E6-8360. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Requested

ACTION:

60-day notice of information collection under review—extension of currently approved collection.

Bureau of Justice Assistance Application Form: Southwest Border Prosecution Initiative

The Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance, has submitted the following information collection request for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This proposed information collection is published to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. Comments are encouraged and will be accepted for “sixty days” until July 31, 2006. If you have additional comments, suggestions, or need a copy of the proposed information collection instrument with instructions or additional information, please contact M. Pressley at 202-353-8643 or 1-866-859-2687, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, 810 7th Street, NW., Washington, DC, 20531.

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

(1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the function of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;

(2) 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;

(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(4) 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

(1) Type of information collection: Extension of currently approved collection.

(2) The title of the form/collection: Southwest Border Prosecution Initiative.

(3) The agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the Department sponsoring the collection: Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, United States Department of Justice.

(4) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as well as a brief abstract: Primary: United States Border State, Local, and Tribal governments.

Other: None.

Abstract: The Southwest Border Prosecutor Initiative was enacted in FY 2002 to reimburse state, county, parish, or municipal governments for the costs associated with the prosecution of criminal cases declined by local U.S. Attorneys. Each year, hundreds of criminal cases resulting from federal arrests are referred to local prosecutors to handle when the cases fall below certain monetary, quantity, or severity thresholds. This places additional burdens on local government resources that are already stretched by the demands of prosecuting violations of local and state laws. This program provides funds to eligible jurisdictions in the four southwest border states, using a uniform payment-per-case basis for qualifying federally initiated and declined-referred criminal cases that were disposed of after October 1, 2001. Up to 220 eligible jurisdictions may apply. This includes county governments and the four state governments in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas.

(5) An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount of time estimated for an average respondent to respond/reply: It is estimated that no more than 220 respondents will apply. Each application takes approximately 60 minutes to complete and is submitted 4 times per year (quarterly).

(6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated with the collection: The total hour burden to complete the applications is 880 hours (880 applications (220 × 4 times a year) × 60 minutes = 52,800/60 minutes per hour = 880 burden hours).

If additional information is required, contact: Lynn Bryant, Deputy Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Justice, Information Management and Security Staff, Justice Management Division, 601 D Street, NW., Suite 1600, Washington, DC., 20530, or via facsimile at [phone].

Dated: May 24, 2006.

Lynn Bryant,

Deputy Clearance Officer, Justice Management Division, PRA, United States Department of Justice.