National Inmate Survey (NIS-4) 2018-19 | BJS 2017 12782

National Inmate Survey (NIS-4) 2018-19 (BJS) - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the National Inmate Survey (NIS-4) 2018-19 grant opportunity?

NIS-4 is a Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) cooperative agreement to fund the fourth national administration of the National Inmate Survey. It supports a federally mandated effort to produce credible, systematic statistics on sexual victimization in correctional settings.

Which federal law drives the need for this survey?

The work is conducted under the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA), signed September 4, 2003 (Public Law 108-79). PREA directs BJS to conduct an annual, comprehensive statistical review and analysis of the incidence and effects of prison rape and specifically calls for surveys and statistical studies of current and former inmates.

What is the main purpose of NIS-4?

The core purpose is to measure the prevalence of sexual assault at the facility level using a confidential Audio Computer-Assisted Self-Interview (ACASI) survey administered directly to sampled inmates in correctional facilities.

What is ACASI and why is it used for NIS-4?

ACASI stands for Audio Computer-Assisted Self-Interview. It is used to improve privacy and reduce barriers to disclosure by allowing respondents to answer sensitive questions through a computer-assisted interface rather than speaking responses aloud to an interviewer.

How does NIS-4 fit within BJS broader work on sexual victimization in corrections?

NIS-4 is part of BJS National Prison Rape Statistics Program (NPRS), which includes four related but independent data collection efforts that measure sexual victimization in correctional settings from different perspectives.

What are the four NPRS data collection efforts mentioned in the opportunity description?

The NPRS includes: (1) the Survey on Sexual Victimization (SSV), (2) the National Inmate Survey (NIS), (3) the National Survey of Youth in Custody (NSYC), and (4) the National Former Prisoner Survey (NFPS).

What does the Survey on Sexual Victimization (SSV) measure?

SSV captures incidents of sexual violence that are reported to and investigated by correctional authorities, including information on substantiated incidents.

What does the National Inmate Survey (NIS) measure?

NIS focuses on self-reported allegations of sexual assault from incarcerated people in adult and juvenile correctional facilities.

What does the National Survey of Youth in Custody (NSYC) measure?

NSYC gathers self-reported data specifically from youth held in juvenile facilities.

What does the National Former Prisoner Survey (NFPS) measure?

NFPS measures allegations of sexual assault during a person most recent incarceration, as reported by former inmates who are under community supervision.

Are results from SSV, NIS, NSYC, and NFPS directly comparable?

No. The opportunity description notes these collections are not directly comparable because they use different methods, populations, and measurement approaches. Together, they contribute to a fuller national picture.

What type of award instrument is this opportunity?

This opportunity uses a cooperative agreement funding instrument.

What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement (instead of a standard grant)?

The solicitation indicates BJS expects substantial involvement in key aspects of project planning, execution, and deliverables compared to a standard grant.

What is the funding program classification for this opportunity?

It is issued by BJS as a discretionary funding program under CFDA 16.739.

How many awards are anticipated?

The solicitation anticipates a single award (Expected Awards: 1).

What is the maximum funding amount available (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is $6,000,000.

What is the opportunity number for this solicitation?

The opportunity number is BJS 2017 12782.

When was the opportunity created and what was the original closing date?

The creation date listed is June 26, 2017, and the original application closing date listed is July 26, 2017.

Who is eligible to apply for this cooperative agreement?

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

Are for-profit organizations allowed to apply?

Yes. For-profit organizations are included among eligible applicants, but a key condition applies: for-profit recipients must forgo any profit or management fee under the award.

Are tribal organizations and tribal institutions of higher education eligible?

Yes. The eligibility language explicitly includes tribal organizations (both for-profit and nonprofit) and institutions of higher education including tribal institutions, as well as federally recognized tribal governments.

Are foreign organizations or foreign universities eligible to apply?

No. Foreign governments, foreign organizations, and foreign institutions of higher education are explicitly not eligible to apply.

What is the core scope of work expected from the selected recipient (collection agent)?

The selected collection agent is responsible for the end-to-end administration of NIS-4, including designing and drawing a national sample, selecting facilities, sampling inmates within facilities, administering the ACASI survey, processing the data, conducting statistical analyses, and producing required reporting products.

What types of facilities must be included in the national sample?

The sample must include federal and state-operated prisons as well as privately operated prisons that house people under federal or state jurisdiction.

Does the survey produce national estimates or facility-level estimates?

The stated core purpose is to measure prevalence at the facility level and produce standardized, facility-level estimates of self-reported sexual victimization in prisons.

What is the key measurement approach used by NIS-4?

NIS-4 relies on self-reported allegations of sexual assault collected through a confidential ACASI instrument administered directly to sampled inmates.

How does NIS-4 support policy and oversight?

As described, NIS-4 supports the federal mandate to produce credible, systematic statistics that can inform policy, oversight, and facility-level prevention and response efforts.

What makes NIS-4 different from data based on incidents reported to correctional authorities?

NIS-4 focuses on self-reported experiences gathered directly from incarcerated people through an ACASI survey, while SSV focuses on incidents reported to and investigated by authorities (including substantiated incidents).

What does end-to-end responsibility mean in this solicitation?

Based on the description, it means the recipient handles the full lifecycle: sampling design, facility selection, inmate sampling, ACASI survey administration, data processing, statistical analyses, and delivery of required reporting products to meet PREA-related statistical requirements.

What overall program is NIS-4 associated with at BJS?

NIS-4 is associated with BJS National Prison Rape Statistics Program (NPRS).