Purpose

To establish a data analysis source to serve the critical information needs of the juvenile justice community and assist the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) in fulfilling its responsibility to disseminate vital statistical information to the field and identify effective juvenile justice and delinquency prevention programs. The National Juvenile Justice Data Analysis Project (NJJDAP) will serve as a principal resource to provide quality data and information to juvenile justice practitioners.

Background

Under Section 243(a)(14) of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, as amended, Congress mandated that OJJDP serve as a national information resource by performing the following function:

(14) routinely collect, analyze, compile, publish, and disseminate uniform national statistics concerning --

1. all aspects of juveniles as victims and offenders;

2. the processing and treatment, in the juvenile justice system, of juveniles who are status offenders, delinquent, neglected, or abused; and

3. the processing and treatment of such juveniles who are treated as adults for purposes of the criminal justice system.

While many individual data sets have programs that provide for the analysis and dissemination of data, no single project has the responsibility to collect related data sets, analyze complex issues, and produce reports for the field based on the findings. In the past, OJJDP has funded the development of several compendiums of statistical information, including Juvenile Offenders and Victims: A National Report. Other projects, such as OJJDP's Comprehensive Strategy for Serious, Violent, and Chronic Juvenile Offenders, have produced broad-based data analysis directed toward a specific goal and objective. However, these products were produced by projects that included significant other tasks. The production of these statistical analyses was an adjunct, albeit necessary, part of the project. Such a method of production can result in failure to maximize the analysis aspects of the project. Further, these projects did not provide for systematic, ongoing analyses of new data sets and emerging issues. This project is designed to fill this specific need.

A variety of data sets already exist that can directly inform juvenile justice policy at the national, State, and local levels. For example, numerous research studies have indicated a strong link between childhood abuse and neglect and subsequent violent behavior. To fully assess the national impact of this finding requires a determination of the number of youth who are abused or neglected and the proportion of those juveniles who might come to the attention of the juvenile justice system. While no single data source presently available completely answers this question, there are several Federal and State data systems that contribute critical data, such as the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect's (NCCAN's) National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS).

In another example, research has demonstrated the correlation between extreme economic deprivation and delinquency. Analysis of Census Bureau county-level data and matching of those data with Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) county-level data can provide a national picture of this relationship. Other specific data sources that have proven useful in multisource analysis include the Supplementary Homicide Reports from the FBI, the Current Population Survey from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) from the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Goal

To provide OJJDP with a source of statistical data and analyses that will inform the juvenile justice field concerning issues of current and future importance.

Objectives

This project will include the following overall objectives:

	Produce assessments of specific data sets (related to juvenile and criminal justice and another disciplines).
	Provide initial analyses of specific data sets as noted above and report on the usefulness of the sets to analyze specific justice system issues.
	Prepare OJJDP Bulletins, Fact Sheets, and Summaries based on the analyses of various data sets.

Program Strategy

OJJDP has expended considerable resources and effort in developing data sources and identifying related sources that address the particular needs of the juvenile justice community. The next step requires development of a dedicated mechanism to analyze and disseminate the information gleaned from these data systems to the field. In other words, OJJDP must capitalize on the data sources available to actively contribute to improving the juvenile justice system.

Project Design

Under the cooperative agreement to be awarded, applicants should anticipate a close working relationship with OJJDP. In particular, OJJDP will work closely with the recipient to identify data sets and information needs and set priorities for the work to be performed.

Skills and capabilities necessary for this project include, but are not limited to, the following:

	Ability to use statistical analysis software such as SPSS or SAS.
	Ability to present statistical information in table and graphics formats.
	Ability to use sophisticated data sets such as NCVS.
	Ability to manipulate large data sets such as NCVS (i.e., the computer facilities needed for such analyses).
	Ability to use new data sets from different disciplines including health, education, and economics.
	Ability to access and store data sets of interest to the juvenile justice field.
	Ability to analyze and report on numerous types of data sets and work with a wide range of electronic data bases.
	Ability to write clearly to explain findings to a lay audience.

Success of the project will depend in part on regular communication with OJJDP, including two trips per year to Washington, D.C., to discuss the project progress and future plans.

Products

This cooperative agreement will produce a variety of Summaries and Reports for publication by OJJDP. The recipient will be expected to produce Reports that are timely and of publishable quality, both in terms of substantive content and appearance. While OJJDP has identified several topical areas that need to be addressed, the exact nature and extent of the publication portfolio to be produced will depend in large part on the analyses of identified needs of the juvenile justice field and the availability of data sets to address these needs. The exact number and extent of products will also depend on the capabilities of the grantee and the mix of salaries, overhead costs, and other expenses included in the budget. Applicants are advised to provide projections of the number of publications possible and to describe in detail the factors that affect this number (to provide OJJDP an understanding of what products are reasonable to expect from a particular project).

Deliverables

In the first year, the following specific tasks will be included:

	Produce complete tables for publication based on OJJDP's new Census of Juveniles in Residential Placement (CJRP).
	Produce a Summary of findings based on CJRP.
	Produce a Summary covering the issue of disproportionate minority confinement (DMC) using pertinent data systems.
	Examine the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 from the BLS to appraise specific publication opportunities and priorities.

Eligibility Requirements

OJJDP invites applications from public and private agencies, organizations, institutions, and individuals. Private, for-profit organizations must agree to waive any profit or fee. Joint applications from two or more eligible applicants are welcome; however, one applicant must be clearly indicated as the primary applicant (for correspondence, award, and management purposes) and the others indicated as coapplicants.

Selection Criteria

Applicants will be evaluated and rated by a peer review panel according to the criteria outlined below.

Problems To Be Addressed (15 points)

Applicants should clearly indicate their familiarity with and capability in three specific areas:

(1) the juvenile justice system in the United States, (2) the analysis of complex data sets, and (3) the production of useful reports to the general juvenile justice community.

In reviewing applications, OJJDP will be particularly interested in an applicant's familiarity with (1) current issues in juvenile justice, risk and protective factors for delinquency, and the organization of the juvenile justice system, and (2) data sets that can address these issues. Applicants should note that OJJDP does not expect an exhaustive list of issues and data sets. Rather, it will examine the breadth of an applicant's understanding of the issues and the applicant's ability to identify data sets of use in addressing these issues.

Goals and Objectives (15 points)

NJJDAP will set up and maintain an analysis center that will produce relevant information products based on various electronic data sets. Given this overall goal, applicants must clearly describe the tools, tasks, and objectives they will use to achieve this goal.

Project Design (25 points)

Applicants should design a project that fulfills two related tracks or tasks. First, the project will have primary responsibility to analyze OJJDP-produced data sets resulting from the CJRP and the upcoming Juvenile Residential Facility Census (JRFC). Second, the project will be responsible for determining information needs in the field and designing an appropriate report or product to fill that need. The project will require a mechanism to assess specific topic ideas and analysis designs. OJJDP will have review authority over them.

This project will undertake the analysis of completed data sets only. It will not undertake the development or implementation of data collections.

Applicants also should clearly indicate their proposed product production methods.

Management and Organizational Capabilities (30 points)

The project management structure must be adequate to conduct the program successfully. Of particular importance will be an organizational or management structure that is solid, yet flexible enough to achieve several divergent tasks within a specific deadline.

Applicants must demonstrate that the individuals involved in the project have the experience and knowledge necessary to successfully complete the project. OJJDP will assess not only the individual staffing capabilities but also the match between the staff members and the anticipated needs of this project.

The applicant must name the individual who would serve as the Project Manager. As part of the cooperative agreement, the recipient may not replace this key staff person without OJJDP's prior approval.

In support of the organizational capabilities statement, OJJDP will require in each application copies of three statistical analyses that the applicant has performed, e.g., published reports (from journals or other publications), reports illustrating the applicant's ability to analyze large data sets, and reports dealing specifically with the juvenile justice system. There is no limit on the length of these analyses, but OJJDP will examine these pieces for clarity and succinctness. Books will not be accepted in support of applications.

No single organization or individual will have the experience with all juvenile justice and delinquency issues on which OJJDP may need to report or with all data sets of interest to the Office. Therefore, the management structure should include a mechanism for accessing the expertise and abilities of consultants. Applicants will be assessed on the breadth of consultants available to them as listed in the application and the management mechanisms in place to ensure that outside experts will be consulted as necessary.

The recipient in this cooperative agreement must cooperate fully with other contractors and recipients of OJJDP grants. In particular, although no specific Internet-related computer skills are required, the applicant must demonstrate its capability of cooperating in the development and maintenance of an OJJDP statistics Web site.

Budget (15 points)

Applicants must provide a proposed budget that is complete, detailed, reasonable, allowable, and cost effective in relation to the activities to be undertaken. Given the nature of this project, applicants must be clear in indicating the amount of staff and consultant time available for various activities. Specifically, applicants should address staffing for activities including data analysis, computer assistance, writing, and document production. In OJJDP's analysis of the budget, it will closely examine the number of staff days available for analyzing the electronic data files and writing reports. OJJDP also expects the budget to include and clearly indicate the necessary administrative duties of the Project Manager and support staff.

Format

Applicants must submit a program narrative that does not exceed 50 pages in length and that includes discussion of the problem to be addressed, the project's goals and objectives, the project design, and the management and organizational capabilities of the applicant. The budget and budget narrative are not included in this page limit. Applications must include executed copies of the application forms, assurances, and certifications. These forms and the appendixes will not be counted in the page limitation. The appendixes should be in the following order:

Appendix A: Staff résumés.
Appendix B: List of past projects.
Appendix C: Three writing samples (statistical analyses).
Appendix D: Supporting materials.

The narrative portion of this application must be submitted on 8½- by 11-inch paper, double spaced on one side of the paper in a standard 12-point font. These standards are necessary to maintain a fair and uniform standard among all applicants. If the narrative does not conform to these standards, OJJDP will deem the application ineligible for consideration.

Award Period

This project will be funded for 3 years in three 1-year budget periods. Funding after the first budget period depends on grantee performance, availability of funds, and other criteria established at the time of award.

Award Amount

Up to $500,000 is available for the initial 1-year budget period.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number

For this program, the CFDA number, which is required on Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance, is 16.542. This form is included in OJJDP's Application Kit, which can be obtained by calling the Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse at 800-638-8736 or sending an e-mail request to puborder@ncjrs.org. The Application Kit is also available online. (See the Introduction for more contact information.)

Coordination of Federal Efforts

To encourage better coordination among Federal agencies in addressing State and local needs, the U.S. Department of Justice is requesting applicants to provide information on the following: (1) active Federal grant award(s) supporting this or related efforts, including awards from the U.S. Department of Justice; (2) any pending application(s) for Federal funds for this or related efforts; and (3) plans for coordinating any funds described in items (1) or (2) with the funding sought by this application. For each Federal award, applicants must include the program or project title, the Federal grantor agency, the amount of the award, and a brief description of its purpose.

"Related efforts" is defined for these purposes as one of the following:

	Efforts for the same purpose (i.e., the proposed award would supplement, expand, complement, or continue activities funded with other Federal grants).
	Another phase or component of the same program or project (e.g., to implement a planning effort funded by other Federal funds or to provide a substance abuse treatment or education component within a criminal justice project).
	Services of some kind (e.g., technical assistance, research, or evaluation) to the program or project described in the application.

Delivery Instructions

All application packages should be mailed or delivered to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, c/o Juvenile Justice Resource Center, 2277 Research Boulevard, Mail Stop 2K, Rockville, MD 20850; 301-519-5535. Note: In the lower left-hand corner of the envelope, you must clearly write "National Juvenile Justice Data Analysis Project."

Due Date

Applicants are responsible for ensuring that the original and five copies of the application package are received by 5 p.m. ET on August 28, 1998.

Contact

For further information, call Joe Moone, Program Manager, Research and Program Development Division, 202-307-5929, or send an e-mail inquiry to moone@ojp.usdoj.gov.