FR 2021-01671

The document under review is a notice from the Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). Its purpose is to announce the intent to submit a request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval of an information collection activity as required under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The specific activity involves a Semi-Annual Progress Report related to grants aimed at reducing violent crimes against women on campuses. This is part of a program designed to help educational institutions enhance victim services and bolster security measures against crimes such as domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

Summary of the Document

The notice informs that approximately 100 grantee institutions will be required to submit data twice annually, with each report taking about an hour to fill out. The Department is currently seeking public comments on the proposed information collection process, with the deadline for these comments being February 25, 2021.

Significant Issues and Concerns

Several concerns arise from this document:

1. Eligibility and Award Process Ambiguity: The document mentions the Campus Program but fails to provide information on how grants are awarded or what criteria are used for eligibility. This lack of transparency could give rise to concerns over potential bias or favoritism in the grant allocation process.

2. Report Complexity: While it outlines that the report is segmented into various activity types, there is no detailed explanation of these sections. This lack of clarity might result in confusion for those completing the reports.

3. Public Comment Integration: The document calls for public comments focused on four key areas yet does not specify how these will be utilized or if they will bring about any substantive changes.

4. Definition of Affected Public: The term "affected public" is used but seems to only reference the 100 grantees without further clarification, possibly overlooking other stakeholders who may be impacted indirectly.

5. Bureaucratic Language: The document utilizes terminology typical of bureaucratic communication, which may be difficult for those not versed in governmental processes to comprehend.

Broad Impact on the Public

This notice primarily impacts institutions of higher education that apply for and receive grants. It seeks to enhance campus safety and support services for women, which is a positive endeavor affecting students, faculty, and staff. The proposal, however, could also impact taxpayers, as federal funds are used to support the grants and the processes involved in managing these programs.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

For educational institutions, this notice signifies additional administrative responsibilities in reporting and compliance, which may allocate resources away from other activities. However, the primary beneficiaries—students and campus communities—stand to gain from improved safety and support systems. Ultimately, effective implementation and transparent processes could result in greatly enhanced on-campus safety.

For policymakers and oversight bodies, the inclusion of a public comment period proposes an opportunity to engage with the public and refine the policies based on stakeholder feedback. The effectiveness of this engagement is contingent upon how well these comments are integrated into the final approval process.

In summary, while the initiative paves the way for potentially impactful improvements in campus safety for women, the absence of detailed information raises questions about the clarity and effectiveness of its execution.