Deaths in Custody Reporting Program and Annual Survey of Jails, 2016 2020 | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this grant opportunity?

This opportunity is the "Deaths in Custody Reporting Program and Annual Survey of Jails, 2016-2020" solicitation (Funding Opportunity Number BJS-2015-4151) from the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). It funds a single cooperative agreement to conduct major, recurring national data collection efforts focused on the U.S. correctional system.

Who is the awarding agency?

The awarding agency is the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS).

What is the purpose of combining these programs into one award?

The solicitation combines two core annual BJS collections into one competed award for the first time. The stated intent is to produce consistent, high-quality administrative data that can be used to track changes in jail populations over time and to document deaths occurring in custody.

How many awards does BJS expect to make?

BJS expects to make one award. A single organization (or a lead organization working with partners) would be responsible for operating the integrated data collection activities across the full project period.

What type of funding mechanism is this?

The funding mechanism is a discretionary cooperative agreement. This generally indicates substantial federal involvement in project execution, such as ongoing collaboration on methods, instruments, schedules, quality control, and deliverables.

What is the project period and when does performance begin and end?

The work covers five data collection years (2016 through 2020) and spans five fiscal years. Performance begins October 1, 2015 and ends September 30, 2020.

What is the estimated total funding amount?

The solicitation lists an estimated total funding amount of $1,500,000 across the project.

Is there any cost sharing or matching requirement?

No. The solicitation explicitly notes there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

Why are the award floor and ceiling listed as zero?

The award floor and ceiling are shown as zero, which typically signals that applicants should rely on the total estimated funding amount and the full announcement details rather than expecting a preset per-award range.

What is the main focus of the work at a practical level?

At a practical level, the project is about building and maintaining a nationwide measurement system for local jails, while also documenting mortality in custody with enough detail to support public reporting and statistical analysis.

What is the Annual Survey of Jails (ASJ)?

The Annual Survey of Jails (ASJ) is described as a flagship sample survey that operates in the years between the Census of Jail Facilities. Its purpose is to generate annual estimates of the number and characteristics of jail inmates and to describe the size and composition of jail populations across the country.

Why is the ASJ sample-based instead of a full census every year?

Because it is sample-based, the ASJ is designed to provide national-level and trend information without requiring a full census every year. It serves as a key source for annual jail statistics.

What is the Deaths in Custody Reporting Program (DCRP)?

The DCRP is a complementary BJS data collection focused on mortality and related circumstances for people who die while in custody. The solicitation describes two components: one for local jails and one for state prisons.

What data does DCRP collect for local jails?

For local jails, BJS collects individual-level records for each person who dies in jail custody, including details about the circumstances of death. BJS also collects jail-level population data for local jails.

Why does DCRP collect jail-level population data for local jails?

The population component is used to generate jail population statistics and to calculate jail mortality rates. Mortality rates require a denominator (the jail population) to interpret the counts of deaths.

What data does DCRP collect for state prisons?

For state prisons, the DCRP component focuses on collecting individual-level data on people who died while in prison custody. The prison population figures needed for mortality rate calculations are drawn from existing BJS prison databases rather than collected anew through this award.

What is the activity category for this opportunity?

The activity category is Information and Statistics.

What CFDA number is associated with this solicitation?

This opportunity is listed under CFDA 16.734 (Special Data Collections and Statistical Studies).

What legal authority does BJS cite for issuing this solicitation?

BJS cites its authority under 42 U.S.C. 3732(c).

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad. Eligible applicants include national, regional, state, or local public and private entities; for-profit and nonprofit organizations (including tribal for-profit or nonprofit organizations); faith-based and community organizations; institutions of higher education (including tribal institutions of higher education); federally recognized Indian tribal governments; and units of local government that support initiatives to improve the functioning of the criminal justice system.

When was the opportunity posted and when was it due?

The opportunity was posted March 11, 2015. The application deadline was May 11, 2015.

Was there an update to the announcement?

Yes. An updated program announcement is noted as of March 30, 2015.

Is this opportunity still open?

No. The opportunity was later archived on June 10, 2015.

Who can be contacted for access issues?

The solicitation provides a contact for access issues: Cathy Maston, Management and Program Analyst, at 202-307-5992.

What is meant by "major, recurring national data collection efforts" in this context?

In this solicitation, it refers to ongoing nationwide statistical collections that are conducted repeatedly over time, specifically the Annual Survey of Jails (to track jail populations) and the Deaths in Custody Reporting Program (to document deaths in custody and related circumstances).

How do ASJ and DCRP complement each other in this project?

ASJ focuses on estimating the size and characteristics of jail populations over time, while DCRP focuses on documenting deaths in custody with enough detail for reporting and analysis. For local jails, DCRP also includes a population component that supports mortality rate calculations, linking population measurement and mortality measurement within the same overall effort.