2015-31744. Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; New Collection: Body Worn Camera Supplement (BWCS) to the Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey

AGENCY:

Bureau of Justice Statistics, Department of Justice.

ACTION:

30-day notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This proposed information collection was previously published in the Federal Register at 80 FR 52512, on August 31, 2015, allowing for a 60 day comment period.

DATES:

Comments are encouraged and will be accepted for an additional 30 days until January 19, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

If you have additional comments especially on the estimated public burden or associated response time, suggestions, or need a copy of the proposed information collection instrument with instructions or additional information, please contact please contact Alexia Cooper, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 810 Seventh Street NW., Washington, DC 20531 (email: [e-mail]; telephone: [phone]). Written comments and/or suggestions can also be directed to the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention Department of Justice Desk Officer, Washington, DC 20503 or sent to [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of information are encouraged. Your comments should address one or more of the following four points:

—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 the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

—Evaluate whether and if so how the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected can be enhanced; and

—Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.

Overview of This Information Collection

(1) Type of Information Collection: New collection.

(2) The Title of the Form/Collection: Body Worn Camera Supplement (BWCS) to the Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey

(3) The agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the Department sponsoring the collection: No agency form number at this time. The applicable component within the Department of Justice is the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in the Office of Justice Programs.

(4) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as well as a brief abstract: Respondents will be general purpose state and local law enforcement agencies (LEAs), including police departments, sheriff's offices, and state law enforcement agencies. Abstract: Since 1987, BJS has collected information about the personnel, policies, and practices of law enforcement agencies via the Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) survey. This core survey, which has been administered every 4 to 6 years, has been used to produce nationally representative estimates of the functions and responsibilities of law enforcement agencies and the staff serving in those organizations. In addition to core management and administrative information, BJS will also begin using the LEMAS platform for topical supplemental surveys, fielded periodically, to collect data on key issues in contemporary policing. The body worn camera supplement (BWC) is the first of these topical supplements. Specifically, the BWCS survey will focus on LEAs use of body-worn media and will ask agencies about their experiences with body-worn cameras, factors that influence the choice to acquire the technology, and considerations that guide policies for the use of these technologies. This survey will build on the existing LEMAS program and provide key information on an issue that is of particular interest to the law enforcement community and the communities they serve.

(5) An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount of time estimated for an average respondent to respond: An agency-level survey will be sent to approximately 5,063 LEA respondents with the goal of obtaining 3,122 completed surveys. The expected burden placed on these respondents is about 23 minutes per respondent.

(6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated with the collection: The total respondent burden is approximately 1,884 burden hours.

If additional information is required contact: Jerri Murray, Department Clearance Officer, United States Department of Justice, Justice Management Division, Policy and Planning Staff, Two Constitution Square, 145 N Street NE., 3E.405B, Washington, DC 20530.

Dated: December 14, 2015.

Jerri Murray,

Department Clearance Officer for PRA, U.S. Department of Justice.