Overview
Title
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; Revision of a Currently Approved Collection: 2018-2020 Survey of State Criminal History Information Systems (SSCHIS)
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The Department of Justice wants people's help to make a survey better. This survey asks states about their criminal history records, and they want people to say what is good or bad about it before March 4, 2021.
Summary AI
The Department of Justice, through the Bureau of Justice Statistics, is seeking public comments on changes to the 2018-2020 Survey of State Criminal History Information Systems (SSCHIS). This survey collects data from state government agencies about their criminal history record systems and is periodically revised to enhance the quality and utility of collected information. Public input is desired to assess the necessity, burden, and potential improvements of this data collection process. Comments are open until March 4, 2021, and feedback can be submitted online at www.reginfo.gov.
Abstract
The Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 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. This proposed information collection was previously published in the Federal Register at Volume 83, Number 211, page 54780, October 31, 2018, allowing for a 60-day comment period; and Volume 84, Number 23, page 1506, February 4, 2019, allowing for a 30- day notice. This notice is being published to seek public comments on changes to the survey instrument proposed for the 2020 collection.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document provided is a notice from the Department of Justice (DOJ), specifically from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, regarding a proposed revision to the 2018-2020 Survey of State Criminal History Information Systems (SSCHIS). This notice invites public comments on the planned changes to the survey. The survey is an essential tool for collecting data from state government agencies about their criminal history record systems. Understanding the nuances of this survey helps in maintaining and enhancing the quality and utility of the collected information. The public can provide their comments online until March 4, 2021.
General Summary
The DOJ, through this notice, aims to gather public feedback on updates being made to the SSCHIS survey. It highlights an intention to revise the existing survey instrument to include new questions and remove others. The revisions aim to improve the collection and processing of criminal history information held by state repositories. The survey's insights help estimate the availability and completeness of state criminal records and their accessibility through national platforms like the FBI's Interstate Identification Index.
Significant Issues and Concerns
There are several notable issues and concerns related to the document:
Lack of Specific Changes: While the document discusses a revision of the survey, it fails to clearly specify what these changes entail. Understanding the exact modifications could help stakeholders better evaluate their impact.
Use of Technical Terms: The document employs specialized terms such as "Interstate Identification Index (III)" and "National Fingerprint File" without sufficient explanation. This can make it challenging for those not well-versed in criminal justice terminology to fully grasp the document's implications.
Justification for Burden: The document estimates a 6.5-hour burden per respondent but does not offer a detailed explanation of how this figure was calculated, leaving readers questioning the basis for this estimation.
Rationale for Survey Changes: The document does not explain the reasoning behind including or excluding specific questions, which could be crucial for understanding their purpose and necessity in the revised survey.
Impact on the Public
Broadly, this document indicates an effort to enhance the DOJ's data collection capabilities, which could positively impact the public by improving the accuracy and utility of criminal history records. Such improvements may lead to better public safety and more efficient justice processes.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For state government agencies, particularly those dealing with criminal history records, these revisions could represent an additional administrative burden due to the potential for increased survey complexity and the time required to complete it. However, it may also offer an opportunity to streamline processes and align more closely with federal systems.
For public policy analysts and researchers, the revised survey could provide more comprehensive data, enhancing their analyses and insights into criminal justice trends.
Conversely, if the changes increase the complexity or the administrative load beyond manageable limits, it may negatively impact these stakeholders by straining resources and hindering participation.
In conclusion, while the intent to revise the survey points towards improving justice data management, clarity on the specific changes and their implications would greatly benefit all stakeholders involved. Engaging with the ongoing comment period could provide an avenue for interested parties to seek clarifications and contribute meaningfully to the survey's enhancement.
Issues
• The document mentions a revision of a currently approved collection but does not clearly outline the specific changes being made to the survey instrument.
• It is unclear how the feedback collected during the 60-day and 30-day comment periods informed the revisions being proposed.
• The document uses technical terms such as 'Interstate Identification Index (III)' and 'National Fingerprint File' without providing clarifying details for readers unfamiliar with these terms.
• The estimated burden of 6.5 hours per respondent seems substantial but lacks detailed justification or explanation as to how this figure was derived.
• The rationale for the inclusion of new questions or the removal of others from the 2020 survey is not explicitly described.
• The abstract and summary sections are somewhat repetitive, providing similar information about the notice's purpose.