CPFFCL Verification Form and scripts

2024 Census of Publicly Funded Forensic
Crime Laboratories (CPFFCL) Verification
Materials
Appendix A-1: Verification Form
Appendix A-2: Verification Invitation Email to Forensic
Crime Laboratories
Appendix A-3: Verification Email Reminder to Forensic
Crime Laboratories
Appendix A-4: Verification Call Script

Appendix A-1: Verification Form
OMB No. XXXX-XXXX: Approval Expires XX/XX/20XX

Appendix A-2: Verification Invitation Email to Forensic Crime Laboratories
Email Subject: Verify Contact Information for the 2024 Census of Publicly Funded Forensic
Crime Laboratories
Dear [NAME],
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) and RTI International are
preparing to conduct the sixth Census of Publicly Funded Forensic Crime Laboratories
(CPFFCL) in spring 2025. This survey is designed to provide national statistics on staffing,
budgets, workload, and resources of publicly funded forensic crime laboratories.
Prior to the survey launching, we are asking laboratories to log onto our website and verify their
contact information. This request will only take about 5 minutes. If we don’t hear from your
office by MONTH, DAY, we will give you a call to confirm your information by phone.
Please verify your information online within the next 2 weeks:
URL: [HYPERLINK]
[entityname]
Username: [caseid]
Password: [password]
If you have any questions, please contact us at XXX-XXX-XXXX or at [email protected]. If you
have any general comments, please contact Matt Durose, the program manager from BJS, at 202598-0295 or [email protected]. Results from the previous 2020 CPFFCL may be viewed
on BJS’s website: https://bjs.ojp.gov/document/pffcl20.pdf.
BJS and RTI International thank you for your time and effort in providing this information
concerning your lab.
Sincerely,
CPFFCL Task Lead
RTI International

Appendix A-3: Verification Email Reminder to Forensic Crime Laboratories
Email Subject: Reminder - Verify Contact Information for the 2024 Census of Publicly Funded
Forensic Crime Laboratories (CPFFCL)
Dear [NAME],
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) and RTI International are
preparing to conduct the sixth Census of Publicly Funded Forensic Crime Laboratories
(CPFFCL) in spring 2025.
ACTION NEEDED NOW:
This is a reminder that, prior to the survey launching, we are asking you to log onto our website
and verify your contact information. We will call your office by phone soon if we do not hear
from you.
_______________________________________________________________________
REMINDER: Please verify your information online by MONTH, DAY, 2024:
URL: [HYPERLINK]
[entityname]
Username: [caseid]
Password: [password]
If you have any questions, please contact us at XXX-XXX-XXXX or at [email protected]. If you
have any general comments, please contact Matt Durose, the program manager from BJS, at 202598-0295 or [email protected]. Results from the previous 2020 CPFFCL may be viewed
on BJS’ website: https://bjs.ojp.gov/document/pffcl20.pdf.
BJS and RTI International thank you for your time in providing this information concerning your
laboratory.
Sincerely,
CPFFCL Task Lead
RTI International

Appendix A-4: Verification Call Script
Good [morning/afternoon/evening], my name is [INTERVIEWER NAME] from RTI
International, and I am calling on behalf of the Bureau of Justice Statistics regarding the
forthcoming Census of Publicly Funded Forensic Crime Laboratories. This survey has been
conducted periodically since 2002 to produce national statistics on staffing, budgets, workload,
and resources of publicly funded forensic crime laboratories. BJS is preparing to conduct the
new census of crime laboratories next year. I’m reaching out to confirm that we have the correct
contact information so that we can make sure that the survey is mailed to the appropriate address.
Do you have 5 minutes to answer a few brief questions?
1 YES [GO TO 1.1]
2 NO [SET FOR CALLBACK]
3 NOT AVAILABLE NOW [SET FOR CALLBACK]
4 NOT THE DIRECTOR NAMED IN INTRO [GO TO 1.1a]
1.1

First, in case we get disconnected, I would like to confirm that this phone number is the
correct phone number for [NAME OF DIRECTOR OR DEPUTY DIRECTOR].
1 YES [GO TO 1.2]
2 NO [GO TO 1.1a]

1.1a

What is the correct phone number? _____________

1.2

Can you confirm that [NAME OF FORENSIC CRIME LABORATORY] is the correct
name of this agency?
1
2

1.2a

What is the correct name and spelling of the [FORENSIC CRIME LABORATORY]?
______________________________________________________________
1

1.3

YES [GO TO 1.3]
NO [GO TO 1.2a]

NOT A FORENSIC CRIME LAB [GO TO GENERIC THANK YOU SCREEN
AND TERMINATE CALL]

I have the mailing address as [street address, city, state, zip]. Is this information correct?
1 YES [GO TO 1.4]
2 NO [GO TO 1.3a]

1.3a

What is your full street address?
Street Address___________________
City, State
___________________

Zip Code
1.4

___________________

Our records indicate that [TITLE] [FIRST NAME] [LAST NAME] is the
Laboratory/Office Head. Is this information correct?
YES [GO TO 1.5]
NO [GO TO 1.4a]

1
2
1.4a

Is the head of this crime laboratory the director or deputy director? If yes (or no), who is
this person?
Title

__________________

First Name

__________________

Last Name

__________________

Professional Designation
1.5

__________________

Would [Person from 1.4] be the best point of contact for sending a survey about
laboratory operations and providing the responses and data, including administrative, budget,
and resource information?
1
2

1.5a

YES [GO TO 1.6]
NO [GO TO 1.5a]

Please provide us with the name of the best point of contact for sending a survey.
Title

__________________

First Name

__________________

Last Name

__________________

Professional Designation

__________________

1.6

What is the best phone number to contact the [Head of Office or Best Point of Contact]?
PHONE NUMBER __________________

1.7

What is the best email address to contact the [Head of Office or Best Point of Contact]?
EMAIL ADDRESS __________________@__________________

1.8

Thank you for answering these questions. In early 2025, your office will receive an
invitation to participate in the Census of Publicly Funded Forensic Crime Laboratories
conducted by RTI International on behalf of the Bureau of Justice Statistics. We will
request that you complete the survey online, however, we can mail you a copy of the
survey if you would prefer to complete by hand. Would you like a copy mailed to you as
well?
1
2

Yes, mail me a paper survey
No

GENERIC THANK YOU. Thank you so much for your time.
END. Thank you. Those are all of the questions that I have. If your laboratory is eligible, RTI
International, the data collection agent for the Bureau of Justice Statistics, will send you
the survey using the contact information you’ve provided. We thank you for your help. If
you have any questions in the meantime, please call us toll free at 1-XXX-XXXX. Thank
you again for your time.