approved collection.

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

Justice Statistics has submitted the following information collection

request, utilizing emergency review procedures, to the Office of

Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with

Section 1320.13(a)(1)(ii) and (a)(2)(iii) of the Paperwork Reduction

Act of 1995. The Bureau of Justice Statistics has determined that it

cannot reasonably comply with the normal clearance procedures under

this Part because normal clearance procedures are reasonably likely to

prevent or disrupt the collection of information. Therefore, OMB

approval has been requested by April 15, 1998. If granted, the

emergency approval is valid only for 180 days.

The proposed information collection is published to obtain comments

from the public and affected agencies. All comments should be directed

to OMB, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs: Attention: Mr.

Dennis Marvich, 202-395-3122, Department of Justice Desk Officer,

Washington, DC 20503. Comments regarding the emergency submission of

this information collection may also be submitted via facsimile to Mr.

Marvich at 202-395-7285. During the first 60 days of this same period,

a regular review of this information collection is also being

undertaken. During the regular review period, BJS requests written

comments and suggestions from the public and affected agencies

concerning the proposed collection of information. Comments are

encouraged and will be accepted until June 9, 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 Mr. James Stephan, Statistician, Corrections Statistics Branch,

Bureau of Justice Statistics, Office of Justice Programs, U.S.

Department of Justice, 810 7th Street N.W. Washington, DC 20531.

Comments regarding this information collection may also be submitted

via facsimile to Mr. Stephan at 202-307-1463.

Your comments should address one or more of the following four

points:

(1) Evaluate whether the 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 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. Revision of a currently

approved information collection.

(2) The title of the Form/Collection: National Prisoner Statistics:

Prison Population Reports Midyear Counts (NPS-1A); and Prison

Population Report Advance Yearend Counts (NPS-1B).

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

Department sponsoring the collection. Form: NPS-1A; and NPS-1B.

Correction Statistics, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Office of Justice

Programs, United States Department of Justice.

(4) Affected public who will be asked to respond, as well as a

brief abstract: Primary: State Departments of Corrections. Others: The

Federal Bureau of Prisons. For the NPS-1A Form, 52 central reporters

(one from each State, the District of Columbia, and the Federal Bureau

of Prisons) responsible for keeping records on inmates will be asked to

provide information for the following categories:

(a) As of June 30 of the current year and June 30 of the previous

year, the number of male and female inmates under this jurisdiction

with maximum sentences of more than one year, one year or less; and

unsentenced inmates; and

(b) As of June 30 of the current year, and June 30 of the previous

year, the number of male and female inmates in their custody with

maximum sentences

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of more than one year, one year or less; and unsentenced inmates.

For the NPS-1B form, 52 central reporters (one from each State, the

District of Columbia, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons) responsible

for keeping records on inmates will be asked to provide information for

the following categories:

(a) As of December 31 of the current year, and December 31 of the

previous year, the number of male and female inmates under their

jurisdiction with maximum sentences of more than one year, one year or

less; and unsentenced inmates;

(b) The number of inmates housed in county or other local authority

correctional facilities, or in other state or Federal facilities on

December 31 of the current year solely to ease prison crowding;

As of the direct result of state prison crowding during the current

year, the number of inmates released via court order, administrative

procedure or statute, accelerated release, sentence reduction,

emergency release, or other expedited release; and

(d) The aggregate rated, operational, and design capacities, by

sex, of each State's correctional facilities at yearend. The Bureau of

Justice Statistics uses this information in published reports and for

the U.S. Congress, Executive Office of the President, practitioners,

researchers, students, the media, and others interested in criminal

justice statistics.

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

of time needed for an average respondent to respond: 52 respondents

each taking an average 2.5 hours to respond.

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

with the collection: 130 annual burden hours.

If additional information is required during the first 60 days of

this same regular review period, 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: April 6, 1998.

Robert B. Briggs,

Department Clearance Officer, United States Department of Justice.

[FR Doc. 98-9444 Filed 4-9-98; 8:45 am]

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