[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 112 (Friday, June 9, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36722-36723]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-14486]
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Bureau of Justice Statistics
[OJP(BJS)-1272]
Profiles of Criminal Justice Systems in Selected Countries
AGENCY: Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics,
Justice.
ACTION: Notice of solicitation.
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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to announce a solicitation for
the preparation of criminal justice system profiles for five countries
in Latin America, to be added to BJS's World Factbook of Criminal
Justice Systems.
DATES: Proposals must be received by 5 p.m. EST on July 24, 2000.
ADDRESSES: Proposals should be mailed to Lea S. Gifford, Statistician,
Bureau of Justice Statistics, 810 Seventh Street NW, Washington, D.C.
20531; Phone: (202) 307-0765 [This is not a toll-free number].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lea S. Gifford, Statistician, Bureau
of Justice Statistics, 810 Seventh Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20531;
Phone: (202) 307-0765 [This is not a toll-free number].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Statutory Authority
The grant awarded through this solicitation will be funded by the
Bureau of Justice Statistics consistent with its mandate under 42
U.S.C. 3732(c).
Program Goals
The purpose of this award is to support the development of
descriptive criminal justice system profiles of individual countries
written in English, designed to facilitate comparisons between the
United States and the other Latin American countries profiled. These
profiles will serve as a resource for program and policy development in
Latin America, for researchers engaged in cross-country analysis, and
for those examining the relationship between differing systems of
justice and cross-national crime.
[[Page 36723]]
Background
In the early 1990s, the Bureau of Justice Statistics funded a
project entitled the World Factbook of Criminal Justice Systems. When
the Factbook was first compiled, it consisted of articles on 42
countries, each written to a common template by someone fluent in the
language of, and having detailed knowledge of, that country. These
profiles are available on the BJS website at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/wfcj.htm. This project was undertaken to improve the
availability and comparability of descriptions of the criminal justice
systems in various countries. Such descriptions are necessary to enable
the appropriate collection and accurate analysis of crime and justice
data from these countries, as well as to inform researchers and
officials who plan to work with such countries with regard to their
criminal justice operations.
Scope of Work
The objectives of the proposed project are to expand the World
Factbook template for maximum utility, update the pre-existing profile
of the criminal justice system in Costa Rica accordingly, and to create
criminal justice system profiles for four additional Latin American
countries based on the revised template. Applicants should familiarize
themselves with the current template which appears at
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/ascii/wfbcjint.txt and should carefully read
the entire introduction as well as one or two of the profiles.
Phase One of the project will consist of collaborating with BJS and
other interested parties in order to revise the template, so that
resulting profiles will include all the information that a researcher
or visitor would reasonably need to know to accurately analyze and
understand crime and justice data. The grantee will then update the
profile of Costa Rica according to the revised template. Upon
completion of this task to BJS'' satisfaction, the grantee will proceed
to Phase Two.
Phase Two will consist of preparing new criminal justice system
profiles for four Latin American countries (other than Costa Rica).
Preparation of the country profiles will require significant
contact with persons at all stages of the criminal justice system
within each country. It is strongly suggested, but not required, that
the applicant collaborate with a local criminal justice researcher in
each profiled country. The grantee is encouraged to propose which four
Latin American countries will be profiled; however BJS will make the
final selection by considering the following factors: (1)
Representation of the diversity of criminal justice systems in Latin
America (Central America, Mexico, South America), (2) recent systemic
changes that have policy relevance and merit documentation, (3)
availability of reliable contacts and statistical data, and (4)
importance as a source of transnational crime.
Statistical material for each country will be the latest available
official data from the country. Sources and contacts made for each
country will be carefully documented. The profiles should include
descriptions of how statistics are collected and maintained in each
country and how the public can access them. The profiles should
incorporate important information from and/or reference similar country
profiles, such as those provided by the CIA and the Library of
Congress, and any country-specific sources of crime or criminal justice
data.
Products
The grantee will deliver to BJS Web-ready electronic versions of
the template and all five country profiles on diskette in text file
format. These files will be posted on the BJS Website and may be used
for subsequent publications.
Application and Award Process
An original and three (3) copies of a full proposal must be
submitted with a Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance,
Budget Detail Worksheet, OJP Forms 4000/3, and 4061/6. These forms can
be obtain online www.ojp.usdoj.gov/forms.htm. In addition, fund
recipients are required to comply with regulations designed to protect
human subjects and ensure confidentiality of data. In accordance with
28 CFR Part 22, a Privacy Certificate must be submitted to BJS.
Furthermore a Screening Sheet for Protection of Human Subjects must be
completed prior to the award being issued. Questions regarding
Protection of Human Subjects and/or privacy certificate requirements
can be directed to the Human Subject Projection Officer (HPSO) at (202)
616-3282 [This is not a toll-free number].
Proposals must include both narrative description and a detailed
budget. The narrative shall describe activities as discussed in the
previous section. The budget shall contain detailed costs of personnel,
travel, equipment, supplies and other expenses. The grant award will be
in the form of a copperative agreement. It is anticipated that the
entire project can be completed for less than $30,000.
Timing
This award will be made for a period of 12 months. The first phase
will be concluded and evaluated within two months. The second phase
will commence upon the successful completion of the first phase and
will be completed within 12 months of the award date.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must be reasonably proficient in the Spanish language.
If applicants contemplate preparing each profile themselves, they need
to have demonstrated fluency in speaking, reading, and writing both
Spanish and English. Applicants should have a background in criminal
justice. Knowledge of Latin American organizations and governmental
structures, including political events which might influence the
criminal justice system, and contacts with individuals in these
countries will be extremely beneficial. Familiarity with Latin America
through travel, residence, and/or study is highly desirable.
BJS will evaluate proposals based on (1) the credentials of the
applicant (how experienced the applicant is in work related to criminal
justice in Latin America), (2) the merit of the proposal (how the
applicant intends to satisfy the needs described in this announcement),
and (3) the competitiveness of the proposed budget.
Jan M. Chaiken,
Director, Bureau of Justice Statistics.
[FR Doc. 00-14486 Filed 6-8-00; 8:45 am]
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