Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Requested; Reinstatement, With Change, of a Previously Approved Collection for Which Approval Has Expired: 2018 Census of Medical Examiner and Coroner Offices (CMEC), 63909 [2018-26881]

Agencies

• Department of Justice

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 238 (Wednesday, December 12, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 63909]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-26881]



[[Page 63909]]

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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

[OMB Number 1121-0296]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comments Requested; Reinstatement, With Change, of a Previously 
Approved Collection for Which Approval Has Expired: 2018 Census of 
Medical Examiner and Coroner Offices (CMEC)

AGENCY: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Department of Justice.

ACTION: 60-day notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs, 
Bureau of Justice Statistics, will be submitting the following 
information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Comments are encouraged and will be accepted for 60 days until 
February 11, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have additional comments 
especially on the estimated public burden or associated response time, 
suggestions, or need a copy of the proposed information collection 
instrument with instructions or additional information, please contact 
Connor Brooks, Statistician, Law Enforcement Statistics Unit, Bureau of 
Justice Statistics, 810 Seventh Street NW, Washington, DC 20531 (email: 
[email protected]; phone: 202-514-8633).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Written comments and suggestions from the 
public and affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of 
information are encouraged. Your comments should address one or more of 
the following four points:

--Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary 
for the proper performance of the functions of the Bureau of Justice 
Statistics, including whether the information will have practical 
utility;
--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;
--Evaluate whether and if so how the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected can be enhanced; and
--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 Collection

    (1) Type of Information Collection: Reinstatement of the Census of 
Medical Examiner and Coroner Offices, with changes, of a previously 
approved collection for which approval has expired.
    (2) The Title of the Form/Collection: 2018 Census of Medical 
Examiner and Coroner Offices.
    (3) The agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of 
the Department sponsoring the collection: The form number is CMEC-1. 
The applicable component within the Department of Justice is the Bureau 
of Justice Statistics, Office of Justice Programs.
    (4) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as 
well as a brief abstract:
    This information collection is a census of medical examiner and 
coroner offices. The 2018 survey is revised from the data collection 
referencing 2004. BJS plans to field the 2018 CMEC from May through 
November 2019. Respondents will be the medical examiners and coroners 
(or members of their staff) working in medicolegal death investigation 
offices.
    Abstract: The 2018 CMEC will focus on the same topics as the 2004: 
The number and type of medical examiner and coroner offices operating 
in the U.S., staff at these offices, budget and capital resources, 
workload, policies and procedures regarding casework, specialized death 
investigations, records and evidence retention, resources, and 
operations. The survey was assessed by a panel of practitioners and 
subject matter experts. Results from these efforts were used to revise 
the survey to ensure content was up-to-date and relevant to the 
medicolegal death investigation system today. The survey was also 
revised to improve clarity and ease of answering questions. Suggestions 
resulting from this review were incorporated into the survey and then 
cognitively tested with 14 medical examiner and coroner offices.
    (5) An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount 
of time estimated for an average respondent to respond: A projected 
2,400 respondents will take an average of 1.5 hours each to complete 
form CMEC-1, including time to research or find information not readily 
available. In addition, an estimated 1,100 respondents will be 
contacted for data quality follow-up by phone at 15 minutes per call.
    (6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated 
with the collection: There are an estimated 3,875 total burden hours 
associated with this information collection.
    If additional information is required contact: Melody Braswell, 
Department Clearance Officer, United States Department of Justice, 
Justice Management Division, Policy and Planning Staff, Two 
Constitution Square, 145 N Street NE, 3E.405A, Washington, DC 20530.

    Dated: December 7, 2018.
Melody Braswell,
Department Clearance Officer for PRA, U.S. Department of Justice.
[FR Doc. 2018-26881 Filed 12-11-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4410-18-P