Census of State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies, 2026
Reinstatement without change of a previously approved collection
No
Regular
06/22/2026
table that charts list comparision
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
22,000
0
13,566
0
0
0
The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) requests clearance from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to conduct the 2026 Census of State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies (CSLLEA). Historically, the CSLLEA generates an enumeration of all publicly funded state, county, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in the United States and provides complete personnel counts for the approximately 20,000 public law enforcement agencies operating nationally.
BJS has conducted the CSLLEA periodically since 1986. The last administration of the CSLLEA was in 2022 (OMB approval obtained on 8/3/2022; OMB No.1121-0346) and the 2026 administration will be the ninth wave of data collection in the statistical series.
The total burden for the 2026 CSLLEA is reduced from the 2022 CSLLEA administration due to fewer law enforcement agencies needing data quality follow-up. The 2026 CSLLEA instrument is almost identical in content to the 2022 CSLLEA instrument. Three sub-items were added to the list of agency functions, asking respondents to indicate whether the agency is responsible for the function. These additions are expected to have a negligible effect on the burden.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.