All Attachments for ICR

Annual Survey of Jails
OMB Control Number 1121-0094
OMB Expiration Date: 06/30/2023

The 2023 and 2025 Annual Survey of Jails OMB Clearance
Application Attachments
Table of Contents
Attachment B. Sample website screenshots

2

Attachment C. 60-day Federal Register comments

15

Attachment D. Pre-notification letter

20

Attachment E. Invitation email

21

Attachment F. Reminder email 1

22

Attachment G. Reminder email 2

23

Attachment H. Nonresponse call prompt script

24

Attachment I. Paper form mailing

29

Attachment J. Customized nonresponse contact

30

Attachment K. BJS Director letter

31

Attachment L. Data quality follow-up email

32

1

Attachment B: Sample Website Screenshots

2

3

4

5

6

7

2023 Annual Survey of Jails Web Verification Module 
First, let’s update your agency’s contact information— 

Agency 
Name: Maricopa County Sheriff's Office 
Address: 550 West Jackson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85003 
Phone: (602) 876‐1829 ext. –––––––––– 

Point of contact (POC) 
Name: Alissa Milbourne 
Title: ––––––––––––––– 
Email: [email protected] 
Phone: (602)876‐5511 ext. ––––––– 

Data supplier  
The data supplier is the person who typically completes the survey.  We will reach out the data 
supplier if there are any questions about the survey data. 
 Check here if the data supplier is the same as the point of contact.
Name: –––––––––––––– 
Title: –––––––––––––– 
Email: –––––––––––––– 
Phone: ––––––––––––– ext. ––––––– 

Back 

Save and continue

1 
8

Under what type of government authority is <> operated?  
 County
 City
 State
 This is a regional jail, operated by two or more county or city governing bodies through a
cooperative agreement.
 This is a privately operated facility contracted by  county/ city/ state/ federal
government(s).

Back 

Save and continue 

2 
9

You mentioned that <> is a regional jail. Please list all counties, 
cities, and places served by your agency: 
Locations served: 
City/county 

Back 

State 

Save and continue 

3 
10

Our records show that <> has operated the following facilities. 
Please verify the facility names and add or remove facilities if needed. Include all facilities that were 
open at any time between July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023. 
Deselect to  
remove a facility   

 Maricopa County Estrella Jail  
 Maricopa County Towers Jail 
 Maricopa County Durango Jail 
 Maricopa County Lower Buckeye Jail 
 Maricopa County Fourth Avenue Jail 
Add new facilities:

Back 

Save and continue 

4 
11

Please indicate if any of these facilities are:  



Exclusively used as a temporary holding or a lockup facility from which inmates are usually 
transferred within 72 hours and not held beyond arraignment 
Exclusively used to hold juveniles. 

Maricopa County Estrella 
Maricopa County Towers Jail 
Maricopa County Durango Jail 
Maricopa County Lower Buckeye Jail 
Maricopa County Fourth Avenue Jail 

Exclusively Temporary 
Holding 
□ 
□ 
□ 
□ 
□ 

Exclusively holds juveniles 
□ 
□ 
□ 
□ 
□ 

Back 

Save and continue 

5 

12

Based on the information you provided, the following facilities should be included in the ASJ.  
 Maricopa County Estrella Jail 

 Maricopa County Towers Jail 

 Maricopa County Durango Jail 

 Maricopa County Lower Buckeye Jail 

The following facilities are not included in the ASJ because it is exclusively used to hold juveniles.  
 Maricopa County Fourth Avenue Jail 

If you need to edit the list of facilities, click here.  

Back 

    Save and continue 

6 

13

Before proceeding to the 2023 Annual Survey of Jails, please verify and update the addresses of the 
facilities to be included in the 2023 Annual Survey of Jails.  
 Maricopa County Estrella Jail

2939 West Durango Street, Phoenix, AZ 85009  

 Maricopa County Towers Jail

3127 West Gibson Lane, Phoenix, AZ 85009 

 Maricopa County Durango Jail

3225 West Gibson Lane, Phoenix, AZ 85009 

 Maricopa County Lower Buckeye Jail

3250 West Lower Buckeye Road, Phoenix, AZ 85009 

Back 

Save and continue 

7 
14

Attachment C: 60-day Federal Register Comments

From:
To:
Subject:
Date:

Andrea Armstrong
Zeng, Zhen (OJP)
[EXTERNAL] Comments - 88 FR 10937 - AJS
Tuesday, March 7, 2023 7:22:25 PM

I am writing to support the continued collection of the Annual Jail Survey data, as it is critical to understanding the
operations, policies, and practices across a wide variety of jails.  In addition, the AJS is the only reliable and national
source for certain types of data on jail admissions, operations, and outcomes.  Much of the data required is already
collected for internal jail administration purposes, thus the burden of continued collection is smaller than for data
requests that are not a standard part of jail administration. 
Andrea Armstrong
*************************************************
Andrea Armstrong
Professor of Law
Loyola University New Orleans, College of Law
7214 St. Charles Ave, Box 901
New Orleans, LA 70118
office tel: 504-861-5841
SSRN: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsByAuth.cfm?per_id=1612387
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-armstrong-b4643671/
*************************************************

15

From:
To:
Subject:
Date:

Michael Kusin
Zeng, Zhen (OJP)
[EXTERNAL] Reinstating jail data collection
Monday, February 27, 2023 9:48:19 PM

            I understand that this is an informal response because the formal
process is not open to the public.
            The collection of jail data should not have been discontinued in the first
place. Despite whatever statistically-based language was used to justify
discontinuing it, the real explanation was political. The data which you stopped
collecting reflected the unfortunate reality that a disproportionate percentage
of jail populations were black, even as the data show the unfortunate---but
accurate---reality that a disproportionate percentage of violent crime is
committed by black men who are within a relatively narrow age group.
            It is for those reasons that jail data collection should be resumed. I
suspect that you will probably censor my comment for the same reasons that
jail data collection was stopped.

Michael Kusin
Houston
[email protected]
Cell - 713.829.2276

16

From:
To:
Subject:
Date:

Belinda Spinosi
Zeng, Zhen (OJP)
[EXTERNAL] question re Public Comments 88 FR 10938 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2023-03592
Friday, February 24, 2023 12:23:30 PM

Bureau of Justice Statistics
Office of Justice Programs
Department of Justice
re Public Comments 88 FR 10938 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2023-03592
Hello Bureau of Justice Statistics:
May I have a copy of the proposed information collection instrument with instructions?
I would like to read what is asked to comment on.
My interests are two fold:
1) the Census Bureau is unable to conduct Census consistently in all jails and prisons
thereby making all data inaccurate; 
2) as a disability advocate, I want to assure that the data taken asks appropriate questions
about those who enter jails and prisons (education level, diagnosed disability, were they
given access testing their disability before entering. As well, how they are tested for a
disability, educated and given job training (rehabilitation) once inside, and how prepared
they are for the outside world when they are released.
These will assess the outcomes of the upstream service provision, giving a greater picture
of why people are becoming incarcerated, activities within jails and prisons to prepare
professional service delivery and courts for release.
With gratitude for your consideration,
Belinda
Belinda Spinosi
4249 East Broad Street F
Columbus OH   43213
614-902-0572
[email protected]

17

April 24, 2023

To:

Zhen Zheng, Bureau of Justice Statistics

From:

Jim Parsons, Vice President for Research, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning;
Vera Institute of Justice

Subject:

Comments on Annual Survey of Jails

The Vera Institute of Justice (Vera) is providing this information in response to the invitation for
public commentary on the proposed reinstatement of the Annual Survey of Jails (OMB Number
1121 – 0094). We are responding to the following questions included in the invitation.
•
•

Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the Bureau of Justice Statistics, including whether the
information will have practical utility.
Evaluate whether and if so, how the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be
collected can be enhanced.

Comments
•

The annual survey of jails includes valuable information that Vera regularly uses in our
work to better understand the criminal legal system. Many of the data measures are
essential for shaping the field's understanding of how jails are used across the United
States.

•

Vera suggests that the quality and utility of statistics around race, ethnicity, and gender
could be substantially enhanced without adding undue administrative burden on jails.

•

Under current data collection practices, the Bureau of Justice Statistics does not collect
information on gender and race/ethnicity together of people that are incarcerated in jails.
Rather, it collects gender populations and race/ethnicity separately. This prevents tracking
the way that racial disparities vary by gender. BJS's work on prison populations by race
and gender indicates that there are substantial variations in racial disparities by gender at
the prison level. More data is needed to understand how local jails may or may not be
different. Historically, BJS collected information this way prior to 1993, and we suggest a
return to a similar approach now. Because many jails use electronic data systems.

34 35th Street, Suite 4-2A, Brooklyn NY 11232

t 212 334 1300

f 212 941 9407

vera.org

18

•

As a medium-term objective, it would be helpful for jails to collect information on people
who identify as transgender (even if they are also registered under a binary male/female
variable), since there are specific concerns and policy questions around housing, services,
and other issues related to transgender people.

•

Admissions and releases from jail by gender are very useful. Vera suggests that
information on race/ethnicity should also be collected for admissions and release
statistics.

34 35th Street, Suite 4-2A, Brooklyn NY 11232

t 212 334 1300

f 212 941 9407

vera.org

19

Attachment D: Pre-notification Letter

June XX, 2023
<> > <>
<>
<>
<>
<>, <> <>
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 2023 ASJ will be June 30th, 2023. The survey will ask about your jail’s
confined population on this date, including population breakdowns by sex, race, age group, conviction
status, severity of offense (felony or misdemeanor), and U.S. citizenship status. You can preview the PDF
form of the survey now at: http://bjsasj.rti.org. The online survey will be available on July 1, 2023.
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.
BJS appreciates your generous cooperation and partnership in supporting this important effort.
Sincerely,

Alexis R. Piquero, PhD
Director, Bureau of Justice Statistics
U.S. Department of Justice

20

Attachment E: Invitation Email
SUBJECT: Invitation 2023 Annual Survey of Jails | <>
Dear <> <>:
We are writing to invite you to participate in the 2023 Annual Survey of Jails (ASJ). The Bureau of
Justice Statistics (BJS) has been conducting the ASJ since 1982 to collect data on local jails and the
population they supervise. The data are published in the BJS Jail Inmates statistical report series and
archived for public use. Participation in the ASJ is voluntary.
Please submit your data by July 31, 2023. Your logon information is—
Website:
Username:
Password:

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

The Bureau of Justice Statistics has contracted with RTI, International to conduct this data collection. For
most jails, it takes about 80 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,
Alexis R. Piquero, PhD
Director, Bureau of Justice Statistics
U.S. Department of Justice
Annual Survey of Jails (ASJ) is a national survey of local 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.

21

Attachment F: Reminder Email 1
SUBJECT: 2023 Annual Survey of Jails due soon | <>
Dear <> <>:
We are writing to remind you of the upcoming due date for your 2023 Annual Survey of Jails (ASJ)
submission. The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) has been conducting the ASJ since 1982 to collect data
on local jails and the population they supervise. Your agency was selected to represent many other similar
agencies in the nation. BJS relies on your prompt response to publish accurate and timely national
statistics on local jails and the population they supervise.
If you have not submitted your data, please do so by July 31, 2023. Your logon information is—
Website:
Username:
Password:
Submit by:

https://bjsasj.rti.org
«username»
«password»
July 31, 2023

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, Ph.D.
Annual Survey of Jails Program Manager
Bureau of Justice Statistics
Annual Survey of Jails (ASJ) is a national survey of local 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.

22

Attachment G: Reminder Email 2
SUBJECT: 2023 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) 2023 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, Ph.D.
Annual Survey of Jails Program Manager
Bureau of Justice Statistics
Annual Survey of Jails (ASJ) is a national survey of local 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.

23

Attachment H: Nonresponse Call Prompt Script

Overview of Case Flow / Script Paths

POC: point of contact
VM: voice mail
RNA: respondent not available
GK: gate keeper

24

Attachment H: Nonresponse Call Prompt Script

LIVE CALL
Hi, my name is [name] and I’m calling on behalf of the U.S. Department of Justice
regarding the Annual Survey of Jails. May I speak with [point of contact]?
If point of contact is on the phone

Hello, I am calling today to remind you to submit your agency’s 2023 Annual
Survey of Jails data. We sent a reminder email on Monday, August 1st. Did you
receive it?
If email was received

Great. Do you have any questions about the Annual Survey of Jails in
general or about submitting data online?
If questions

[answer questions]
If NO questions / questions resolved

Okay. We look forward to receiving your agency’s data.
Thank you. Bye. [add event note, set action due as
complete]
If email NOT received

Okay. I can send a new email right now. [confirm we have correct
email address on file, send email]
The email will have a link to our website with your agency
username and password. Do you have any questions about the
Annual Survey of Jails in general or about submitting data online?
If questions

[answer questions]
If NO questions / questions resolved

25

Attachment H: Nonresponse Call Prompt Script

Okay. We look forward to receiving your agency’s data.
Thank you. Bye. [add event note, set action due as
complete]
If point of contact no longer works there

Could I speak with the individual who has taken over for them, or someone who
would be able to answer questions about the jail facilities?
If new POC

Hello, my name is [name] and I’m calling on behalf of the U.S.
Department of Justice regarding the Annual Survey of Jails. [POC]
was our previous point of contact at your agency. [He/she]
completed reports for the Bureau of Justice Statistics about your
inmate population. We are currently requesting data for the 2023
year. Is this something you can help with?
If yes, new POC on phone and can help

Thank you. May I have your name, phone number, and
email address? We will send you an email with
instructions to complete the current form. [collect info
and update the POC]
Okay. I am sending you the email now. [send email]
If you have any questions, our contact information will
be included. Thank you. Bye. [add event note, set action
due as complete]
If unable to identify new POC / no one can help

[document outcome in events and set a supervisor
alert, set action due as complete]
If new POC VOICEMAIL

26

Attachment H: Nonresponse Call Prompt Script

Hi, my name is [your name] and I’m calling on behalf of the U.S.
Department of Justice regarding the Annual Survey of Jails. [POC]
was our previous point of contact at your agency. [He/she]
completed reports for the Bureau of Justice Statistics about your
inmate population. We are currently requesting data for the 2023
year, which I’m hoping you can help with. Please call us back at 866354-4992. [add event note about new POC, set action due as
complete]
If point of contact is not available

Could I leave them a message on [His/her] voicemail?
If POC voicemail

[read VM script] [add event note, set action due as complete]

If NO voicemail option for POC

Could I leave a message with you or another staff member who works with
them?
If yes / ready for message

I’m calling to remind [POC] to submit your agency’s
2023 Annual Survey of Jails data. This is for the
Department of Justice. Please tell [POC] they received
an email on Monday August 1st with information on
how to get this submitted. [add event note, set action
due as complete]
If NOT able to leave any message

Okay. When would be a good time to call back?
Thank you, I will call then. Bye. [add event note, set
action due for callback]

27

Attachment H: Nonresponse Call Prompt Script

VOICEMAIL
Hi, my name is [your name] and I’m calling on behalf of the U.S. Department of
Justice regarding the 2023 Annual Survey of Jails. On Monday August 1st, we
emailed you a reminder to submit your agency’s Annual Survey of Jails data on
our website. Please submit your responses online as soon as you are able in the
next few weeks. If you have any questions, please call back at 866-354-4992.
[add event note, set action due as complete]

28

Attachment I: Paper Form Mailing

August 22, 2023
Attn: [FILL: Salutation POCFirstname POCLastname]
[FILL:Name]
We would like to thank you for your past support for Bureau of Justice Statistics’ (BJS) statistical
programs and remind you that your 2023 Annual Survey of Jails (ASJ) form is past due. [FILL:If
AgencyStatusCodeId=1: Your form has been started online but is not yet complete.] We have sent you
periodic reminders since July 2023 and hope that you will find time to submit your agency’s data as soon
as possible.
We have included a survey form in this packet for your convenience. If possible, please submit your data
online. However, you can also fill out a paper form and return it in the enclosed prepaid envelope.
To submit data online, please go to—

https://bjsasj.rti.org
Username: «FILL:username»
Password: «FILL:password»
Submit by: September 15, 2023

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 me
via e-mail at [email protected] or call (202) 598-9955.
Thank you in advance for your participation in BJS’s statistical programs.
Sincerely,
Zhen Zeng, Ph.D.
Annual Survey of Jails Program Manager
Bureau of Justice Statistics

29

Attachment J: Customized Nonresponse Contact

Example Nonresponse Calling Guide
Contact #1
Hello, my name is Lizzie Smith and I’m calling on behalf of the Department of Justice regarding
the 2023 Annual Survey of Jails. We recently mailed you a reminder to submit data for your
agency online. This is just a friendly check in to make sure you received that email and to see if
there is anything I can help you with. The ASJ is the only annual national data collection that
provides information on local jails and jail inmates. Your agency was selected to represent
many other similar agencies in the nation and any data that you can provide will be very
helpful. I will check back in with you soon if we are not able to touch base. My phone number is
800-334-8571, x25984. Thank you.
Contact #2
Hello, I am following up to a message I left for you last week about the 2023 Annual Survey of
Jails. Again, I’m just checking in to see if you might be able to submit data for your agency soon.
Please let me know if I can help in any way. You will receive a reminder email soon. If we can
close out this process by the end of September that would be great. My name is Lizzie and my
phone number is 800-334-8571, x25984.

Example Nonresponse Email Guide
Subject: 2022 Annual Survey of Jails – Reminder |
Hello,
This is a reminder to submit your agency's 2023 Annual Survey of Jails (ASJ) data to the Bureau
of Justice Statistics. Please enter your data online in the next few weeks. I will give you a call to
check in soon.
Website: https://bjsasj.rti.org/
Username:
Password:
It may be helpful to view a copy of the form on our website before you begin entering data so
that you can prepare your responses.
If there is anything I can do to assist you, please contact me at 800-334-8571 extension or
[email protected].
Thank you,

Agency Liaison for Annual Survey of Jails

30

Attachment K: BJS Director Letter

September XX, 2023
<> > <>
<>
<>
<>
<>, <> <>
Dear <> <>:
I am writing to ask for your assistance in completing the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ (BJS) 2023 Annual
Survey of Jails (ASJ). We would greatly appreciate if you would submit your form by October 1, 2023.
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 2023 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,
Alexis R. Piquero, PhD
Director, Bureau of Justice Statistics
U.S. Department of Justice

31

Attachment L: Data Quality Follow-up Email
SUBJECT: 2023 ASJ: Following up on Data Quality Issues | <>
Dear <> <>:
Thank you for submitting the 2023 Annual Survey of Jails (ASJ) form for your agency. We have reviewed
your submission and request that you review the following possible data quality issues:
•
•
•

<>
<>
etc.

To correct these issues online:
1. Log on to the ASJ website (https://bjsasj.rti.org) using these credentials:
USERNAME: <>
PASSWORD: <>
2. Click on “Enter Data.”
3. Navigate to the appropriate questions and make any necessary edits.
If you believe any of these items is not an error or you have questions, you can just reply to this email,
or I’d be happy to discuss by phone at (800) 334-8571 ext. <>.
Thank you,
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Agency Liaison
RTI International
ASJ Data Collection Agent for the Bureau of Justice Statistics

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