
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document affected by Public Law 106-402 Section 401(b)(10)]
[Document affected by Public Law 106-534 Section 5]
[Document affected by Public Law 106-534 Section 6]
[CITE: 42USC3732]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                 CHAPTER 46--JUSTICE SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT
 
              SUBCHAPTER III--BUREAU OF JUSTICE STATISTICS
 
Sec. 3732. Bureau of Justice Statistics


(a) Establishment

    There is established within the Department of Justice, under the 
general authority of the Attorney General, a Bureau of Justice 
Statistics (hereinafter referred to in this subchapter as ``Bureau'').

(b) Appointment of Director; experience; authority; restrictions

    The Bureau shall be headed by a Director appointed by the President, 
by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Director shall 
have had experience in statistical programs. The Director shall have 
final authority for all grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts 
awarded by the Bureau. The Director shall report to the Attorney General 
through the Assistant Attorney General. The Director shall not engage in 
any other employment than that of serving as Director; nor shall the 
Director hold any office in, or act in any capacity for, any 
organization, agency, or institution with which the Bureau makes any 
contract or other arrangement under this Act.

(c) Duties and functions of Bureau

    The Bureau is authorized to--
        (1) make grants to, or enter into cooperative agreements or 
    contracts with public agencies, institutions of higher education, 
    private organizations, or private individuals for purposes related 
    to this subchapter; grants shall be made subject to continuing 
    compliance with standards for gathering justice statistics set forth 
    in rules and regulations promulgated by the Director;
        (2) collect and analyze information concerning criminal 
    victimization, including crimes against the elderly, and civil 
    disputes;
        (3) collect and analyze data that will serve as a continuous and 
    comparable national social indication of the prevalence, incidence, 
    rates, extent, distribution, and attributes of crime, juvenile 
    delinquency, civil disputes, and other statistical factors related 
    to crime, civil disputes, and juvenile delinquency, in support of 
    national, State, and local justice policy and decisionmaking;
        (4) collect and analyze statistical information, concerning the 
    operations of the criminal justice system at the Federal, State, and 
    local levels;
        (5) collect and analyze statistical information concerning the 
    prevalence, incidence, rates, extent, distribution, and attributes 
    of crime, and juvenile delinquency, at the Federal, State, and local 
    levels;
        (6) analyze the correlates of crime, civil disputes and juvenile 
    delinquency, by the use of statistical information, about criminal 
    and civil justice systems at the Federal, State, and local levels, 
    and about the extent, distribution and attributes of crime, and 
    juvenile delinquency, in the Nation and at the Federal, State, and 
    local levels;
        (7) compile, collate, analyze, publish, and disseminate uniform 
    national statistics concerning all aspects of criminal justice and 
    related aspects of civil justice, crime, including crimes against 
    the elderly, juvenile delinquency, criminal offenders, juvenile 
    delinquents, and civil disputes in the various States;
        (8) recommend national standards for justice statistics and for 
    insuring the reliability and validity of justice statistics supplied 
    pursuant to this chapter;
        (9) maintain liaison with the judicial branches of the Federal 
    and State Governments in matters relating to justice statistics, and 
    cooperate with the judicial branch in assuring as much uniformity as 
    feasible in statistical systems of the executive and judicial 
    branches;
        (10) provide information to the President, the Congress, the 
    judiciary, State and local governments, and the general public on 
    justice statistics;
        (11) establish or assist in the establishment of a system to 
    provide State and local governments with access to Federal 
    informational resources useful in the planning, implementation, and 
    evaluation of programs under this Act;
        (12) conduct or support research relating to methods of 
    gathering or analyzing justice statistics;
        (13) provide for the development of justice information systems 
    programs and assistance to the States and units of local government 
    relating to collection, analysis, or dissemination of justice 
    statistics;
        (14) develop and maintain a data processing capability to 
    support the collection, aggregation, analysis and dissemination of 
    information on the incidence of crime and the operation of the 
    criminal justice system;
        (15) collect, analyze and disseminate comprehensive Federal 
    justice transaction statistics (including statistics on issues of 
    Federal justice interest such as public fraud and high technology 
    crime) and to provide technical assistance to and work jointly with 
    other Federal agencies to improve the availability and quality of 
    Federal justice data;
        (16) provide for the collection, compilation, analysis, 
    publication and dissemination of information and statistics about 
    the prevalence, incidence, rates, extent, distribution and 
    attributes of drug offenses, drug related offenses and drug 
    dependent offenders and further provide for the establishment of a 
    national clearinghouse to maintain and update a comprehensive and 
    timely data base on all criminal justice aspects of the drug crisis 
    and to disseminate such information;
        (17) provide for the collection, analysis, dissemination and 
    publication of statistics on the condition and progress of drug 
    control activities at the Federal, State and local levels with 
    particular attention to programs and intervention efforts 
    demonstrated to be of value in the overall national anti-drug 
    strategy and to provide for the establishment of a national 
    clearinghouse for the gathering of data generated by Federal, State, 
    and local criminal justice agencies on their drug enforcement 
    activities;
        (18) provide for the development and enhancement of State and 
    local criminal justice information systems, and the standardization 
    of data reporting relating to the collection, analysis or 
    dissemination of data and statistics about drug offenses, drug 
    related offenses, or drug dependent offenders;
        (19) provide for research and improvements in the accuracy, 
    completeness, and inclusiveness of criminal history record 
    information, information systems, arrest warrant, and stolen vehicle 
    record information and information systems and support research 
    concerning the accuracy, completeness, and inclusiveness of other 
    criminal justice record information;
        (20) maintain liaison with State and local governments and 
    governments of other nations concerning justice statistics;
        (21) cooperate in and participate with national and 
    international organizations in the development of uniform justice 
    statistics;
        (22) ensure conformance with security and privacy requirement of 
    section 3789g of this title and identify, analyze, and participate 
    in the development and implementation of privacy, security and 
    information policies which impact on Federal and State criminal 
    justice operations and related statistical activities; and
        (23) exercise the powers and functions set out in subchapter 
    VIII of this chapter.

(d) Justice statistical collection, analysis, and dissemination

    To insure that all justice statistical collection, analysis, and 
dissemination is carried out in a coordinated manner, the Director is 
authorized to--
        (1) utilize, with their consent, the services, equipment, 
    records, personnel, information, and facilities of other Federal, 
    State, local, and private agencies and instrumentalities with or 
    without reimbursement therefor, and to enter into agreements with 
    such agencies and instrumentalities for purposes of data collection 
    and analysis;
        (2) confer and cooperate with State, municipal, and other local 
    agencies;
        (3) request such information, data, and reports from any Federal 
    agency as may be required to carry out the purposes of this chapter;
        (4) seek the cooperation of the judicial branch of the Federal 
    Government in gathering data from criminal justice records; and
        (5) encourage replication, coordination and sharing among 
    justice agencies regarding information systems, information policy, 
    and data.

(e) Furnishing of information, data, or reports by Federal agencies

    Federal agencies requested to furnish information, data, or reports 
pursuant to subsection (d)(3) of this section shall provide such 
information to the Bureau as is required to carry out the purposes of 
this section.

(f) Consultation with representatives of State and local government and 
        judiciary

    In recommending standards for gathering justice statistics under 
this section, the Director shall consult with representatives of State 
and local government, including, where appropriate, representatives of 
the judiciary.

(Pub. L. 90-351, title I, Sec. 302, as added Pub. L. 96-157, Sec. 2, 
Dec. 27, 1979, 93 Stat. 1176; amended Pub. L. 98-473, title II, 
Sec. 605(b), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2079; Pub. L. 100-690, title VI, 
Sec. 6092(a), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4339; Pub. L. 103-322, title 
XXXIII, Sec. 330001(h)(2), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2139.)

                       References in Text

    This Act, referred to in subsecs. (b) and (c)(11), is Pub. L. 90-
351, June 19, 1968, 82 Stat. 197, as amended, known as the Omnibus Crime 
Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. For complete classification of 
this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 3711 of 
this title and Tables.


                            Prior Provisions

    A prior section 3732, Pub. L. 90-351, title I, Sec. 302, June 19, 
1968, 82 Stat. 200; Pub. L. 93-83, Sec. 2, Aug. 6, 1973, 87 Stat. 201; 
Pub. L. 94-503, title I, Sec. 110, Oct. 15, 1976, 90 Stat. 2412, related 
to establishment of State planning agencies to develop comprehensive 
State plans for grants for law enforcement and criminal justice 
purposes, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 96-
157.


                               Amendments

    1994--Subsec. (c)(19). Pub. L. 103-322 substituted a semicolon for 
period at end.
    1988--Subsec. (c)(16) to (23). Pub. L. 100-690 added pars. (16) to 
(19) and redesignated former pars. (16) to (19) as (20) to (23), 
respectively.
    1984--Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 98-473, Sec. 605(b)(1), inserted 
provision requiring Director to report to Attorney General through 
Assistant Attorney General.
    Subsec. (c)(13). Pub. L. 98-473, Sec. 605(b)(2)(A), (C), added par. 
(13) and struck out former par. (13) relating to provision of financial 
and technical assistance to States and units of local government 
relating to collection, analysis, or dissemination of justice 
statistics.
    Subsec. (c)(14), (15). Pub. L. 98-473, Sec. 605(b)(2)(C), added 
pars. (14) and (15). Former pars. (14) and (15) redesignated (16) and 
(17), respectively.
    Subsec. (c)(16). Pub. L. 98-473, Sec. 605(b)(2)(A), (B), 
redesignated par. (14) as (16) and struck out former par. (16) relating 
to insuring conformance with security and privacy regulations issued 
under section 3789g of this title.
    Subsec. (c)(17). Pub. L. 98-473, Sec. 605(b)(2)(B), redesignated 
par. (15) as (17). Former par. (17) redesignated (19).
    Subsec. (c)(18). Pub. L. 98-473, Sec. 605(b)(2)(D), added par. (18).
    Subsec. (c)(19). Pub. L. 98-473, Sec. 605(b)(2)(B), redesignated 
former par. (17) as (19).
    Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 98-473, Sec. 605(b)(3)(A), inserted ``, and 
to enter into agreements with such agencies and instrumentalities for 
purposes of data collection and analysis''.
    Subsec. (d)(5). Pub. L. 98-473, Sec. 605(b)(3)(B)-(D), added par. 
(5).


                    Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 98-473 effective Oct. 12, 1984, see section 
609AA(a) of Pub. L. 98-473, set out as an Effective Date note under 
section 3711 of this title.


                Crime Victims With Disabilities Awareness

    Pub. L. 105-301, Oct. 27, 1998, 112 Stat. 2838, provided that:
``SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
    ``This Act may be cited as the `Crime Victims With Disabilities 
Awareness Act'.
``SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSES.
    ``(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
        ``(1) although research conducted abroad demonstrates that 
    individuals with developmental disabilities are at a 4 to 10 times 
    higher risk of becoming crime victims than those without 
    disabilities, there have been no significant studies on this subject 
    conducted in the United States;
        ``(2) in fact, the National Crime Victim's Survey, conducted 
    annually by the Bureau of Justice Statistics of the Department of 
    Justice, does not specifically collect data relating to crimes 
    against individuals with developmental disabilities;
        ``(3) studies in Canada, Australia, and Great Britain 
    consistently show that victims with developmental disabilities 
    suffer repeated victimization because so few of the crimes against 
    them are reported, and even when they are, there is sometimes a 
    reluctance by police, prosecutors, and judges to rely on the 
    testimony of a disabled individual, making individuals with 
    developmental disabilities a target for criminal predators;
        ``(4) research in the United States needs to be done to--
            ``(A) understand the nature and extent of crimes against 
        individuals with developmental disabilities;
            ``(B) describe the manner in which the justice system 
        responds to crimes against individuals with developmental 
        disabilities; and
            ``(C) identify programs, policies, or laws that hold 
        promises for making the justice system more responsive to crimes 
        against individuals with developmental disabilities; and
        ``(5) the National Academy of Science Committee on Law and 
    Justice of the National Research Council is a premier research 
    institution with unique experience in developing seminal, 
    multidisciplinary studies to establish a strong research base from 
    which to make public policy.
    ``(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
        ``(1) to increase public awareness of the plight of victims of 
    crime who are individuals with developmental disabilities;
        ``(2) to collect data to measure the extent of the problem of 
    crimes against individuals with developmental disabilities; and
        ``(3) to develop a basis to find new strategies to address the 
    safety and justice needs of victims of crime who are individuals 
    with developmental disabilities.
``SEC. 3. DEFINITION OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY.
    ``In this Act, the term `developmental disability' has the meaning 
given the term in section 102 of the Developmental Disabilities 
Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (42 U.S.C. 6001).
``SEC. 4. STUDY.
    ``(a) In General.--The Attorney General shall conduct a study to 
increase knowledge and information about crimes against individuals with 
developmental disabilities that will be useful in developing new 
strategies to reduce the incidence of crimes against those individuals.
    ``(b) Issues Addressed.--The study conducted under this section 
shall address such issues as--
        ``(1) the nature and extent of crimes against individuals with 
    developmental disabilities;
        ``(2) the risk factors associated with victimization of 
    individuals with developmental disabilities;
        ``(3) the manner in which the justice system responds to crimes 
    against individuals with developmental disabilities; and
        ``(4) the means by which States may establish and maintain a 
    centralized computer database on the incidence of crimes against 
    individuals with disabilities within a State.
    ``(c) National Academy of Sciences.--In carrying out this section, 
the Attorney General shall consider contracting with the Committee on 
Law and Justice of the National Research Council of the National Academy 
of Sciences to provide research for the study conducted under this 
section.
    ``(d) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act [Oct. 27, 1998], the Attorney General shall submit to the 
Committees on the Judiciary of the Senate and the House of 
Representatives a report describing the results of the study conducted 
under this section.
``SEC. 5. NATIONAL CRIME VICTIM'S SURVEY.
    ``Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, as 
part of each National Crime Victim's Survey, the Attorney General shall 
include statistics relating to--
        ``(1) the nature of crimes against individuals with 
    developmental disabilities; and
        ``(2) the specific characteristics of the victims of those 
    crimes.''

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 5603 of this title.
