BJS Interview Script for NCRP Data Providers

BJS interview script for NCRP data providers

Intro Script Text:

Hi, my name is ___________ and I work for Abt Associates. In collaboration with the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), we are exploring the feasibility of expanding the National Corrections Reporting Program (NCRP) to gather additional information on the availability and reliability of inmate-level information on U.S. citizenship status, country of birth, and country of current citizenship your agency may possess. I am contacting you because you have been identified by BJS as their NCRP data respondent. We have developed a brief telephone survey to capture information about the feasibility of collecting these data, the quality of the data, and the process specific to your state by which BJS could request these data as part of our annual NCRP collection. Collection of these data as part of NCRP would enable BJS to inform policy makers and other stakeholders on an important group of individuals engaged in the United States’ correctional systems. Please note this does not mean BJS has ultimately decided to collect citizenship data on the NCRP. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has reviewed and approved this telephone survey under BJS’s generic OMB clearance (OMB 1121-0339, expires 02/28/2019). Unless you have any questions, we will now begin the survey.

Citizenship

1. Does your agency maintain electronic individual-level records on inmates’ U.S. citizenship status that would allow your state to populate a yes/no flag?

□Yes (continue to question 1a)

□No (skip to question 1b)

1. [If yes] Would your state be able to provide this information on –

	Yes	No
Prison admission records	□	□
Prison release records	□	□
Year-end prison custody records	□	□
Post-confinement community supervision admission records	□	□
Post-confinement community supervision release records	□	□

2. [If yes] If BJS were to collect this information, would BJS need to follow a new process for collecting NCRP information from your state?

[Please have respondent provide details]

3. [If yes] If BJS were to collect this information, would the collection of these data significantly add to your state’s burden?

[Please have respondent provide details]

Skip to question 2

4. [If no] Does your agency have the ability to obtain this information by linking to another agency’s database?

□Yes

□No

[Please have respondent provide alternate source details]

Skip to question 4

2. [If yes to question 1] Where do the data on inmates’ U.S. citizenship status come from [read and check all that apply]?

Inmate self-report	□
Correctional staff determination	□
Law enforcement or court documents accompanying inmate upon admission to prison	□
Verification of citizenship status using an external data source (e.g., from Department of Homeland Security, Social Security Administration)	□ [Please have respondent provide source details]
Other	□ [Please have respondent provide alternate source details]

Continue to question 3

3. [If yes to question 1] If BJS were to ask your agency to include citizenship status in the NCRP submission, would your state be willing to provide these data?

□Yes (Continue to question 3a)

□No (Skip to question 3b)

1. [If yes to question 3] What special procedures, if any, would need to be undertaken to obtain inmate-level data on citizenship status?

[If needed, probe categories could include:

Formal letter of request

Memorandum of Understanding

Data use agreement

Non-Disclosure Agreement

Authorization from inmates

Other [Please have respondent provide source]

Skip to question 4

2. [If no to question 3] Why is your agency unwilling or unable to include citizenship status in the NCRP submission?

[If needed, probe categories could include:

Legal restrictions [Ask respondent provide a link to the legal code]

DOC policy forbids disseminating this information [Ask respondent to give contact information for the person in their legal and/or IT/research departments who developed this policy so that we can contact them]

Lack of resources

Other reason [Obtain reason, obtain information for POC we can contact]

Continue to question 4

Country of Birth

4. Does your agency maintain electronic individual-level records on inmates’ country of birth?

□Yes (continue to question 4a)

□No (skip to question 4b)

1. [If yes to question 4] Would your state be able to provide this information on –

	Yes	No
Prison admission records	□	□
Prison release records	□	□
Year-end prison custody records	□	□
Post-confinement community supervision admission records	□	□
Post-confinement community supervision release records	□	□

2. [If yes] If BJS were to collect this information, would BJS need to follow a new process for collecting NCRP information from your state?

[Please have respondent provide details]

3. [If yes] If BJS were to collect this information, would the collection of these data significantly add to your state’s burden?

[Please have respondent provide details]

Skip to question 5

4. [If no to question 4] Does your agency have the ability to obtain this information by linking to another agency’s database?

[Please have respondent provide alternate source details]

Skip to question 7

5. [If yes to question 4] Where do the data on inmates’ country of birth come from [check all that apply]?

Inmate self-report	□
Correctional staff determination	□
Law enforcement or court documents accompanying inmate upon admission to prison	□
Verification of citizenship status using an external data source (e.g., from Department of Homeland Security, Social Security Administration)	□ [Please have respondent provide source details]
Other	□ [Please have respondent provide alternate source details]

Continue to question 6

6. [If yes to question 4] If BJS were to ask your agency to include inmates’ country of birth in the NCRP submission, would your state provide these data?

□Yes (Continue to question 6a)

□No (Skip to question 6b)

1. [If yes to question 6] What special procedures, if any, would need to be undertaken to obtain inmate-level data on country of birth?

[If needed, probe categories could include:

Formal letter of request

Memorandum of Understanding

Data use agreement

Non-Disclosure Agreement

Authorization from inmates

Other [Please have respondent provide source]

Skip to question 7

2. [If no to question 6] Why is your agency unable to include citizenship status in the NCRP submission?

[If needed, probe categories could include:

Legal restrictions [Ask respondent provide a link to the legal code]

DOC policy forbids disseminating this information [Ask respondent to give contact information for the person in their legal and/or IT/research departments who developed this policy so that we can contact them]

Lack of resources

Other reason [Obtain reason, obtain information for POC we can contact]

Continue to question 7

Country of Current Citizenship

7. Does your agency maintain electronic individual-level records on inmates’ country of current citizenship?

□Yes (continue to question 7a)

□No (skip to question 7b)

1. [If yes to question 7] Would your state be able to provide this information on –

	Yes	No
Prison admission records	□	□
Prison release records	□	□
Year-end prison custody records	□	□
Post-confinement community supervision admission records	□	□
Post-confinement community supervision release records	□	□

2. [If yes] If BJS were to collect this information, would BJS need to follow a new process for collecting NCRP information from your state?

[Please have respondent provide details]

3. [If yes] If BJS were to collect this information, would the collection of these data significantly add to your state’s burden?

[Please have respondent provide details]

Skip to question 8

4. [If no to question 7] Does your agency have the ability to obtain this information by linking to another agency’s database?

[Please have respondent provide alternate source details]

Skip to question 10

8. [If yes to question 7] Where do the data on inmates’ country of current citizenship come from [check all that apply]?

Inmate self-report	□
Correctional staff determination	□
Law enforcement or court documents accompanying inmate upon admission to prison	□
Verification of citizenship status using an external data source (e.g., from Department of Homeland Security, Social Security Administration)	□ [Please have respondent provide source details]
Other	□ [Please have respondent provide alternate source details]

Continue to question 9

9. [If yes to question 7] If BJS were to ask your agency to include inmates’ country of birth in the NCRP submission, would your state provide these data?

□Yes (Continue to question 9a)

□No (Skip to question 9b)

1. [If yes to question 9] What special procedures, if any, would need to be undertaken to obtain inmate-level data on country of birth?

[If needed, probe categories could include:

Formal letter of request

Memorandum of Understanding

Data use agreement

Non-Disclosure Agreement

Authorization from inmates

Other [Please have respondent provide source]

Skip to question 10

2. [If no to question 9] Why is your agency unable to include citizenship status in the NCRP submission?

[If needed, probe categories could include:

Legal restrictions [Ask respondent provide a link to the legal code]

DOC policy forbids disseminating this information [Ask respondent to give contact information for the person in their legal and/or IT/research departments who developed this policy so that we can contact them]

Lack of resources

Other reason [Obtain reason, obtain information for POC we can contact]

Continue to question 10

Obtaining Administrative Data

10. If BJS were to ask your agency to include citizenship information in the NCRP submission, would this impact your state’s willingness or ability to report the rest of the NCRP data?

□ Yes

□ No

[If yes, ask respondent for details. Potential probes include: How? Why? What could be done to minimize impact on your state’s responses to the rest of the NCRP?]