Part_B_draft for ojp

B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods

This study is examining the collection and use of DNA from juveniles in the United States. Most states now collect DNA from juveniles, yet little is known about the practice or its impact on public safety. The project is researching the relevant laws, policies, procedures, and challenges in the states that collect DNA from juveniles. The federal contractor, The Urban Institute, will conduct interviews with state crime laboratory officials to determine policies and challenges states have faced, and collect descriptive statistics to determine the volume, share, and characteristics of juvenile DNA profiles and hits associated with DNA databases.

B1. Respondent Universe and Sampling Methods

Currently, 30 states collect DNA from some subset of juvenile offenders. State laws vary widely. Some states collect DNA from juvenile arrestees, while many collect DNA samples from juveniles who have been adjudicated delinquent for specified qualifying offenses. The Urban Institute intends to interview lab personnel from each of the 30 states and request standard summary statistics from each of them. Because the states have developed policies and procedures independently, each will have a different set of practices and a distinctive experience. As a result, we will interview the entire universe of states and will not do any sampling. For each state, we will contact the main CODIS indexing lab, for a total of 30 respondents. We expect a nearly complete response rate to the interviews, and a lower response or completion rate to the data request component of our study.

The information collected through the interviews and data request will be used to paint a composite picture of how juvenile DNA collection has been operating in states across the country. The interviews will identify common themes and issues that have arisen. The analysis of the data requests will identify common information available from the states that may be aggregated, and also compile individual state profiles. The information and analysis can be used to assess the value of juvenile DNA records from the practitioner perspective and inform DNA policy decisions at the local, state, and Federal levels.

B2. Procedures for the Collection of Information

Lab Personnel Interviews

Interviews with key lab personnel, either Lab Directors or CODIS Administrators depending on roles within the specific states, will be conducted over the phone using a semi-structured interview protocol. The appropriate lab personnel will be determined based on outreach to members of the DNA lab community, or cold calls to the known CODIS indexing laboratory. Individuals will be asked to speak with us once for approximately 45 minutes.

Summary Data Request

Lab personnel interviewed will be asked to send us summary information on their CODIS population following their interviews. This request will be made in the form of an electronic data request pdf document (See Appendix A), and labs will be asked to return their answers via email communication. Due to differences in internal lab collection efforts and priorities, we acknowledge that many of the labs will not be able to answer all of the data questions asked and will accept partial responses based on data availability. The request only asks for aggregated annual counts and we will not ask for or accept data with identifying information on DNA samples. This will be a one time request.

B3. Methods to Maximize Response Rates and Deal With Non-response

The Urban Institute has extensive experience in conducting telephone interviews and gathering data. As this will be a one-time interview and data request, we do not anticipate unusual difficulty in gathering information. We have conducted test interviews with nine states and have already received responses to our data requests from more than half of them. To maximize responses to our data request, we intend to use both email and telephone reminders regularly.

B4. Test of Procedures or Methods to be Undertaken

After pre-testing the interview questions and data request with our expert consultant, we have conducted test interviews with nine states and have already received responses to our data requests from more than half of them. Following these tests, we will refine and streamline the interview questions further. Revisions will also be made to the data request to clarify the definitions, refine terms, and ensure that questions are focused on the critical information we need.

B5. Individuals Consulted on Statistical Aspects and Individuals Collecting and/or Analyzing Data

Individuals Consulted

Nancy La Vigne The Urban Institute 202-261-5763

Julie Samuels The Urban Institute 202-261-5592

Allison Dwyer The Urban Institute 202-261-5230

Robin Halberstadt The Urban Institute 202-261-5758

Susan Johns Susan Johns Forensic Consulting Inc. 309-692-4387

Individuals Collecting and Analyzing Data

Nancy La Vigne The Urban Institute 202-261-5763

Julie Samuels The Urban Institute 202-261-5592

Allison Dwyer The Urban Institute 202-261-5230

Robin Halberstadt The Urban Institute 202-261-5758

Pamela Lachman The Urban Institute 202-261-5514

Hannah Dodd The Urban Institute 202-261-5509

Kelly Walsh The Urban Institute 202-261-5434

Appendix A

Data Request

Please provide the following summary descriptive statistics concerning the population of individuals included in your state’s CODIS database (SDIS) and submitted by your state to the national CODIS database (NDIS).

We are not requesting information on the actual DNA profiles stored in the SDIS and NDIS systems or individual-level record data of any kind, and specifically request that you refrain from submitting any data of this type. To do so would violate the human subjects protections that have been developed for this project.

SNAPSHOT AS OF 12/31/08

# of juvenile¹ profiles in SDIS - as of 12/31/08

# of juvenile profiles in NDIS - as of 12/31/08

# of adult² profiles in SDIS - as of 12/31/08

# of adult profiles in NDIS - as of 12/31/08

Distribution of juvenile profiles in SDIS by gender, race, and ethnicity - as of 12/31/08

Distribution of juvenile profiles in NDIS by gender, race, and ethnicity - as of 12/31/08

Distribution of adult profiles in SDIS by gender, race, and ethnicity - as of 12/31/08

Distribution of adult profiles in NDIS by gender, race, and ethnicity - as of 12/31/08

Distribution of juvenile profiles by offense type - as of 12/31/08

Distribution of adult profiles by offense type - as of 12/31/08

CALENDAR YEAR 2008

# of juvenile profiles added to SDIS during 2008

# of juvenile profiles added to NDIS during 2008

# of adult profiles added to SDIS during 2008

# of adult profiles added to NDIS during 2008

# of hits for juveniles during 2008

# of in-state hits for juveniles during 2008

# of out-of-state hits for juveniles during 2008

# of hits for adults during 2008

# of in-state hits for adults in 2008

# of out-of state hits for adults in 2008

# of juvenile profiles expunged during 2008

# of adult profiles expunged during 2008

PREVIOUS YEARS

# of juvenile profiles added to SDIS by year (2007, 2006, 2005)

# of juvenile profiles added to NDIS by year (2007, 2006, 2005)

# of adult profiles added to SDIS by year (2007, 2006, 2005)

# of adult profiles added to NDIS by year (2007, 2006, 2005)

# of hits by year (juvenile) (2007, 2006, 2005)

# of hits by year (adult) (2007, 2006, 2005)

1 Definitions in order of preference: (1) profiles for juveniles handled in juvenile court; (2) profiles for individuals under state age of majority; or (3) profiles for individuals under age of 18. Please specify definition used.

2 Definitions in order of preference: (1) profiles for individuals handled in adult criminal court; (2) profiles for individuals over state age of majority; or (3) profiles for individuals over age of 18. Please specify definition used.