Grants and cooperative agreements; availability, etc.: Classification of Women Offenders project,

[Federal Register: June 22, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 119)]

[Notices]

[Page 33322-33323]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr22jn99-115]

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

National Institute of Corrections

Solicitation for a Cooperative Agreement

SUMMARY: The Department of Justice (DOJ), National Institute of Corrections (NIC), announces the availability of funds in FY 1999 for a cooperative agreement to fund the ``Classification of Women Offenders'' project.

A cooperative agreement is a form of assistance relationship where the National Institute of Corrections is substantially involved during the performance of the award. An award is made to an organization that will, in concert with the Institute, provide assistance to correctional agencies making enhancements in their classification systems to develop classification instruments and procedures that are valid and appropriate for women offenders. The project will entail an assessment of the current status of classification of women offenders nationally by determining which state systems have initiated the development of classification instruments and operational procedures to address the requirements of this offender population.

Assistance will be provided under this cooperative agreement to at least three agencies requesting technical assistance in assessing current practices and operational procedures and the impact of their classification systems on women offenders. The recipient of the cooperative agreement will conduct onsite assessments of the classification systems at participating agencies; provide assistance and oversight in revising the instruments and procedures, as necessary; and provide technical assistance and training. Prison systems selected for participation will have the resources necessary to make enhancements, to provide data for analysis, and the capacity to measure outcomes and impact of the classification systems implemented. A steering committee will be appointed by each agency to coordinate activities related to the project. No funds are transferred to state or local governments.

Background: It is assumed that because women offenders represent a small percentage of the total inmate population, and present a lower level of institutional and public risk, many correctional agencies have not addressed the gender-specific and validation concerns related to differences in risks and program needs of women offenders. An evaluation of the procedures and instrument for intake assessment, initial classification and reclassification is required to determine if the objective classification criteria developed for an offender population which is predominately male results in over-classification and inadequate service delivery with the female population.

Classification systems should to be monitored and periodically evaluated to ensure the system is working as designed. Classification systems should also be validated on both the male and female offender population to determine what impact the system has on inmate operations and assessing risks and needs. This cooperative agreement will concentrate on the female population.

NIC has announced the availability of technical assistance through the annual Program Plan and will send letters to agency directors advising them that their agencies can apply for assistance through this project. A selection of states will be made by NIC and the cooperative agreement awardee. The selections will be based on criteria that will be established to find correctional agencies with the interest, need and resources for this type of assistance.

Purpose: The National Institute of Corrections is seeking applications for a cooperative agreement to do the project management to assist correctional agencies to plan and evaluate their classification systems to address the

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gender-specific issues; develop classification instruments that are valid and appropriate for women offenders to assess risks and needs; guide the agencies in the development of a plan for implementation of changes that may result from this work; and develop detailed reports on each state project and the national assessment. It is anticipated that subject to satisfactory completion of the first phase of work, the recipient of the FY 1999 cooperative agreement will be awarded the cooperative agreement for the continuation of work through a second year in FY 2000, to assist additional correctional agencies and produce a publication.

Authority: Public Law 93-415.

Funds Available: The award will be limited to a maximum total of $100,000 (direct and indirect costs) and project activity must be completed within 12 months of the date of the award. Funds may only be used for the activities that are linked to the desired outcomes of the project. This project will be a collaborative venture with the NIC Prisons Division.

All products from this funding effort will be in public domain and available to interested agencies through the National Institute of Corrections.

Deadline for Receipt of Applications: Applications must be received by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, July 30, 1999. They should be addressed to: National Institute of Corrections, 320 First Street, NW, Room 5007, Washington, D.C. 20534, Attention: Administrative Officer. Hand delivered applications can be brought to 500 First Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20534. The front desk will call Bobbi Tinsley at (202) 307-3106, extension 0 for pickup.

Addresses and Further Information: Requests for the application kit, which consists of a copy of this announcement and copies of the required forms, should be directed to Judy Evens, Cooperative Agreement Control Office, National Institute of Corrections, 320 First Street, N.W., Room 5007, Washington, D.C. 20534 or by calling (800) 995-6423, extension 159 or (202) 307-3106, extension 159. She can also be contacted by E-mail via jevens@bop. gov. All technical and/or programmatic questions concerning this announcement should be directed to Sammie D. Brown at the above address or by calling (800) 995-6423, or (202) 307-3106, extension 126, or by E-mail via sbrown@bop.gov. Application forms may also be obtained through the NIC website: http:// www.nicic.org.

Eligible Applicants: An eligible applicant is any private or non- profit organization, institution, individual, or team with expertise in both prison classification and women offender issues.

Review Considerations: Applications received under this announcement will be subjected to an NIC three to five member Peer Review Process.

Number of Awards: One (1).

NIC Application Number: 99P03. This number should appear as a reference line in the cover letter and also in box 11 of Standard Form 424.

Executive Order 12372: This program is subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372. Executive Order 12372 allows States the option of setting up a system for reviewing applications from within their States for assistance under certain Federal programs. Applicants (other than Federally-recognized Indian tribal governments) should contact their State Single Point of Contact (SPOC), a list of which is included in the application kit, along with further instructions on proposed projects serving more than one State.

The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is: 16.603. Morris L. Thigpen, Director, National Institute of Corrections.

[FR Doc. 99-15787Filed6-21-99; 8:45 am]

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