Supporting Statement A Template _MD_CSI

Supporting Statement for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions

New Collection

Metal Detector Use in Crime Scene Investigations

OMB Control # 1110-xxxx

Part A. Justification

1. Necessity of Information:

The FBI Laboratory Division seeks to gather information on the applications of metal detectors for law enforcement investigations at crime scene investigations. Participants will answer information on the composition of suspected targets and the environment which they are searching. An objective of the questionnaire is to learn if advance methods of detection were used to identify suspected targets such as a ground penetrating radar or magnetometer.

The targeted groups for this questionnaire will be solicited through law enforcement associations such as the FBI National Academy Associates, International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Sheriffs’ Association, Fraternal Order of Police, The United Deputy Sheriffs’ Association, and National Association of Police Organization. Personnel with first-hand experience with the use of metal detectors at crime scenes will be solicited. If the participant chooses to provide this information, it will only be used to for potential follow up questions and to account for multiple reports from participants from the same law enforcement organization. There are no apparent legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection.

2. Needs and Uses:

The FBI Laboratory Division will compile the results of the questionnaire which may be used to understand applications of metal detectors by law enforcement. If the participant chooses to provide contact information and/or affiliation, this information will only be used to for potential follow up questions and to account for multiple reports from participants from the same law enforcement organization. All identifying information and institutional affiliations will be restricted to the study’s leaders. These results may be used to improve FBI Evidence Response Team training and might be published to the larger law enforcement community. Results that are published will preserve anonymity of participants.

3. Use of Technology:

This questionnaire will be deployed using the FBI.gov website.

4. Efforts to Identify Duplication:

We are unaware of any similar surveys on this topic.

5. Methods to Minimize Burden on Small Businesses:

Not Applicable

6. Consequences of Less Frequent Collection:

Applications of the result of this questionnaire could make use of geophysics for law enforcement missions more effective; not conducting this questionnaire could increase costs to law enforcement due to inefficiency.

7. Special Circumstances Influencing Collection:

None of these circumstances apply to this questionnaire.

8. Public Comments and Consultations:

This questionnaire has not been published for public comment.

9. Payment of Gift to Claimants:

There are no gifts or payments to respondents.

10. Assurance of Confidentiality:

Disclosure of contact information of participants is entirely voluntary.

11. Justification for Sensitive Questions:

None of the questions within the questionnaire are sensitive in nature as described above.

12. Estimate of Hour Burden:

Number of respondents -100

Frequency of response - 1

Total annual responses - 1

Minutes per response – 10-15 minutes

Annual hour burden – 25 hours

13. Estimate of Cost Burden:

Respondents will not incur any costs other than their time to respond. Respondents will not incur any capital, start up, or system maintenance costs associated with this information collection.

14. Estimated Annualized Costs to Federal Government:

Total Annualized capital/startup costs	Startup cost component	$0
Total operation and maintenance and purchase of service component	Creating & maintaining the website, collection, and analysis of responses	$4,000
Total cost	-	$4,000

15. Reasons for Change in Burden:

This is a new ICR request with no previous burden.

16. Plans for Publication:

If there are sufficient respondents to this questionnaire, then results may be published for a law enforcement audience and scientist audience. Estimated publication would be 2 years from questionnaire distribution date.

17. Expiration Date Approval:

Not applicable.

18. Exceptions to the Certification Statement:

There are no exceptions to the certification statement.

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