BJS Response to Passback

MEMO

To: Devon Adams

From: William J. Sabol, E. Ann Carson

Subject: Responses to OMB Passback Questions on the 2012-2015 National Corrections

Reporting Program (NCRP) Clearance Package (OMB control number 1121-0065)

Date: October 18, 2012

OMB requested responses to the following questions:

1. What are the reasons given by state departments of corrections (DOC) for NOT participating in NCRP?

2a. Are the ‘criminal justice’ fact sheets being prepared by BJS and the NCRP data collection agent, with the state DOC NCRP data providers providing only editorial support?

2b. Are the ‘criminal justice fact sheets’ limited to the text of state law or regulations, and if so, should they be called ‘corrections law fact sheets’ instead?

BJS responses to these questions follow:

1. During the collection of calendar year 2011 NCRP data, the following reasons were given to BJS’ data collection agent by state DOCs that chose not to submit NCRP data:

• DOC computer systems are being overhauled this year, but state will provide NCRP data for 2011 next year, at the same time they provide data for 2012 (2 states).

• The official in charge of analysis is on medical leave, and while other BJS surveys are being answered by other persons in the DOC (National Prisoner Statistics, Capital Punishment), the state does not have the information technology staff with sufficient time or expertise to extract the data for NCRP (1 state).

• Staffing reductions and/or turnover in the information technology and/or research departments have resulted in longer backlogs for fulfilling data requests, particularly from external agencies. Priority is given to internal state requests, so fewer external requests can be fulfilled (8 states cited versions of this reason).

2a. Yes. Editorial support will include identifying information that is not accurate.

2b. No. While the fact sheets focus on sentencing structure, prison release practices, and related statutory and regulatory issues, they are not limited to law and regulation but include information about prison system organization, such as: the use of private prisons and local jails to house prisoners; medical and mental health treatment facilities available; types of post-custody community supervision; the use of out-of-state public and private prison facilities to hold inmates; and the housing of juvenile offenders.