Annual Survey of Probation and Parole, 2015 2018 | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the "Annual Survey of Probation and Parole, 2015-2018" grant opportunity?

This opportunity is a Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) cooperative agreement to continue and strengthen two long-running national data collections: the Annual Probation Survey and the Annual Parole Survey. Together, these collections make up the Annual Survey of Probation and Parole (ASPP), which has been used since 1980 to produce national, state, and federal statistics on adults under community supervision.

2) Which agency is offering this opportunity?

The opportunity is offered by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS).

3) What is the main purpose of the ASPP cooperative agreement?

The core purpose is to support the annual collection, compilation, and production of consistent national, state, and federal statistics describing the community supervision population in the United States. This includes tracking how many adults are on probation or parole, how those totals change over time, and what drives the changes through entries, exits, and outcomes of supervision.

4) What does ASPP stand for, and what surveys are included?

ASPP stands for the Annual Survey of Probation and Parole. It includes two surveys: the Annual Probation Survey and the Annual Parole Survey.

5) What population does the ASPP measure?

ASPP measures adults supervised in the community on probation or parole (post-custody supervision). In other words, it focuses on community supervision rather than incarceration in prisons or jails.

6) Why does BJS consider ASPP data important?

The grant description emphasizes that community supervision represents the largest share of the adult correctional population. It cites that at year-end 2013 more than 4.75 million adults were under community supervision, including about 3.9 million on probation and more than 850,000 on parole, and that roughly 7 in 10 people under correctional supervision were living in the community rather than in a prison or jail. Because of this, ASPP data are critical for understanding the overall footprint of corrections in the United States, not only incarceration.

7) What types of statistics is the funded work expected to produce?

The effort is expected to produce comparable yearly statistics that describe the size and change of probation and parole populations and explain shifts over time using measures such as entries, exits, and outcomes of supervision. The intent is to provide consistent national, state, and federal statistics that can be used to track trends and measure outcomes over time.

8) What makes collecting ASPP data complex?

The work relies on aggregated administrative records from many different agencies, and the announcement notes that these agencies can vary widely in size, government structure, resources, and recordkeeping systems. Despite these differences, ASPP is intended to produce consistent measures across national, federal, and state levels.

9) What data sources are used to produce ASPP statistics?

The project relies on aggregated administrative records from a wide range of agencies, including state probation and parole agencies, local agencies (such as municipal or county departments and courts), and the federal system.

10) How does ASPP relate to other BJS data collections?

ASPP data support broader national estimates when combined with other BJS cornerstone collections. The opportunity description specifically points to the National Prisoner Statistics (NPS) Program for state and federal prison counts and the Annual Survey of Jails for local jail counts. Together, these systems help BJS and policymakers estimate and monitor the full adult correctional population and better understand movement through the criminal justice system and back into the community.

11) What is the funding mechanism for this opportunity?

The opportunity uses a cooperative agreement mechanism, which typically means substantial federal involvement or collaboration during the project period.

12) Is this a discretionary grant opportunity?

Yes. It is described as a discretionary funding opportunity offered by BJS.

13) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA is 16.734 (Special Data Collections and Statistical Studies).

14) How many awards did BJS expect to make?

BJS expected to make one award.

15) What was the estimated total funding amount?

The estimated total funding amount was $500,000.

16) Is cost sharing or a match required?

No. The opportunity description states there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.

17) What were the posted and closing dates for the solicitation?

The solicitation was posted on March 16, 2015. The original closing date was May 16, 2015, and the current closing date was May 18, 2015.

18) When was the opportunity archived?

The opportunity was archived on June 15, 2015.

19) What do the listed award ceiling and floor of $0 mean?

The award ceiling and floor were listed as $0, which generally indicates the specific award amount would be determined through the award process rather than being constrained by preset per-award minimums or maximums.

20) Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was broad and included national, regional, state, or local public and private entities. This included for-profit and nonprofit organizations, faith-based and community organizations, institutions of higher education (including tribal institutions), federally recognized tribal governments, and units of local government, as long as they support initiatives to improve the functioning of the criminal justice system.

21) What is the overall intent of funding this work?

The overall intent is to ensure the annual probation and parole surveys continue to be collected and processed reliably, producing official statistics that inform national understanding of community supervision and its role within the broader corrections landscape.

22) Who is the listed contact for access issues with the full announcement?

The listed contact for access issues was Cathy Maston, Management and Program Analyst, at 202-307-5992.