FR 2025-05336

The document from the Federal Register provides a glimpse into the proposed process by which the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) intends to gather information on the number of law enforcement employees across various jurisdictions as of October 31. The purpose of collecting this data is to support the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Program. This program ultimately aims to paint a national picture of law enforcement resources, aiding in public safety analysis and resource allocation. Public comments are being solicited as part of the Paperwork Reduction Act, with submissions due by April 28, 2025.

Summary of the Document

The FBI has issued a notice signaling the start of a 30-day period during which the public can submit comments on their proposed data collection initiative. This follows a prior 60-day comment period. The initiative will collect data from over 15,000 respondents, including federal and local law enforcement agencies, with each respondent expected to spend about eight minutes supplying the information. Comments on the paperwork burden, methods of submission, and the utility of the information being gathered are especially encouraged.

Significant Issues and Concerns

Several key issues deserve closer scrutiny:

1. Time Burden: The notice estimates an annual time burden of 2,311 hours based on 15,080 respondents each taking eight minutes. While mathematically sound, this estimate serves to illustrate the considerable time devoted by agencies to fulfill this data request. Reviewers of the proposal should ensure these methodologies align with the expectations and practices outlined in the Paperwork Reduction Act.

2. Technology and Efficiency: Although the document hints at employing electronic means for data submission, it lacks specificity regarding current or future technological improvements to streamline the process. Highlighting specific technological solutions could illuminate the path toward reducing the burden on respondents.

3. Voluntary Participation and Its Implications: The text refers to participation as "voluntary" but doesn't discuss potential consequences for agencies choosing not to respond. Acknowledgment of these consequences could provide better clarity about the genuine voluntariness of participation.

4. Accessibility of Language: The document’s format and use of jargon may pose challenges for those unfamiliar with bureaucratic processes. More accessible language could broaden engagement by simplifying complex terminology, increasing the effectiveness of the comment period.

5. Participation from a Diverse Audience: The document misses an opportunity to detail how varied stakeholders can participate effectively. Not all parties have equal access or awareness of this comment process, which might limit meaningful participation from traditionally underrepresented or less-connected groups.

Broad Public and Specific Stakeholder Impact

Broad Public Impact

For the general public, this data collection endeavor supports overall efforts to understand and categorize law enforcement staffing nationwide, which can influence broader decisions made at both state and federal levels regarding public safety and resource allocation. However, there needs to be sufficient public involvement to ensure the outcomes of this initiative meet community needs.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

Law enforcement agencies at all levels form the primary group directly impacted by this initiative. Their participation, although voluntary, carries implicit pressure to comply. These agencies might need to allocate staff resources to meet submission requirements, diverting attention from other duties. On the positive side, accurate and comprehensive data could foster better-informed policy and funding decisions that ultimately benefit these agencies.

In summary, the notice is clear in its purpose but could benefit from enhancements in transparency and accessibility. The proposed data collection effort is significant, and ensuring inclusive and efficient participation will likely increase its potential impact.

The document in question is a notice from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) regarding an information collection request. It seeks public comments on the proposed collection of data about law enforcement employees across various governmental levels, as of October 31. A significant point noted in the financial references within the document is the Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.

Financial Summary

The notice emphasizes that the only financial reference made is that there are no additional other costs associated with this information collection. This indicates that aside from the labor and time spent by respondents, the FBI does not anticipate any further financial requirements or appropriations needed to facilitate this data collection. The operational costs of collecting, processing, and analyzing the data appear to be absorbed within existing budgets or allocated resources.

Relation to Issues

One of the key issues raised is the estimated annual time burden that the information collection imposes: 2,311 hours across 15,080 respondents. This suggests each respondent takes approximately eight minutes to fulfill the information request. While this implies a considerable collective time commitment, the absence of other monetary costs signals an effort to minimize financial expenses, possibly through integrating this collection into ongoing processes or using efficient data collection methods.

There is also an emphasis on inviting public comment to evaluate if the data collection methods can further reduce this burden, potentially aligning with broader goals of efficiency mandated by the Paperwork Reduction Act. While the document explicitly states there are no extra financial costs, exploring automated or electronic data submission methods — although not detailed here — could conceivably help reduce time costs further, emphasizing practical utility and accuracy while maintaining or reducing associated time burdens.

Recommendations

The document provides an opportunity for public comments to enhance or revise the collection process, suggesting an underlying interest in further reducing any indirect costs, such as the time burden on respondents. While no financial appropriations are necessitated at present, it might be prudent for the as-of-yet unspecified system upgrades or digital enhancements to be considered in the future, potentially necessitating an initial but justified financial expenditure for longer-term savings and efficiency improvements. Such steps could provide dual benefits by improving data accuracy and decreasing the annual time burden, effectively managing costs related to time more comprehensively.