FIST-1 2015 Firearm Inquiry Statistics (FIST)

Attachment II: Revised FIST survey (proposed) OMB NO. 1121-0314: Approval Expires (03/31/2017)

FORM FIST-1

U.S DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE BUREAU OF JUSTICE STATISTICS (BJS) (REJIS ACTING AS DATA COLLECTION AGENT) 2015 FIREARMS INQUIRY STATISTICS (FIST) Annual Survey of Background Checks for Firearm Transfers and Permits

Please correct any errors in the name and address information that is printed below.

OFFICIAL AGENCY NAME (If different from above)
9-DIGIT NCIC-ORI NUMBER
PERSON COMPLETING THE FORM
NAME				TITLE
TELEPHONE				FAX
E-MAIL ADDRESS
IMPORTANT – Please answer the following questions before proceeding with the questionnaire. Mark [X] in the appropriate box below.
Did your agency process, track, or conduct background checks for firearm transfers or permits to purchase or carry at any time between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2015?
		Yes  If applicable, please list any other agencies for whom you conduct these activities:
		(Agency Name(s))
		No  The authorized permit processing, tracking, or checking agency for your jurisdiction is:
		(Agency Name(s))
If your response to the above question is “No” or if the following condition applies, you do not need to complete the questionnaire. Mark an [X] in the appropriate box below and return the survey using the instructions below.
			Agency no longer in existence Agency employed only part-time officers AND the total combined hours of work for these officers averaged less than 35 hours per week
RETURN INSTRUCTIONS
Please submit your completed form by using the web reporting option at https://production7.spsscloud.com/REJIS_A, mailing it to the Regional Justice Information Service (REJIS) in the enclosed postage paid envelope, or faxing each page to 1-314-535-1729. If you have any questions, comments, or feedback about the survey, please call the FIST project manager toll free at 1-800-531-2150, or send an e-mail to fist@rejis.org. Please retain a copy of your completed survey for 1 year.
Burden Statement
Federal agencies may not conduct or sponsor an information collection, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information, unless it displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 25 minutes per response, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate, or any other aspects of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Director, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 810 Seventh Street, NW, Washington, DC 20531. The Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, as amended (42 USC 3732), authorizes this information collection.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE FORM

• Please mark ‘X’ in the appropriate boxes.

• If possible, please answer all questions for the entire calendar year (January through December) 2015. If data are available for only part of the year, please supply any available information in the spaces provided.

• If the answer to a question is “not available” or “unknown,” write “DK” in the space provided.

• If the answer to a question is “not applicable,” write “NA” in the space provided.

• If the answer to a question is “none” or “zero,” write “0” in the space provided. Please respond with zero only when the actual total reported count is zero, as opposed to when the data are not known or unavailable.

• When an exact numeric response is not available, provide an estimate and mark the estimate box next to the number field. Please provide a brief explanation in Section II to describe how the estimates were calculated.

• Please do not leave any items blank unless otherwise directed.

Section I –APPLICATIONS AND DENIALS
1.	Between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2015, how many applications for (Agency specific permit(s)/transfers) were processed or tracked by your agency?
						Mark ‘x’ if estimate
		Applications		_________________
2.	Between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2015, how many applications for (Agency specific permit(s)/transfers) were denied? A denial occurs when an applicant is prohibited from receiving a firearm or permit that can be used to obtain a firearm because a disqualifying factor was found during a background check.
						Mark ‘x’ if estimate
		Denials		_________________
3.	Does your agency track the reason(s) why an application was denied? (Please indicate “Yes” if your agency had zero denials in 2015, but you would track the reason(s) for a denial if one were processed. Please also indicate “Yes” if you can provide estimates for reasons for denial.)
			Yes
			No (skip to question number 8)

	4.		How does your agency track reasons for denial? (Please select all that apply)
			Computer software keeps a running count of reasons a part of standard operations
			Computer software can be queried for counts of reasons if needed
			Counts of reasons are tallied on paper as part of standard operations
			Counts of reasons are tallied by hand if requested
			Other (please explain in Comments section)
	5.		If MULTIPLE reasons are found for a denial, how are found reasons tracked?
			All reasons for denial are tracked (skip to question 7)
			Only one reason for the denial is tracked
			Don’t know (skip to question 7)
	6.		If ONLY ONE reason for a denial is tracked, how is that reason tracked?
			The first reason found during the background check is tracked
			The most serious charge listed on the criminal history record is tracked
			Other method of tracking (Please explain. If more space is needed, please use the space provided in the Comments section.)
			Don’t know
7.		For denials tracked in 2015, why was the application denied? List total counts (including zeros, where applicable) for each reason for a denial (please include all federal, state, and local law reasons for denial within the most appropriate category). Mark ‘x’ in the checkbox provided for any estimated counts.
				_________ _______ _______	Mark ‘x’ if estimate
		Felony indictment or charge………………….………		________________
		Felony conviction…..........		________________
		Felony arrest with no disposition...............................		________________
		Fugitive or outstanding warrant………………………..…..		________________
		Domestic violence misdemeanor…....…….….......		________________
		Domestic violence, protective or restraining order………………………..………		________________
		Addicted to or unlawful user of a controlled substance….…………….…….…		________________
		Mental health commitment or adjudication….….…..……..		________________
		Illegal or unlawful alien…...		________________
		State law prohibitor (if not included in above categories)………………..….…..		________________
		Local law prohibitor (if not included in above categories)………….…..………..		________________
		Other reasons not included above (including juveniles and dishonorable discharge)………………………		_____________
		(After answering this question, skip to question number 11)

8.	Why is your agency unable to track reasons for denial? (Please select all that apply)
	No record of the reason for a denial is saved
	Records for 2015 were saved temporarily but purged before the survey was received
	Staff or budget is not available to look up or compile statistics on reasons for denial
	Records of reasons for denial are not in an easily accessible format
	Other (please explain in Comments section)
9.	What would enable your agency to keep summary statistics on reasons for denial? (Please select all that apply)
	Computer software that tracks applications, denials, and reasons for denial
	Form for recording a monthly summary of application denial decisions
	Form for recording an application denial when the decision is made
	Additional personnel or funds to keep track of application denial decisions
	Other (please explain in Comments section)
10.	If possible, please estimate what proportion (percentage) of your agency’s denials are made up of the following reasons:
	Felony arrests, charges, and convictions
	______ ______ ______ ______ Domestic violence convictions and protective (restraining) orders
	State law prohibitor (if not included in above categories)
	Other reasons not included above (including juveniles and dishonorable discharge)
11.	Do any of the counts you provided for any of the items throughout the survey cover only part of the year?
	(formatting to be finalized)
		Yes (please specify): Which counts cover only part of the year: The months that are covered:
		No

Section II - COMMENTS

Please include any comments that would better explain how your agency collects information for firearm transfers or permits, including the names of any permit or transfer types not listed on this form that you process, track, or conduct background checks for. If the reported totals are estimates please provide a brief explanation to describe how the estimates were calculated. (Use back of page if more space is needed.)

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