NIS-4J COVID-related Restrictions Assessment

Attachment A: COVID-related Restrictions Assessment and Emails
•
•
•
•

NIS-4 Jails – BJS Email
NIS-4 Jails – COVID-related Restrictions Assessment – Facility Administrator
NIS-4 Jails – COVID-related Restrictions Assessment – Stakeholder
NIS-4 Jails – BJS Reminder Email

1

SUBJECT: National Inmate Survey (NIS-4 Jails) Facility COVID-19 Impact – Request for Your
Input
I am writing to request your input on how the COVID-19 pandemic could affect the collection of the
upcoming National Inmate Survey (NIS-4) in jails during or after the pandemic. Your input will help us
understand how to collect the data effectively and minimize burden on the facilities visited, so I am eager
to get your feedback via a brief form.
BJS is working with Westat to conduct the NIS-4 Jails. Please complete and submit the attached form
to NAME, a Westat employee, via email no later than . The expected time to complete this
form is 10 minutes.
NAME can be reached at EMAIL or by phone at PHONE. Please let us know if you are unable to respond
by this date and we will work to find a time that fits your schedule. If you think you will not be able to
respond at all, please do let us know that, too.
Part of Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA), the NIS asks inmates about sexual assault in
correctional facilities and related topics. PREA requires the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), an agency
within the U.S. Department of Justice, to publish national and facility-level estimates of sexual
victimization in correctional facilities and common characteristics of these victimizations. The NIS is a
key part of this requirement.
BJS originally planned to conduct an iteration of the NIS beginning in the fall of 2020. The agency
delayed collection to protect the safety of the inmates, staff, and interviewers during the COVID-19
pandemic. BJS now plans to begin collection in early 2023.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at (202) 307-0711 or Amy.Lauger@usdoj.gov. Jessica
Taylor, the Project Director from Westat, is also available to address questions and comments at (240)
314-5852 or JessicaTaylor@Westat.com.
Sincerely,
Amy Lauger
PREA Program Manager
Bureau of Justice Statistics

2

FORM APPROVED
OMB No.: XXXX-xxxx
EXPIRATION DATE: XX/XX/20xx

COVID-Related Restrictions Assessment for the National Inmate Survey (NIS-4 Jails)
03-03-22
Introduction to the National Inmate Survey (NIS)
Part of Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA), the National Inmate Survey asks inmates
about sexual assault in correctional facilities and related topics. PREA requires the Bureau of
Justice Statistics (BJS), an agency within the U.S. Department of Justice, to publish national and
facility-level estimates of sexual victimization in correctional facilities and common
characteristics of these victimizations. The NIS is a key part of this requirement.
To collect the NIS data, a research team typically visits a selected facility for up to several days.
Data are collected directly from inmates in a private setting using audio computer-assisted selfinterview (ACASI) technology, which uses a laptop computer to allow inmates to see the
questions on the screen, hear the questions being read through headphones, and answer the
questions in complete privacy by touching the computer screen in the appropriate place.
During the previous NIS collections, we found this methodology to be effective in producing
high quality data while protecting the confidentiality of the responses from inmates. Each
interview lasts an average of 35 minutes.
BJS originally planned to conduct an iteration of the NIS beginning in the fall of 2020. The
agency delayed collection to protect the safety of the inmates, staff, and interviewers during
the COVID-19 pandemic. BJS now plans to begin collection in early 2023.
Our current request
We are asking for your input to see how the COVID-19 pandemic could affect the collection of
the NIS in jail facilities, beginning in early 2023.
Your participation in this survey is voluntary. The expected time to complete this form is 10
minutes.
Please email your completed form to by xx/xx/xxxx.
If you have questions, please email NAME at EMAIL or contact Westat at xxx-xxx-xxxx.

3

1. Is your facility currently allowing in-person visitation from…
Yes

a. Researchers or research teams?
b. Friends/family of inmates?
c. Other individuals? If yes, please specify

No

2. Does your facility have any of the following pandemic-related precautions currently in
place? Please check yes or no for a research team and for other visitors.

a. Visitors must show proof of being fully
vaccinated against COVID-19
b. Visitors must show proof of being upto-date with all COVID-19 booster
vaccinations
c. Visitors are required to wear masks at
all times
d. Visitors are required to maintain
social distancing at all times
e. Visitors are subject to a COVID-19
screening questionnaire (e.g. recent
exposure, symptoms or recent travel)
f. Visitors are subject to a temperature
check
g. Visitors must provide proof of a
negative COVID test within 24 hours of
the visit
h. Inmates must be vaccinated to receive
visitors
i. Inmates must be masked to receive
visitors

Research team
Yes
No
N/A

Other visitors
Yes
No
N/A

3. What other COVID-19 precautions related to inmate visitation does your facility have in
place?
_______________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

4

4. From which of the following governing organizations does your facility obtain its COVID
response guidance?
Yes
No
a. The county/municipality Public Health Department
b. The state Public Health Department
c. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
d. Other, If yes, please specify

5. Has your facility hosted a researcher or team of researchers to conduct in-person
research or survey activities since March 2020?
1
Yes
2
No
6. How does your facility’s current inmate population compare to pre-pandemic levels
(prior to March 2020)? Please provide your best estimate.
1
2
3

Significantly more inmates now
About the same number of inmates
Significantly less inmates now

7. How does your facility’s current staffing level compare to pre-pandemic levels (prior to
March 2020)? Please provide your best estimate.
1
2
3

Significantly more staff members now
About the same number of staff members
Significantly less staff members now

8. Do you have any additional information that would help us determine the factors that
may challenge a research team visiting jails beginning in early 2023?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Please email your response to
Thank you for your participation!

5

FORM APPROVED
OMB No.: XXXX-xxxx
EXPIRATION DATE: XX/XX/20xx

The National Inmate Survey (NIS-4 Jails) COVID-Related Restrictions Assessment
03-02-22
Introduction to the National Inmate Survey (NIS)
Part of Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA), the National Inmate Survey asks inmates
about sexual assault in correctional facilities and related topics. PREA requires the Bureau of
Justice Statistics (BJS), an agency within the U.S. Department of Justice, to publish national and
facility-level estimates of sexual victimization in correctional facilities and common
characteristics of these victimizations. The NIS is a key part of this requirement.
To collect the NIS data, a research team typically visits a selected facility for up to several days.
Data are collected directly from inmates in a private setting using audio computer-assisted selfinterview (ACASI) technology, which uses a laptop computer to allow inmates to see the
questions on the screen, hear the questions being read through headphones, and answer the
questions in complete privacy by touching the computer screen in the appropriate place.
During the previous NIS collections, we found this methodology to be effective in producing
high quality data while protecting the confidentiality of the responses from inmates. Each
interview lasts an average of 35 minutes.
BJS originally planned to conduct an iteration of the NIS beginning in the fall of 2020. The
agency delayed collection to protect the safety of the inmates, staff, and interviewers during
the COVID-19 pandemic. BJS now plans to begin collection in early 2023.
Our current request
We are asking for your input to see how the COVID-19 pandemic could affect the collection of
the NIS in jail facilities, beginning in early 2023. Please answer with respect to what you’ve
learned in your role about jails affiliated with your association.
Your participation in this survey is voluntary. The expected time to complete this form is 10
minutes.
Please email your completed form to by xx/xx/xxxx.
If you have questions, please email NAME at EMAIL or contact Westat at xxx-xxx-xxxx.
1. Which association do you represent?

6

a.
b.
c.
d.

American Jail Association (AJA)
National Association of Counties (NACo)
National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA)
Other (please specify):

2. Are you familiar with jail facilities currently allowing in-person inmate visitation?
a. Yes
b. No
3. What sort of COVID-related restrictions/requirements do these jail facilities currently
have in place regarding in-person inmate visitation?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
4. Are you aware of any jail facilities that have hosted a researcher or team of researchers
to collect data in-person in the past six months?
a. Yes
b. No
5. What sort of COVID-related restrictions/requirements do these jail facilities currently
have in place regarding in-person research?
_________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
6. Thinking about the changes in practices and policies in jail facilities due to the pandemic,
what parts of hosting a team of researchers to conduct an in-person survey might be
challenging to facilities?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
7. As far as you can tell, what COVID-related practices and policies in jails might change
between now and 2023?
8. Do you have any additional information that would help us determine the factors that
may challenge a research team visiting jails beginning in early 2023?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

7

________________________________________________________________
Please email your response to
Thank you for your participation!

8

SUBJECT: National Inmate Survey (NIS4 Jails) Facility Visitation amidst COVID-19 – Reminder
Request
A few weeks ago, we asked for your input on how the COVID-19 pandemic could affect the collection of
the upcoming National Inmate Survey (NIS-4) in jails during or after the COVID-19 pandemic. This
email is a reminder that your input will help improve the survey operation and minimize impact and
burden on the facilities visited, and we would greatly appreciate your review by .
Please let us know if you are unable to respond by this date and we will work to find a time that fits your
schedule. If you think you will not be able to respond at all, please do let us know that, too.
I am re-attaching the brief feedback form for your convenience.
BJS is working with Westat to conduct the NIS-4 Jails. Please complete and submit the attached form to
NAME, a Westat employee, via email no later than . NAME can be reached at EMAIL or by
phone at PHONE.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at (202) 307-0711 or Amy.Lauger@usdoj.gov. Jessica
Taylor, the Project Director from Westat, is also available to address questions and comments at (240)
301-5852 or JessicaTaylor@Westat.com.
Sincerely,
Amy Lauger
PREA Program Manager
Bureau of Justice Statistics

9