Overview
Title
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; New Collection
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The Justice Department is asking people to share their thoughts on a new plan to help victims of serious crimes in country areas, like helping people feel safer. They want to make sure the questions they ask aren't too hard for people to answer, and they want your ideas by February 25, 2021.
Summary AI
The Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women is seeking public comments on a proposed information collection related to grants within the Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking, and Child Abuse Enforcement Assistance Program. This collection aims to enhance the safety of victims in rural areas by supporting projects that address these crimes. The notice invites feedback on the necessity, accuracy, quality, and burden of the data collection. Public comments are welcome until February 25, 2021, and can be submitted through the specified government website.
Abstract
The Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document from the Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) is centered around a proposed information collection regarding grants to enhance safety in rural areas affected by domestic and sexual violence. Offered for public comment until February 25, 2021, this notice is a routine administrative matter that seeks input before submitting the information collection request for formal review and approval. By engaging stakeholders in this way, the Department adheres to federal laws concerning paperwork reduction, ensuring that the proposed data collection is necessary and efficient.
General Summary
The notice calls for public feedback on a data collection initiative targeting recipients of grants within the Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking, and Child Abuse Enforcement Assistance Program. This initiative aims to uphold data integrity and collection efficiency by evaluating the necessity and utility of the information gathered. The Department aims for this data to inform efforts to enhance victim safety in rural jurisdictions.
Significant Issues and Concerns
A few concerns arise from the document. Primarily, it lacks detail on the specific costs involved with collecting information, which could concern stakeholders wary of inefficiencies or wasteful spending. Similarly, the methodologies used for estimating the burden on respondents are not clearly outlined, raising questions about the accuracy of these estimates. Additionally, while the data's purpose is mentioned, how it will directly improve victims' safety isn’t sufficiently detailed, potentially leaving the document’s practical utility questionable. Moreover, while electronic and automation techniques are mentioned as potential methods to ease the response burden, these methods aren't expounded upon, leaving stakeholders questioning how technology aids in this process.
Public Impact
Broadly, the public could be impacted by this initiative through the improved safety measures that the collected data might enable in rural communities. Enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of grant programs can lead to more robust support systems for victims of violence, which is a societal benefit. However, unclear methodologies and potential inefficiencies in the data collection process could translate into a misuse of resources, impacting taxpayer funds.
Stakeholder Impact
For specific stakeholders such as the grantees, including states, local governments, and nonprofit entities, the proposal is significant. On the positive side, it offers an opportunity to contribute to shaping the data collection process, ensuring that it is both manageable and valuable. On the downside, if the process is cumbersome or inefficient, it could place an undue burden on these organizations, distracting from their core mission of supporting victims. Improvements in the submission process, particularly through more detailed guidance on technology use, could mitigate concerns over resource burdens.
Overall, while the document sets a foundational guideline for information collection, further clarification in areas like cost, methodologies, utility, and technological usage would benefit stakeholders and enhance the proposal’s transparency and effectiveness.
Issues
• The document does not contain detailed information about the specific costs associated with the information collection, making it difficult to assess potential wasteful spending.
• There is a lack of clarity regarding the specific methodologies and assumptions used to estimate the burden of the proposed collection, which could make it challenging to evaluate its accuracy.
• The document does not provide enough detailed information on how the collected information will specifically enhance the safety of victims, potentially leading to concerns about the practical utility of the data collection.
• It is not clear how the use of automated, electronic, or other technological collection techniques will minimize the burden on respondents; more specifics could improve understanding and transparency.
• The language used in the document is generally clear, but there could be improvements in simplifying some sections, especially where technical terminology is used, to enhance overall understanding.