1121-0224_Revised_Supporting_Statement_A_OMB_2009[1]

Paperwork Reduction Act Submission

Supporting Statement

Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)

Title: National Youth Gang Survey (NYGC)

Form: N/A

OMB No.: 1121-0224

A. JUSTIFICATION

1. Circumstances of Information Collection

The proliferation of gang problems over the last two decades led to the development of a comprehensive, coordinated response to America’s gang problem by OJJDP, U.S. Department of Justice. The OJJDP response involves several major components, one of which is NYGC, operated by the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR). The mission of the center is to expand and maintain the body of critical knowledge about youth gangs and effective responses to them. A primary task assigned to NYGC by OJJDP is to conduct an annual National Youth Gang Survey. This request for OMB approval is for extension of a currently approved collection (National Youth Gang Survey—OMB # 1121-0224) (Attachment 1), for which approval expires on August 31, 2009.

Under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 (JJDP Act) (Attachment 2), as amended, the administrator of OJJDP is authorized to:

(14) [R]outinely collect, analyze, compile, publish, and disseminate uniform national statistics concerning —

(A) all aspects of juveniles as victims and offenders;

(B) the processing and treatment, in the juvenile justice system, of juveniles who are status offenders, delinquent, neglected, or abused; and

(C) the processing and treatment of such juveniles who are treated as adults for purposes of the criminal justice system.

----Section 243(A)(14) of the JJDP Act

Applicable portions of the IIR Grant are attached (Attachment 3).

2. Purpose and Use of Information

Prior to 1996, surveys pertaining to youth gangs in the United States were conducted infrequently, and methodology and samples had been inconsistent. No single source of data pertaining to the nature, size, and scope of youth gangs existed. Since 1996, the National Youth Gang Center has standardized definitions and established a recurring system of data collection that provides this information.

The National Youth Gang Survey has collected data on youth gang activities each year since 1996. The principal sources are local law enforcement agencies. Once analyzed and published, the data is used by local, state, and federal policymakers to determine trends that affect allocation of resources and development of programs aimed at gangs. Data from the survey is also used by court systems and school planning personnel for developing strategies and making budget decisions. Researchers use the information to expand their knowledge of gang behavior and to assist in developing practical approaches to counter the problem.

3. Use of Information Technology

Every effort has been made to minimize the burden of responding to the survey. Survey forms are brief and use simple “check-off” responses. Completed forms are returned via a toll-free facsimile (fax) or an Internet form, or by mail. More than one-third of the surveys are returned via Internet and automatically entered into a database. Responses received by mail or electronically and responses elicited by follow-up telephone calls are entered into a relational database. After primary analysis by NYGC, the data is made available to researchers for secondary analysis.

4. Efforts to Identify Duplication

There is no single source of this or similar information already available. The National Youth Gang Survey collects data from a sample of the universe of law enforcement agencies in the United States from which data can be extrapolated to determine the scope of youth gangs nationally. Using the same sample, the data is updated annually to produce consistent analyses and trends.

4. Involvement of Small Entities

The survey will collect information from 652 government law enforcement jurisdictions with populations of less than 10,000. Since the overall burden for this information collection is small and there will be no significant economic impact, no special provisions have been made to minimize the burden for these jurisdictions.

4. Consequences of Less Frequent Collection

Numbers of gangs, gang members, and their activities change constantly. Conducting the survey on an annual basis provides information needed by OJJDP and other Department of Justice agencies to keep abreast of trends in youth gang growth and distribution. This information needs to be as current as possible to recognize emerging problems and develop appropriate responses. Conducting the survey on a less frequent schedule than proposed will result in dated information.

4. Consistency With the Guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2)

This information collection fully complies with 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2).

• Respondents will not be required to report information to the agency more frequently than annually;

• Respondents will have at least 30 days to respond;

• Respondents will be requested to submit only one copy of the survey;

• Respondents are not required to maintain information solely for the purpose of the survey;

• The survey is designed to produce valid and reliable results that can be generalized to the universe of study;

• The survey uses approved statistical data classification;

• The survey does not include a pledge of confidentiality; and

• Respondents are not required to release proprietary, trade secret, or other confidential information.

8a. Federal Register

The data collection has been submitted to the Federal Register by the Department of Justice in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.8(d) (Attachment 4).

b. Consultation

The following persons provide advice and guidance and design the questionnaires for the National Youth Gang Survey:

• Arlen Egley, Jr., Ph.D., National Youth Gang Center

• G. David Curry, Ph.D., University of Missouri at St. Louis

• Cheryl L. Maxson, Ph.D., University of California at Irvine

• James C. Howell, Ph.D., National Youth Gang Center

• Malcolm W. Klein, Ph.D., University of Southern California

• Dennis Mondoro, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

• Terrance J. Taylor, Ph.D., University of Missouri at
  St. Louis

• Charles M. Katz, Ph.D., Arizona State University

c. The contents of the survey have been discussed with appropriate officials within the U.S. Department of Justice, and the collection instrument has been reviewed internally.

9. Payment to Respondents

Respondents do not receive compensation, monetary or otherwise, for participation in the survey.

10. Assurance of Confidentiality

The data collected and published is obtained from specific responsible individuals within law enforcement agencies. No assurances are given respondents that the data or their names will be confidential, but as a matter of NYGC policy, the names of the respondents are not published.

11. Questions of a Sensitive Nature

The information requested on the survey is not of a sensitive nature as described.

12. Estimates of Annualized Hour Burden

1. A sample of 2,549 agencies will receive a questionnaire, which will take 10 minutes to complete. (This time was estimated by having five test respondents complete the survey.) Thus, the total estimated burden is 425 hours.

2,549 x .10

60

2. Annual cost to respondents is based on the amount of time involved in filling out the survey. No new data collection is required. Many agencies maintain individual databases or other records containing the information being requested. Those that do not are asked to estimate. Based on an average salary of $20 per hour, we estimate the annual cost to each respondent to be $4.

13. Estimate of Annual Cost Burden to Respondents

Other than the cost of completing the form as described in 12.b. above, there is no cost burden to respondents.

14. Estimate of Annualized Cost to the Federal Government

	Federal Employees	Contractual
Salary	*	90,100
Benefits	*	40,000
Forms	*	2,600
Postage	*	3,500
Computer Usage	*	1,000
Telephone	*	2,000
Total	*	139,000

*Data collection performed entirely by contractors.

15. Changes in Burden

The number of respondents reported in the previous submission was erroneous.  Rather than 2300, the number should have been 2563.  Therefore, although it shows in ROCIS that the number of respondents increased, in reality the number of respondents decreased from 2563 to 2549 due a reduction in the sample universe.   The reduction in burden hours is due to adjustments in the estimated time it takes to complete the collection.

16. Time Schedule, Publication, and Analysis Plans

The methodology for conducting the survey will be continued as described below. Data entry and tabulation will occur at the same time as the conduct of telephone follow-ups. Analysis is conducted by NYGC staff and consultants. NYGC will prepare a draft report for OJJDP, and it is expected that publication and distribution of the report will follow annually.

Proposed schedule for 2009–2010 will be followed in successive years.

June 2009 Submissions of agency notification for Federal Register and OMB Form 83-I (Attachment 5).

November 2009 Development of survey questions.

Testing and refinement of survey instrument.

December 2009 Preparation of correspondence.

Printing of forms.

January 2010 Mailing of survey.

Data entry and follow-up procedures to improve response rate.

June 2010 Data analysis.

August 2010 Draft report on survey findings.

OJJDP review.

December 2010 Publication and distribution of findings.

17. Display of Expiration Date

The expiration date will be displayed along with the OMB approval number (Attachment 1).

18. Exceptions to Certification Statement

No exceptions to the certification statement are requested or required.

OMB Submission—2009 National Youth Gang Survey Page 1 of 6