[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 114 (Monday, June 15, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32678-32679]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-15834]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment
Request
AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Department of the Interior (Department) announces that an
information collection request has been submitted to the Office of
Management and Budget as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995. The information collection will be used by the Secretary of the
Interior to document the local conditions of tribes, tribal justice
systems and Courts of Indian Offenses and to determine the resources
and funding, including base support funding, needed to provide for
expeditious and effective administration of justice. The Department
invites comment on the information collection described below.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
August 14, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the survey instrument and directions may be directed to
Bettie Rushing, Office of Tribal Services, Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street, NW, MS-4631, Washington, DC
20240, and 202/208-4400. The survey instrument will also be available
on the BIA HOMEPAGE at http://www.bia.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Information Collection Request
The Department is seeking comments on the following Information
Collection Request.
Type of review: New.
Title: Survey of Tribal Justice Systems and Courts of Indian
Offenses.
Effected Entities: Tribal Governments; Tribal Courts.
Abstract: As required by the Indian Tribal Justice Act (Act), 25
U.S.C. 3601 et seq., the Secretary of the Interior contracted with a
non-federal entity to develop and conduct a survey of the conditions of
tribal justice systems and Courts of Indian Offenses. Under the
guidance of an advisory group consisting of Tribal representatives and
judges and following comments received at Indian judges conferences,
the contractor developed a national survey to be distributed to all
federally recognized tribes. The survey instrument includes questions
regarding the geographic area and population to be served, levels of
functioning and capacity of the tribal justice system; volume and
complexity of caseloads, projected number of cases per month, projected
number of persons receiving probation services or participating in
diversion programs; facilities (including detention facilities) and
program resources available, research resources available, funding
levels and personnel staffing requirements, and training and technical
assistance. (see: 25 U.S.C. 3612).
Burden Statement: The Survey of Tribal Justice Systems and Courts
of Indian Offenses requires a reporting burden of 4.5 hours for each
response from 554 tribes, of which an estimated 280 have tribal justice
systems or are served by Courts of Indian Offenses. This estimate
includes the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data
sources, gathering the data needed, and completing the survey. The
total burden for this collection is estimated to be 2,493 hours. The
estimate of total burden hours is based upon staff and tribal expertise
in the program area responsible for the development and management of
tribal justice systems.
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Number of Third party Frequency of Total annual Burden hours Annual burden Cost to
respondents collection response responses per response hours respondents
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554............ 0 1 554 4.5 2,493 $149,580
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The Bureau of Indian Affairs will not conduct or require tribes and
tribal justice systems to respond to a collection of information until
the Survey of Tribal Justice Systems and Courts of Indian Offenses
references a currently valid Office of Management and Budget control
number.
2. Request for Comments
The Department solicits comments to:
(a) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency,
including whether the information will have practical utility.
(b) Evaluate the accuracy of the agencies' estimates of burden of
the proposed collection of information, including the methodology and
assumptions used.
(c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected.
(d) 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 collection techniques or other forms
of information technology.
Tribes, organizations and individuals desiring to submit comments
on the
[[Page 32679]]
information collection requirement should direct them to the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Room 10202, New Executive
Office Building, Washington, DC 20503; Attention: Desk Officer for the
U.S. Department of the Interior.
Dated: June 5, 1998.
Kevin Gover,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 98-15834 Filed 6-12-98; 8:45 am]
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