Paperwork Reduction Act Submission
Supporting Statement
JUSTIFICATION
1. Circumstances of the collection
Approval for this collection is being sought on an emergency basis in response to a
significant surge in anonymous bomb threats being directed toward institutions of higher
education (IHE) within the past several months in the US. In past years, such threats were
reported regularly but infrequently. In 2012, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has noted
a substantial increase in such threats, with major evacuations of IHE campuses occurring, in
some instances, daily. With each evacuation, media attention follows. Media attention, in turn,
increases the frequency of this crime problem by attracting the attention of other offenders
inspired to follow suit. It is imperative that the FBI quickly gather statistics relative to this crime
problem in order to support crime analysis and threat assessments in what are invariably very
short time periods. Accurate predictive analysis will be critical in the FBI’s efforts to prevent
this crime problem from expanding further.
The Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU), National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime
(NCAVC) is a component of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Critical Incident
Response Group (CIRG). The primary mission of the NCAVC is to provide behaviorally-based,
operational support to federal, state, local, and international law enforcement agencies involved
in the investigation of unusual or repetitive violent crimes, communicated threats, terrorism, and
other matters interested in law enforcement. The NCAVC also conducts research into violent
crime from a law enforcement perspective. NCVAC research is designed to gain insight into
criminal thought processes, motivations and behaviors. Research findings are refined into
innovative, investigative techniques that improve law enforcement’s effectiveness against violent
criminals and are shared with law enforcement and other disciplines through publications,
presentations, and training. Generally, the NCAVC’s principal authority for collection activity
derives from 28 Code of Federal Regulations 0.85(e) and (l); copies of these subsections are
attached hereto.
Bomb-related offenses generate a considerable amount of public attention, particularly
when the target is an institute of education. In recent months, many colleges and universities
throughout the United States have received anonymous bomb threats, representing an increase in
the frequency of this crime problem over past years. Institutions of higher education ranging
from major universities to smaller colleges have been receiving anonymous bomb threats, often
resulting in the evacuation and displacement of tens of thousands of individuals and the massive
disruption of campus functions. Each evacuation creates new safety and security concerns with
the gathering of crowds under relatively uncontrolled circumstances. Campus and law
enforcement officials have relied heavily upon the BAU’s Behavioral Threat Assessment Center
(BTAC) for guidance in assessing the probability of a violent outcome and for response
recommendations.
2. Purpose and Use of the Information
Routinely, the BTAC is called upon to assess individual bomb threats that are mailed,
posted, emailed, telephonically delivered, or crudely written on the bathroom wall at a school or
university. BTAC assessments and guidance are based on individual case facts, institutional
experience, subject matter expertise, and general threat communication research. Currently,
there is a lack of any specific research to directly address bomb threats directed against
institutions of higher education. The development of quantitative research that relates to school
bomb threats would substantially enhance operational threat assessments in this arena. In view
of the fact that a surge is currently being experienced with regard to this crime problem,
actuarial and statistical findings generated through quantitative research will greatly enhance the
BTAC’s ability to quickly and accurately assess threats and make correct response
recommendations.
3. Use of Automated, Electronic, Mechanical or Technological Collection of
Techniques
The proposed research project will utilize an electronic statistical survey collection
method distributed via email communication; therefore, electronic submissions for the responses
will be permitted. In order to reduce the burden on the respondents, and eliminate monetary costs
associated with distributing paper copies of the survey, the online tool was deemed to be both
time and cost efficient.
4. Efforts to Identify Duplication
Research concerning school bomb threats revealed that the United States Bomb Data
Center (USBDC) has accumulated some basic data regarding bomb threats and explosives. The
USBDC utilized information derived from state and local law enforcement agencies that
voluntarily reported incidents to the USBDC. While useful, the information gleaned was
incomplete and remained unpublished, limiting any broader consumption and application by
educational and law enforcement communities. Pertinent questions remain unexplored as well,
such as: Are there linguistic or delivery-related factors present in the reported threats that could
be identified for consideration in future assessments? Are there contrasting factors observed in
threats that precede actual bombings or in hoax devices discovered? Can offender characteristics
be correlated with individual linguistic or delivery patterns of communication to a statistically
significant degree, e.g., are males more likely to send anonymized encrypted threatening emails
or are females?
5. Impact on Small Business
The collection of information will not have an impact on small businesses.
6. Consequences of not Collecting Data
The impact for failing to conduct this collection is likely to be a deleterious one
impacting the speed accuracy and depth of operational guidance provided by the BTAC to
institutions of higher education, specifically in areas concerning bomb threat assessment and
bomb threat emergency management, as well as guidance in matters involving personal safety
and human life. Although the BTAC offers assessments of incidents within this crime problem
currently, a particular exigency has been created by the marked increase in number and tempo of
bomb threats being directed to institutions of higher education in 2012.
7. Special Circumstances Influencing Collection
Respondents will not be required to report information more than once. (b)
Respondents will have 30 days or to respond. (c) Respondents will submit one electronic
response and no copies. (d) Respondents will not have to retain any records. (e) The collection
will be designed to produce valid and reliable results that can be generalized to the universe of
study. (f) This collection will not require the use of statistical data classification that has not been
reviewed and approved by OMB. (g) This collection does not include a pledge of confidentiality
not supported by authority established in statute of regulation, or that is not supported by
disclosure and data security policies consistent with any such pledge, nor does it unnecessarily
impede the sharing of data with other agencies for compatible confidential use. (h) This
collection does not require respondents to submit proprietary trade secrets or other confidential
information.
8. Public Comments and Consultations
The NCAVC is partnering with the Department of Education (DOE) and the International
Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA) on this initiative. Both
agencies agreed to be in support of this project. The DOE has provided insight into available
research pertaining to this area and offered feedback surrounding the actual survey questions.
IACLEA, representing the agencies in which information is to be obtained, has offered
unwavering support and has agreed to provide contact information for campus law enforcement
agencies that will complete the survey.
9. Payment of Gift to Claimants
Neither payment nor gifts will be provided to respondents for their participation.
10. Assurance of Confidentiality
Respondents will be notified at the time of collection that all information received will be
kept confidential and all data will be aggregated and anonymized once received. The
anonymization and aggregation methods will comport with those standard methods used and
accepted by the academic research community.
11. Justification for Sensitive Questions
This data collection includes no question of a sensitive nature.
12. Estimates of Hours Burden
It is estimated that 1200 respondents will be contacted to complete a survey consisting of
19 questions. The survey will be posed one time. It is estimated that a burden of approximately
20 to 60 minutes will be cast upon each respondent to complete the survey, with a total estimate
of 24,000 to 72,000 minutes. However, this estimated burden will depend on individualized data
retrieval systems, availability of requested data, and other variables that could not be estimated
via sample testing.
13. Estimates of Cost Burden
This is estimated to be a de minimus cost burden when viewed individually, per
respondent. Utilizing www.payscale.com to estimate average hour salary rates for campus law
enforcement personnel (the population toward whom the survey will be directed) it will incur an
average cost of $15.70 for each hour burdened, resulting in an individual estimated cost of $3.14
to $15.70 per respondent, or a total estimate of $6,280 to $18,840 for all respondents. This is a
onetime collection effort and will not be duplicated. There will neither be a start-up cost
component nor maintenance/purchase of services component to the request.
14. Estimates of Annualized Cost to the Federal Government
It is estimated that this project will cost the federal government $3,750. This estimate is
based on the wage of the assigned research analyst assigned to this project. No additional
equipment or overhead costs are projected to exist at this time.
15. Reason for Change in Burden
There are no program changes or adjustments reported for this collection.
16. Plans for Publication
SPSS version 20.0 will be employed to analyze the data gleaned from each survey;
however, complex analytical techniques will not be used. This project will commence in January
2013, and data collection will conclude February 1, 2013. Tabulation and publication is
estimated for summer 2013.
17. The OMB is requested to not display an expiration date. There is no specific form upon
which to display an expiration date. It would not be practical to send an expiration date in the
computer message or have it on the screen.
18. Exceptions to the Certification Statement
There are no exceptions to the certifications statement.
Part B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods
1. Describe the procedures for the collection of information
The sampling population will consist 100% of law enforcement personnel, whom are
members of the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators
(IACLEA) within the United States. The sample was selected based on IACLEA membership. IACLEA is open to colleges, universities and secondary schools throughout the United States, Canada and other countries, as well as individual campus law enforcement directors and staff, criminal justice faculty members, municipal chiefs of police, companies offering campus law enforcement products and services, and individuals who support professionalism in campus law enforcement administration. The survey will be sent to approximately 1200 IACLEA members, with an expected average response rate of 30-40% for the collection as a whole. The survey itself will consist of 11 questions and be distributed via an electronic link to a password protected internet site, www.surveymonkey.com. Respondents will be asked to complete the survey within 30 days.
2. Describe methods to maximize response rates and to deal with issues of non-
response.
The IACLEA will send out the online link to the survey to institutional members. Respondents are law enforcement personal representing college and universities across the United States; it is anticipated this will maximize response rates because membership in IACLEA implies active interest in campus safety and, hopefully, a willingness to participate in furthering campus safety via this research. For purposes of this research we have limited the sampling population to institutional members. A reminder message will be distributed to IACLEA members prior to the end of the 30 day period, providing the steps required to complete the survey, in order to minimize non-response. However, participation will be voluntary and some non-response is anticipated.
3. Describe any tests of procedures or methods to be undertaken
The NCAVC will test the link to the survey to ensure it functions correctly. The NCAVC will also complete and submit a sample survey to ensure the data is property accepted and processed by surveymonkey.com.
4. The people who will be involved in collection and analyzing the data
Yvonne Muirhead, Research Coordinator 703-632-4129
Stephanie Gaines, Research Analyst 703-632-4265
| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| Author | sjgaines |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2021-01-29 |