ASJ Attachments

List of Attachments 

Attachment A. Sample survey website screenshots  
Attachment B. Form CJ‐5 for 2020 ASJ 
Attachment C. 60‐day Federal Register comments 
Attachment D. Pre‐notification letter 
Attachment E. Invitation email 
Attachment F. Reminder email 1 
Attachment G. Reminder email 2 
Attachment H. Reminder letter from BJS Director 

Attachment A: Website Screenshots

Attachment B. Forms CJ-5 for 2020
Form CJ-5

OMB No. 1121‐0094 Approval Expires 06/2023

2020 ANNUAL SURVEY OF JAILS

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
BUREAU OF JUSTICE STATISTICS
AND ACTING AS COLLECTION AGENT
RTI INTERNATIONAL

Agency/Jail Name:
Point of Contact at Agency:
Official Address:
Phone:

Area Code

Title

First Name

Last Name

Street or P.O. Box
Number

City
Extension

State

Zip

Email:

General Information
 IMPORTANT: Please use this form as a reference and submit your data at https://bjsasj.rti.org.
 If you are unable to submit data online, please return your completed form to us by email
([email protected]), fax (1-866-800-9179), or mail (RTI International, Attn: Data Capture, Annual Survey
of Jails (0216663), 5265 Capital Boulevard, Raleigh, NC 27690-1652.
 For assistance, please contact RTI International at 1-866-354-4992 or [email protected].

Facilities to include in this collection

Reporting instructions

Please include all confinement facilities administered by a
local or regional law enforcement agency. The facilities
are intended for adults but sometimes hold juveniles.
INCLUDE—
 Jails and city/county or regional correctional centers.
 Special jail facilities operated under the authority of local
or regional correctional authorities, including medical,
treatment, or release centers; halfway houses; work
farms; and private facilities operated under contract to
local, regional, or federal correctional authorities.
 Temporary holding or lockup facilities if they are a part
of your combined jail function.
EXCLUDE—

Most jails operate a single facility, but some jails operate
multiple facilities. Please complete this CJ-5 form on
information pertaining to all facilities under your jail
jurisdiction.
 If the answer to a question is “not available” or
“unknown,” write “DK” in the space provided.
 If the answer to a question is “not applicable,” write “NA”
in the space provided.
 If the answer to a question is “none” or “zero,” write “0”
in the space provided.
 When exact numeric answers are not available, provide
estimates, and mark X in the box beside each number
that is estimated, e.g., 1,234 .

 Temporary holding or lockup facilities, from which
inmates are usually transferred within 72 hours and not
held beyond arraignment. If your only function is to hold
inmates temporarily, please contact us.

BURDEN STATEMENT
Under the Paperwork Reduction Act, we cannot ask you to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The burden
of this collection is estimated to average 120 minutes per form, including reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering necessary data, and
completing and reviewing this form. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any aspect of this survey, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to
the Director, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 810 Seventh Street, NW, Washington, DC 20531. Do not send your completed form to this address.

SECTION I.

SUPERVISED POPULATION

1. On June 30, 2020, how many persons under the supervision of your jail jurisdiction were—
a. CONFINED

in your jail facilities?

b. Under jail supervision, but NOT CONFINED?
c. TOTAL (Sum of items 1a and 1b)

Confined population

Supervised, unconfined population

INCLUDE—
 Inmates held for other jurisdictions.
 Persons in community-based programs who RETURN to your
jail facilities at night.
Community-based programs include electronic monitoring,
home detention, community service, day reporting, other pretrial supervision, other alternative work programs,
alcohol/drug treatment programs, and other programs where
offenders are supervised outside of jail.
 Persons on transfer to treatment facilities but who remain under
the jurisdiction of your jail facilities.
 Persons out to court while under the jurisdiction of your jail
facilities.
EXCLUDE—
Χ Persons under the jurisdiction of your jail facilities who are
boarded elsewhere.
Χ Inmates who are AWOL, have escaped, or are on long-term
transfer to other jurisdictions.
Χ Persons in community-based programs run by your jail who do
NOT return to your jail facilities at night.

INCLUDE—
 Persons in community-based programs
run by your jail who do NOT return to your
jail facilities at night.
EXCLUDE—
Χ Persons on pre-trial release who are not
in a community-based program run by
your jail facilities.
Χ Persons under the supervision of
probation, parole, or other agencies.
Χ Inmates on weekend programs that allow
offenders to serve their sentences of
confinement only on weekends (e.g.,
Friday–Sunday).
Χ Inmates participating in community-based
programs who RETURN to your jail
facilities at night.

2. On the weekend prior to June 30, 2020, did your jail facilities have a weekend program?
Weekend programs allow offenders to serve their sentences of confinement only on weekends (e.g., Friday–Sunday).

Ο Yes

How many inmates participated?

Ο No

2

SECTION II. INMATE COUNTS AND MOVEMENTS OF THE CONFINED POPULATION
3. On June 30, 2020, how many persons CONFINED in your jail facilities were—
a. Adult males (age 18 or older)
b. Adult females (age 18 or older)
c. Males age 17 or younger
d. Females age 17 or younger
e. TOTAL (Sum of items 3a to 3d should equal item 1a)
4. Of all the persons age 17 or younger CONFINED in your jail facilities on June 30, 2020 (sum of

items 3c and 3d), how many were tried or awaiting trial in adult court?

5. Of all the adults CONFINED in your jail facilities on June 30, 2020 (sum of items 3a and 3b), how

many persons were—
a. 18-24
b. 25-34
c. 35-44
d. 45-54
e. 55-64
f.

65 or older

g. TOTAL (Sum of items 5a to 5f should equal the sum of items 3a and 3b)

3

6. On June 30, 2020, how many persons CONFINED in your jail facilities were—
a. White (not of Hispanic origin)
b. Black or African American (not of Hispanic origin)
c. Hispanic or Latino
d. American Indian or Alaska Native (not of Hispanic origin)
e. Asian (not of Hispanic origin)
f.

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (not of Hispanic origin)

g. Two or more races (not of Hispanic origin)
h. Additional categories in your jail information system specify

i.

Not known

j.

TOTAL (Sum of items 6a to 6i should equal item 1a)

7. On June 30, 2020, how many persons CONFINED in your jail facilities were—

 INCLUDE persons held or awaiting trial for new offenses.
 INCLUDE persons adjudicated or awaiting revocation hearing.
a. Probation violators
b. Parole violators
c. Pretrial release violators
 INCLUDE persons on bail or bond, released to own recognizance, released to the
custody of another person, on electronic monitoring or house arrest while awaiting trial
or adjudication, and other pretrial release violators.
d. Other conditional release violators
e. TOTAL (Sum of items 7a to 7d)

4

Questions 8, 9, and 11 ask about the offense seriousness and conviction status of inmates. For inmates with more than one
charge/offense, report the most serious charge/offense and the associated conviction status. For probation, parole, and other
conditional release violators, report the most serious original or new charge/offense. The most serious charge/offense is the
one crime for which the person could receive the longest jail/prison sentence. Alternatively, it can be determined by your jail
system’s offense severity code.
8. On June 30, 2020, how many persons CONFINED in your jail facilities, regardless of

conviction status, had a charge/offense type of—
a. Felony
b. Misdemeanor
c. Other charges/offenses specify

d. TOTAL (Sum of items 8a to 8c should equal item 1a)
9. On June 30, 2020, how many persons CONFINED in your jail facilities were—


For persons with more than one charge/offense, report the status associated with the most serious charge/offense.



For convicted inmates, include probation and parole violators with no new sentence.

a. Convicted
b. Unconvicted
c. TOTAL (Sum of items 9a and 9b should equal item 1a)
10. On June 30, 2020, how many persons CONFINED in your jail facilities were—
a. U.S. citizens
b. Not U.S. citizens
c. Of unknown citizenship status
d. TOTAL (Sum of items 10a to 10c should equal item 1a)
11. On June 30, 2020, how many non-U.S. citizens in item 10b were—
a. Convicted
b. Unconvicted
c. Of unknown conviction status
d. TOTAL (Sum of items 11a to 11c should equal item 10b)
5

12. On June 30, 2020, how many persons CONFINED in your jail facilities were held for—


Count persons with multiple holds only once with priority being federal, state, tribal, and local.



INCLUDE contractual, temporary, courtesy, or ad hoc holds for other agencies.

a. Federal authorities
(1) U.S. Marshals Service
(2) Federal Bureau of Prisons
(3) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
(4) Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
X EXCLUDE inmates being housed for tribal governments in item 12c below.
(5) Other FEDERAL authorities specify

b. State prison authorities
(1) For your state
(2) For other states
c. American Indian or Alaska Native tribal governments
Χ EXCLUDE inmates being housed for the BIA in item 12a4.
d. Other local jail jurisdictions
EXCLUDE—
Χ Inmates being housed for your own jail jurisdiction (i.e., your own county/city inmates).
Χ Inmates being housed for tribal governments in item 12c.
(1) Within your state
(2) Outside your state
e. TOTAL (Sum of items 12a to 12d)
13. a. During the 30-day period from June 1 to June 30, 2020, on what day did your jail facilities

hold the greatest number of inmates?


Peak population should be equal to or greater than the confined inmate population reported in item 1a.
June

b. How many persons were CONFINED on that day?

6

, 2020

14. Between July 1, 2019, and June 30, 2020, what was the average daily population

(or typical

single day count) of all jail confinement facilities operated by your jail jurisdiction?


INCLUDE inmates who participated in weekend programs that allow offenders to serve their sentences of
confinement only on weekends (e.g., Friday–Sunday).

a. Males
b. Females
c. TOTAL (Sum of items 14a and 14b)

Average daily population


To calculate the average daily population, add the number of persons for each day during the period July 1, 2019,
through June 30, 2020, and divide the result by 366.



If daily counts are not available, estimate the average daily population by adding the number of persons held on the
same day of each month and divide the result by 12.



If the average daily population cannot be calculated as directed above, estimate the typical number of persons held in
your jail facilities each day.

15. On June 30, 2020, what was the rated capacity

of your jail facilities?

The rated capacity is the maximum number of beds or inmates assigned by a rating official to your jail facilities,
excluding separate temporary holding areas.

16. During the 12-month period from July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020, how many persons under the

supervision of your jail facilities were—
a. ADMITTED

to your jail facilities?

b. DISCHARGED

from your jail facilities?

(1) Male

(1) Male

(2) Female

(2) Female

(3) TOTAL (Sum of items 16a1 and 16a2)

(3) TOTAL (Sum of items 16b1 and 16b2)

Admissions

Discharges

INCLUDE—
 Persons officially booked into and housed in your jail
facilities by a formal legal document and the authority of
the courts or some other official agency.
 Repeat offenders booked on new charges.
 Persons serving a weekend sentence coming into jail
for the FIRST time only. (Do not count subsequent
admissions for the same weekend sentences.)
EXCLUDE—
Χ Returns from escape, work release, medical
appointments/treatment facilities, furloughs, bail/bond
releases, and court appearances.
7

INCLUDE—
 Persons released after a period of confinement (e.g.,
sentence completion, bail/bond releases, other pretrial releases, transfers to other jurisdictions, or
deaths).
 Persons completing their weekend sentence who are
leaving jail for the LAST time.
EXCLUDE—
Χ Temporary discharges (e.g., work releases, medical
appointments/treatment, out to courts, furloughs, day
reporters, or transfers to other facilities within your jail
jurisdiction).

SECTION III. POPULATION SUPERVISED IN THE COMMUNITY
If item 1b equals 0 (zero), SKIP to item 18.
17. On June 30, 2020, how many persons under the supervision of your jail jurisdiction who were

NOT CONFINED participated in—
Χ

EXCLUDE inmates in weekend programs.

a. Electronic monitoring
b. Home detention without electronic monitoring
c. Community service
d. Day reporting
e. Other pretrial supervision
f.

Other alternative work programs
Χ EXCLUDE inmates participating in work release programs who return to jail at night.

g. Alcohol/drug treatment programs
Χ EXCLUDE inmates participating in alcohol/drug treatment programs who are confined in jail.
h. Other programs outside of jail facilities specify

i.

TOTAL (Sum of items 17a to 17h should equal item 1b)

8

SECTION IV. FACILITY STAFFING
18. On June 30, 2020, how many staff employed in your jail facilities were—


Count each employee only once. Classify employees with multiple functions by the function performed most
frequently.



INCLUDE payroll staff, non-payroll staff on the payroll of other government agencies (e.g., health department, school
district, or court), and unpaid interns.

Χ

EXCLUDE staff paid through contractual agreements and community volunteers.
a. Correctional officers

b. Other staff

(1) Male

(1) Male

(2) Female

(2) Female

(3) TOTAL (Sum of items 18a1 and 18a2)

(3) TOTAL (Sum of items 18b1 and 18b2)

c. TOTAL ALL STAFF (Sum of items 18a3 and 18b3)

Correctional officers


Other staff

INCLUDE deputies, monitors, and other custody staff
who spend more than 50% of their time with the
incarcerated population.



9

INCLUDE administrators, clerical and maintenance
staff, educational staff, professional and technical
staff, and other staff who spend more than 50% of
their time in your jail.

SECTION V. SPECIAL ADDENDUM ON CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)
19. Between January 2020 and May 2020, how many persons were CONFINED in your jail

facilities on the last weekday of each month—
Number of inmates
a. January 31, 2020
b. February 28, 2020
c. March 31, 2020
d. April 30, 2020
e. May 29, 2020
20. Between March 1, 2020, and June 30, 2020, how many persons confined in your jail facilities

received expedited release in response to the coronavirus?


INCLUDE releases in order to limit inmate risk and exposure, or due to coronavirus-related understaffing, court
orders, legislative mandates, etc.

21. a. Between March 1, 2020, and June 30, 2020, how many coronavirus TESTS

were

conducted on persons confined in your jail facilities?
Coronavirus test refers to the viral test for COVID-19. Do not count serology tests (also known as antibody tests).
INCLUDE—
 Tests conducted either on or off facility grounds (e.g., at hospitals, medical centers, private labs, patient service
centers, and other health vendors).
 Tests conducted on persons on transfer to treatment facilities, but who remained under the jurisdiction of your jail
facilities.
EXCLUDE—
Χ Antibody tests that are used to detect antibodies produced in response to coronavirus, but do not confirm current
infection.
Χ Suspected cases that were showing symptoms of coronavirus, but were not tested.
Χ Persons who tested positive for coronavirus during the INTAKE process, and therefore were NOT admitted into
your jail facilities.

b. Of those tests in item 21a, how many TESTS were positive?

10

22. Individuals may test positive for the coronavirus multiple times. Between March 1, 2020, and

June 30, 2020, how many PERSONS confined in your jail facilities tested positive?


Multiple positive results for the same individual should be counted only once.

23. Between March 1, 2020, and June 30, 2020, how many STAFF employed in your jail facilities

tested POSITIVE for the coronavirus?


Multiple positive results for the same individual should be counted only once.



INCLUDE staff tested either on or off facility grounds (e.g., at hospitals, medical centers, private labs, patient service
centers, and other health vendors).

EXCLUDE—
Χ Antibody tests that are used to detect antibodies produced in response to coronavirus, but do not confirm current
infection.
Χ Suspected cases that were showing symptoms of coronavirus, but were not tested.

11

24. a. Between March 1, 2020, and June 30, 2020, how many INMATES DIED from the

coronavirus while under the supervision of your jail facilities?
INCLUDE all deaths from coronavirus of persons—
 CONFINED in your jail facilities.
 UNDER YOUR JAIL JURISDICTION but out to court or in special facilities (e.g., at hospitals, halfway houses,
work farms, and medical/treatment/release centers).
 WHILE IN-TRANSIT to or from your jail facilities while under your supervision.
 Regardless of when and where the inmate contracted coronavirus.
EXCLUDE—
Χ Persons who were NOT admitted into your jail facilities and died during the INTAKE process.
(1) Confirmed deaths from coronavirus
Deaths where coronavirus was the cause of death OR a significant contributor of
death as determined by a positive test for coronavirus before or after death.
(2) Suspected deaths from coronavirus
Deaths where coronavirus was the suspected cause of death OR a significant
contributor to the death based on the person having symptoms of coronavirus, but
no positive test for coronavirus.
(3) Total number of INMATE deaths (sum of items 24a1 and 24a2)

How many deaths were based on a medical examiner’s or
coroner’s evaluation (such as an autopsy, postmortem exam,
or review of medical records)?
b. Between March 1, 2020, and June 30, 2020, how many STAFF employed in your jail facilities
DIED from coronavirus?
INCLUDE—
 Staff deaths that occurred either on or off facility grounds (e.g., while on duty, in the hospital, at home, etc.).
 Staff deaths regardless of when and where staff contracted coronavirus.
(1) Confirmed deaths from coronavirus
Deaths where coronavirus was the cause of death OR a significant contributor of
death as determined by a positive test for coronavirus before or after death.
(2) Suspected deaths from coronavirus
Deaths where coronavirus was the suspected cause of death OR a significant
contributor to the death based on the person having symptoms of coronavirus, but
no positive test for coronavirus.
(3) Total number of STAFF deaths (sum of items 24b1 and 24b2)

How many deaths were based on a medical examiner’s or
coroner’s evaluation (such as an autopsy, postmortem exam,
or review of medical records)?
END OF SURVEY

12

Attachment C: 60-day Federal Register comments
Zeng, Zhen (OJP)
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Attachments:

Rachel Marshall
Thursday, February 20, 2020 11:59 AM
Zeng, Zhen (OJP)
Marcy Mistrett
Comments Re: 85 FR 4707, Annual Survey of Jails
Campaign for Youth Justice Comments Re 85 FR 4707.pdf

Categories:

asj

Good afternoon,
Please find attached comments regarding 85 FR 4707 on the Annual Survey of Jails from the Campaign for
Youth Justice.
If we can answer additional questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Sincerely,
Rachel Marshall
-Rachel Marshall, Esq.
Federal Policy Counsel
Campaign for Youth Justice
1220 L Street, NW #605
Washington, DC 20005
[email protected]
202-558-3580 x 1571

1

February 20, 2020
Zhen Zeng
Bureau of Justice Statistics
810 Seventh Street NW
Washington, DC 20531
Submitted via email: [email protected]
RE: 85 FR 4707, Annual Survey of Jails
Dear Ms. Zeng,
On behalf of the Campaign for Youth Justice (CFYJ), we write to offer comments on the
Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics’ (BJS) information collection request
regarding the 2020 Annual Survey of Jails (ASJ).
CFYJ is a national organization whose mission is to end the practice of prosecuting, sentencing,
and incarcerating youth under the age of 18 in the adult criminal justice system. The strategic
goals of CFYJ are to reduce the total number of youth prosecuted in the adult criminal justice
system and to decrease the harmful impact of trying youth in adult court. We accomplish this
through both federal and state-level advocacy by urging lawmakers to pass laws to keep youth
out of the adult criminal justice system. The Annual Survey of Jails both informs our work and
assists in assessing our success in removing youth from adult jails across the country.
The number of youth in adult jails has continued to decline in the past decade.1 This trend was
spurred by numerous states passing laws to keep youth out of the adult criminal justice system,
including raising the age of criminal court jurisdiction. There are only three states where youth
under the age of 18 are still automatically charged as adults: Texas, Georgia, and Wisconsin.2
Several states that have raised the age of criminal jurisdiction are still in the process of
implementing their laws implementation process, which will continue to contribute to a decline
in the number of youth in adult jails.3 States have also taken steps to limit the pathway to
criminal court for youth, including limiting the pathways of transfer to the adult system and
restoring judicial discretion to limit the statutory exclusion of youth from juvenile court and to
limit prosecutorial discretion in directly filing a young person’s case in adult court.4

1

ZHEN ZENG, U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE, OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS, BUREAU OF JUSTICE STATISTICS, JAIL INMATES
IN 2018 (Apr. 2019), available at https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/ji17.pdf.
2
Brian Evans, 2019 State Legislation Review: Fewer Children in the Adult System, CAMPAIGN FOR YOUTH JUSTICE
(Dec. 20, 2019), http://www.campaignforyouthjustice.org/2019/item/2019-state-legislation-review-fewer-childrenin-the-adult-system.
3
Meghan Holmes, Raise the Age Redirects 17-year-olds to Juvenile Justice System, THE LA. WEEKLY (Mar. 4,
2019), http://www.louisianaweekly.com/raise-the-age-redirects-17-year-olds-to-juvenile-justice-system/
4
JEREE THOMAS, CAMPAIGN FOR YOUTH JUSTICE, RAISING THE BAR: STATE TRENDS IN KEEPING YOUTH OUT OF
ADULT COURTS (2015 – 2017), available at
http://www.campaignforyouthjustice.org/images/StateTrends_Repot_FINAL.pdf.

1

In addition to new state laws limiting the detention of youth in adult jails, at the end of 2018,
Congress reauthorized the key piece of federal legislation that sets national standards for justiceinvolved youth. The Juvenile Reform Act of 2018 reauthorized the Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) and was signed into law on December 21, 2018.5 The
JJDPA provides many protections for justice-involved youth, including ensuring youth are
removed from adult jails and lock-ups. Previously, that protection only applied to youth charged
as delinquent. Under the updated law, states have until December 2021 to remove all youth,
including those certified as adults, from adult jails and lock-ups pretrial, unless a court finds it is
in the interest of justice to keep the young person in an adult facility.6 As laws that raise the age
of criminal responsibility, laws that limit the additional pathways of youth into the adult criminal
justice system, and the updates to the JJDPA are implemented, the AJS will be critical in
monitoring the impact of these reforms.
Beyond collecting information on whether youth under 18 who are in adult jails are charged as
adults, it is critical to ensure that data on the number of youth held in adult jails is disaggregated
by race. Despite the tremendous reforms in removing youth from the adult system, the racial
disparities are increasing. In 2014, Black youth were 14% of the youth population nationally, but
52.5% of the youth transferred to adult court by juvenile court judges, the highest percentage of
Black youth transferred in nearly thirty years of data collection.7 By disaggregating the data in
this way, advocates and lawmakers will be able to more effectively assess the impact of reform
laws and determine how to address racial and ethnic disparities in the juvenile and criminal
justice system.
We urge BJS to continue to collect this critical information. We thank you for this opportunity to
comment on this important matter. Please feel free to contact us with any questions.
Sincerely,

Rachel Marshall
Federal Policy Counsel
[email protected]

Marcy Mistrett
Chief Executive Officer
[email protected]

5

The Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2018, H.R. 6964, 115th Cong. (2018).
CAMPAIGN FOR YOUTH JUSTICE, JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION (JJDPA) FACT SHEET SERIES,
CORE PROTECTIONS: JAIL REMOVAL/SIGHT AND SOUND SEPARATION (Feb. 2019), available at
http://www.act4jj.org/sites/default/files/resourcefiles/Jail%20Removal%20and%20Sight%20and%20Sound%20Separation%20Fact%20Sheet_0.pdf.
7
Child Population by Race in the United States, KIDS COUNT DATA CENTER, THE ANNIE E. CASEY FOUND.,
https://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/103-child-population-byrace#detailed/1/any/false/870,573,869/68,69,67,12,70,66,71,72/424 (last visited Apr. 12, 2019); M. Sickmund, A.
Sladky, and W. Kang, Easy Access to Juvenile Court Statistics: 1985-2014, https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/ezajcs/
(last visited Apr. 12, 2019).
6

2

Zeng, Zhen (OJP)
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:

radlaw
Tuesday, February 4, 2020 10:49 AM
Zeng, Zhen (OJP)
Comment on Annual Survey of Jails

Categories:

asj

I suggest that the Annual Survey of Jails include the number of jails that have had their medical department surveyed 
and whether it is accredited, or not, by a national correctional organization such as the American Correctional 
Association (ACA), the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) or any nationwide correctional health 
accrediting body.  

Charles D Lee MD JD 
Sent from Mail for Windows 10 

1

Zeng, Zhen (OJP)
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:

[email protected]
Tuesday, January 28, 2020 3:19 PM
Zeng, Zhen (OJP)
National Jail Survey

Categories:

asj

Yes, another such survey is absolutely needed – especially for people like myself, who author criminal justice textbooks. 

Ken Peak 
U. of Nevada, Reno 

Sent from Mail for Windows 10 

1

Zeng, Zhen (OJP)
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:

Tartaro, Christine
Tuesday, March 3, 2020 11:49 PM
Zeng, Zhen (OJP)
please reinstate the annual survey of jails

Categories:

asj

Hello. As a jails researcher, I rely on BJS data for my work. I saw the comments post and wanted to write to encourage 
BJS to reinstate the annual survey. 

Thank you. 

Christine Tartaro 

Christine Tartaro, Ph.D.  
Professor of Criminal Justice 
Director, Stockton CSI Summer Camp 
Criminal Justice Program 
Stockton University 
101 Vera King Farris Drive 
Galloway, NJ 08205 
P: 609‐626‐6035 
F: 609‐626‐3560 

1

Zeng, Zhen (OJP)
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:

Sue Ferrere
Tuesday, March 31, 2020 3:14 PM
Zeng, Zhen (OJP)
Comments on Annual Survey of Jails

Categories:

asj

Dear Zhen,
I hope you can still accept the comments below, on behalf of the Pretrial Justice Institute. I apologize that we
are late from the March 27 deadline for comment submission.
The Pretrial Justice Institute (PJI) advances safe, fair, and effective pretrial justice practices and policies that
honor and protect all people. We submit the following comments and recommendations in order to enhance
the quality, utility and clarity of the Annual Survey of Jails reinstatement. Generally, our comments and
recommendations are intended to make the information more useful and valid. More specifically, we
recommend that the survey instrument further distinguish pretrial/pre-adjudicated individuals from convicted
individuals, and that it accurately collects the racial and ethnic composition within each category. We consulted
both the 2016 Survey Instrument and the 2020 Survey Instrument, provided by Zhen Zeng. Below we provide
question-specific suggestions.
First, we are fully supportive and grateful for the continuing Annual Survey of Jails ongoing collection of
national jail data, which provides information on changing jail populations and demographic trends.
“Section 1. Inmate Deaths” (present in 2016 Survey) has been removed from the 2020 Survey. It is not clear if
Mortality in Correctional Institutions is a continuing report of BJS; if not, we recommend reinstating the question
about inmate deaths in the Annual Survey of Jails.
The 2020 Survey “Question 5. On June 30, 2020, how many persons confined in your facility…?” uses
incorrect methodology on race and ethnicity. We suggest adhering to the U.S. Census guidelines here or
consulting the 2020 Census form.
A further breakdown of 2020 Survey Question 7 into convicted and unconvicted is recommended. That is, what
number of individuals in jail for a misdemeanor are convicted, how many are unconvicted; and what number of
individuals in jail for a felony are convicted and how many are unconvicted. This could be combined with, or
instead be a derivative of, Question 8.
2020 Survey Question 16, about staff demographics. We suggest adding questions about the racial breakdown
of staff and officers. This suggestion is analogous to our Question 5 suggestion, and we suggest consulting
U.S. Census methodology.
We strongly suggest reinstating “Section IV. Question 16. Population Supervised in the Community” from the
2016 Survey. It asks about “persons under the supervision of your jail who were NOT CONFINED participated
in - “ and lists:
Electronic Monitoring
Home detention
Community service
Day reporting
Other community supervision
Etc.
1

This is important information, in order to understand relationships between in-custody populations and
populations supervised in the community, and because conditions like electronic monitoring are increasing in
response to bail reform.
Lower priority suggestion: Question 3. Should be further broken down by race and ethnicity.
We challenge the value of Questions 9 & 10, regarding citizenship.

Thank you. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Kindly,
Sue

-Sue Ferrere
Director of Impact
Pretrial Justice Institute

200 East Pratt Street
Suite 4100
Baltimore, MD 21202
Cell: 303.679.6024
Pronouns: she/her/hers

2

Attachment D: Pre-notification Letter
U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
Bureau of Justice Statistics
Washington, D.C. 20531

June XX, 2020
<> > <>
<>
<>
<>
<>, <> <>
Dear <> <>:
In a few weeks, you will receive an email invitation for you to participate in Bureau of Justice Statistics’
Annual Survey of Jails (ASJ). The invitation will contain instructions for completing the survey. When
the invitation arrives, please log onto the data collection website and fill out the form promptly.
Started in 1982, the ASJ is the longest running annual data collection focused on local jails and jail
populations. The data are widely used by practitioners, policy makers, researchers, and the general public
to understand the conditions and needs of local jails. [If not Top150: Your participation in the Annual
Survey ensures that your agency will be represented in our national statistics on local jails.] [If Top150:
As one of our nation’s largest jail jurisdictions, your data are critical to this important data collection.]
The reference date for the 2020 ASJ will be June 30th, 2020. The survey will ask about your jail’s
confined population on this date, including population breakdowns by sex, race, juvenile status,
conviction status, severity of offense (felony or misdemeanor), and U.S. citizenship status.
This year, the survey will include a special addendum on COVID-19, designed to understand how the
pandemic affected local jails in the first half of 2020. The addendum will ask about your jail’s monthly
population from January 2020 through May 2020, the impact of COVID-19 on admissions and releases,
the numbers of inmates and staff tested for COVID-19, and the numbers that tested positive. Due to the
urgent nature of this pandemic crisis, I encourage you to complete the survey promptly for the timely
dissemination of this critical information. You can preview the survey questions now at:

http://bjsasj.rti.org/forms/CJ5.pdf.
The Bureau of Justice Statistics has contracted with RTI, International to conduct this data collection. If
you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail us at [email protected] or call at 1-866-354-4992.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey H. Anderson
Director, Bureau of Justice Statistics
U.S. Department of Justice

Attachment E: Invitation Email
Subject: 2020 Annual Survey of Jails: Submit Data Now | <>
Dear <> <>:
We are writing to invite you to participate in the 2020 Annual Survey of Jails (ASJ). Started in 1982, the Annual
Survey of Jails is the nation’s longest running annual data collection focused on local jails and inmates.
Please submit your data online by July 31, 2020 at:
Website:
Username:
Password:

https://bjsasj.rti.org
«username»
«password»

When you log onto the website above, please verify that the information of facility(ies) listed for your jail
jurisdiction is correct and update the information as needed. Most jails operate a single facility, but some jails
operate multiple facilities. If you operate multiple facilities, please fill out the survey to report for the combined
inmate population across all your facilities.
This year, the ASJ includes a special addendum on COVID-19, designed to understand how the pandemic
affected local jails in the first half of 2020. The addendum will ask about your jail’s monthly population from
January 2020 through May 2020, the impact of COVID-19 on admissions and releases, the numbers of inmates
and staff tested for COVID-19, and the numbers that tested positive. Due to the urgent nature of this pandemic
crisis, I encourage you to complete the survey promptly for the timely dissemination of this critical information.
The Bureau of Justice Statistics has contracted with RTI, International to conduct this data collection. For most
jails, it takes about 75 minutes to complete the survey. You can complete the form in more than one session. You
may also forward this email to colleagues within your agency, if you feel they can help you complete the survey.
For assistance with completing this survey, please contact RTI at [email protected] or (866) 354-4992, Monday
through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, EDT. If you have questions about the collection, please contact the BJS program
manager, Zhen Zeng, at [email protected].
Thank you very much for your participation in BJS’s statistical programs.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey H. Anderson
Director, Bureau of Justice Statistics
U.S. Department of Justice

Annual Survey of Jails
The Annual Survey of Jails (ASJ) is a national survey of county or city jail jurisdictions and
regional jails in the country. Started in 1982, the ASJ tracks changes in the number and
characteristics of local jail inmates nationwide. It also collects annual data on jail inmate
turnover, jail capacity, and space usage by other authorities. BJS is authorized to conduct this
survey under 42 USC § 3732, and may only use data collected under its authority for research
and statistical purposes. This data collection has been approved by the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB Control No: 1121-0094; Expiration Date: xx/xx/xxxx). Additional information
about the purpose, authority, and security of this data collection can be found at
https://bjsasj.rti.org.

Attachment F: Reminder Email 1
SUBJECT: RESPONSE REQUESTED: 2020 Annual Survey of Jails | <>
Dear <> <>:
We are writing to remind you of the upcoming due date for your 2020 Annual Survey of Jails (ASJ)
submission. Your agency was selected to represent many other similar agencies in the nation. Your
participation ensures that the national statistics Bureau of Justice Statistics publishes every year about local
jails and jail populations is representative of agencies like yours.
Please log onto our secure website and submit your data online by July 31st—

Website:
Username:
Password:
Submit by:

https://bjsasj.rti.org

«username»
«password»
July 31, 2020

If needed, you can view the survey form and the FAQs at the website above. For assistance with completing
this survey, contact RTI at [email protected] or (866) 354-4992, Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, EDT.
If you have questions about the ASJ collection, please contact the BJS ASJ program manager, Zhen Zeng,
at [email protected] or (202) 598-9955.
Thank you very much for your continued participation in BJS’s statistical programs.
Sincerely,

Zhen Zeng, Program Manager
Annual Survey of Jails Program
Bureau of Justice Statistics
Annual Survey of Jails
Started in 1982, the ASJ tracks changes in the number and characteristics of local jail inmates
nationwide. It also collects annual data on jail inmate turnover, jail capacity and space usage by
other authorities. BJS is authorized to conduct this survey under 42 USC § 3732, and may only
use data collected under its authority for research and statistical purposes. This data collection
has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB Control No: 1121-0094;
Expiration Date: 06/2023). Your participation is voluntary. Additional information about the
purpose, authority, and security of this data collection can be found at https://bjsasj.rti.org.

Attachment G: Reminder Email 2
SUBJECT: Response required: 2020 Annual Survey of Jails | <>
Dear <> <>:
We would like to thank you for your past support for Bureau of Justice Statistics’ (BJS) statistical
programs and remind you that the Annual Survey of Jails (ASJ) 2020 collection is overdue. BJS needs
your prompt response to publish accurate and timely statistics on local jails and inmates. Please submit
your data online—

Website:
Username:
Password:
Submit by:

https://bjsasj.rti.org
«username»
«password»
ASAP

If needed, you can download a survey form for reference here. For assistance with completing the survey,
please contact our data collection team at [email protected] or (866) 354-4992, Monday through Friday, 9 AM
to 5 PM, EDT. If you have questions about the ASJ, please contact the ASJ program manager, Zhen Zeng,
at [email protected] or (202) 598-9955.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Sincerely,

Zhen Zeng, Program Manager
Annual Survey of Jails Program
Bureau of Justice Statistics
Annual Survey of Jails
Started in 1982, the ASJ tracks changes in the number and characteristics of local jail inmates
nationwide. It also collects annual data on jail inmate turnover, jail capacity and space usage by
other authorities. BJS is authorized to conduct this survey under 42 USC § 3732, and may only
use data collected under its authority for research and statistical purposes. This data collection
has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB Control No: 1121-0094;
Expiration Date: 06/2023). Your participation is voluntary. Additional information about the
purpose, authority, and security of this data collection can be found at https://bjsasj.rti.org.

Attachment H: Reminder from BJS Director
U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
Bureau of Justice Statistics
Washington, D.C. 20531

September XX, 2020
<> > <>
<>
<>
<>
<>, <> <>
Dear <> <>:
I am writing to ask for your assistance in completing the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ (BJS) 2020 Annual
Survey of Jails (ASJ). We would greatly appreciate if you would submit your form by October 1, 2020.
Your data, combined with data from other local jails, allows BJS to publish on national trends in jail
populations. BJS is committed to disseminating accurate and timely statistics to inform the practices and
policies of jails nationwide.
You may submit your data online—
Website:
Username:
Password:

https://bjsasj.rti.org
«username»
«password»

If you prefer, you may download the 2020 ASJ form from the website above, fill it out, and fax or mail it back
to us.
If you have any questions about this survey, please contact our hotline at (866) 354-4992 Monday through
Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, EDT, or email [email protected]. RTI International is BJS’s data collection agent for the
ASJ.
BJS is authorized to conduct the ASJ under 34 U.S.C. § 10132, and may only use data collected under its
authority for research and statistical purposes. This data collection has been approved by the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB Control No: 1121-0049; Expiration Date: 06/2023).
Thank you very much for your participation and continued support for BJS’s statistical programs.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey H. Anderson
Director, Bureau of Justice Statistics
U.S. Department of Justice