Grants and cooperative agreements; availability, etc.: Staff sexual misconduct with inmates; investigations of allegations; training curriculum development,
[Federal Register: July 23, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 141)]
[Notices]
[Page 40045-40046]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23jy99-136]
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 ``Development of a Training Curriculum for Investigation Allegations of Staff Sexual Misconduct With Inmates.''
The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) invites applications for a cooperative agreement to develop a standard, core curriculum for training persons responsible for the investigations of staff sexual misconduct in correctional settings. To enable the Institute to offer state of the art investigative training in addressing staff sexual misconduct, the award recipient will develop a 24 hour training curriculum with a faculty guide and a participant workbook. The 24 hour training program will provide an overview of the national scope of correctional staff sexual misconduct while providing information and an interactive training experience that will enhance the knowledge and skills of investigators and administrators from state and local jurisdictions specifically charged with investigating staff sexual misconduct with inmates. (It is not within the scope of this cooperative agreement to provide skill development for individual investigative techniques requiring extensive technical application).
The award recipient will become familiar with the work currently being done at NIC on issues related to staff sexual misconduct and will contribute to the development of information on current investigative practices in this sensitive subject matter area.
As a collaborative venture with the NIC Prisons Division, the recipient will develop training outcomes for the project in partnership with the NIC project manager. A total of $60,000 is reserved for the project which will support one cooperative agreement for a 10 month period. The recipient of the award will be selected through a competitive solicitation process. Andie Moss is the designated NIC project manager.
Background
The fine balance in the relationship of staff and inmates is critical to the well being of healthy institutional and organizational cultures in corrections. The need for effective investigations into allegations of staff sexual misconduct is at the core of the correctional management response to the issue of staff sexual misconduct. Investigations must be objective and professional and serve as a tool to support and protect both staff and inmates from individuals who compromise security and create personal and professional disruption through misconduct. Since the mid nineties NIC has provided leadership in addressing the issues of staff sexual misconduct through training seminars and on-site technical assistance to state and local departments of corrections. The Institute has developed training materials for state prison systems that address policy and practice, the importance of state law, the investigative process, staff training and responses to the media. Through this work, NIC recognizes the need for a training curriculum that specifically addresses the training of investigators in more depth.
Purpose
This project is intended to provide agency investigators and administrators with:
‹bullet› A training curriculum that provides investigators with an in depth understanding of the dynamics of staff sexual misconduct and the most effective investigative responses identified through experienced investigators and subject matter experts.
‹bullet› An interactive training format minimally using a trainer's guide and a participant notebook that provides participants with a record of core principles and concepts learned in the training experience.
Project Content
The award recipient will propose a strategy for identifying effective models for investigating staff sexual misconduct and demonstrate knowledge of the legal and administrative considerations in the use of investigative practices and techniques in prison and/or jail settings. The award recipient will develop case studies clearly demonstrating the fact patterns of a variety of cases and the investigative techniques applied. Additional topics for development may include, though not limited to: legal issues and case law; the potential role of the medical and mental health staff; the human resource personnel in the administrative review of investigations; the role of external law enforcement; the dynamics of staff-offender relationships when sexual misconduct develops; examples of organizational structure of investigative units; and the tracking and analysis of incidents within the institutional setting. The overall development of a strong investigative policy should be addressed in the training curriculum.
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Required Activity
‹bullet› Initial meeting with NIC staff for an overview of the Institute's training and technical assistance activities that are relevant to the development of an investigative training curriculum.
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Other Possible Activities
‹bullet› Interviews or focus groups with key personnel in state and local jurisdictions with experience in the management of or investigative response to sexual misconduct.
‹bullet› Review of current investigative policies, case law and other related written materials and reports.
‹bullet› Development and presentation of case examples involving staff misconduct that lead to or conclude with inappropriate involvement with inmates.
Authority: Public Law 93-415.
Funds Available: The award will be limited to a maximum total of $60,000 (direct and indirect costs) and project activity must be completed within 10 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.
All products from this funding effort will be in the 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 Tuesday, August 27, 1999. They should be addressed to: National Institute of Corrections, 320 First Street, NW, Room 5007, Washington, DC 20534, Attention: Administrative Officer. Hand delivered applications can be brought to 500 First Street, NW, Washington, DC 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, NW, Room 5007, Washington, DC 20534
[[Page 40046]]
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 Andi Moss at the above address or by calling (800) 995-6423, or (202 307-3106, extension 140, or by E-mail via amoss@bop.gov. Application forms may also be obtained though the NIC website: http://www.nicic.org. (Click on ``What's New'' and ``cooperative agreements.''
Eligible Applicants: An eligible applicant is any private or non- profit organization, institution, individual, or team with expertise in production of training videos and related training materials.
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: (99P13) This number would appear as a reference line in the cover letter and also in box 11 of Standard Form 424.
(The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is: 16.601) Morris. L. Thigpen, Director, National Institute of Corrections.
[FR Doc. 99-18775Filed7-22-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-36-M
