Jan 19 -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted the information collection request titled “The National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS)” to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The public is invited to provide comments to OMB by February 18, 2022.
Violence is a public health problem. The World Health Organization has estimated that 804,000 suicides and 475,000 homicides occurred in the year 2012 worldwide. Violence in the United States is a particular problem for the young; suicide and homicide were among the top four leading causes of death for Americans 10-34 and 1-34 years of age in 2015, respectively. In 2002 Congress approved the first appropriation to start the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS). NVDRS is coordinated and funded at the federal level but is dependent on separate data collection efforts managed by the state health department (or their bona fide agent) in each state.
NVDRS, implemented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is a state-based surveillance system developed to monitor the occurrence of violent deaths ( i.e., homicide, suicide, undetermined deaths, and unintentional firearm deaths) in the United States (U.S.) by collecting comprehensive, detailed, useful, and timely data from multiple sources ( e.g., death certificates, coroner/medical examiner reports, law enforcement reports) into a useable, anonymous database. NVDRS is an ongoing surveillance system that captures annual violent death counts and circumstances that precipitate each violent incident. Violent deaths are defined as any death resulting from the intentional use of physical force or power ( e.g., threats or intimidation) against oneself, another person, or against a group or community. CDC aggregates de-identified data from each state into one large national database that is analyzed and released in annual reports and publications. Descriptive analyses such as frequencies and rates are employed. A restricted access database is available for researchers to request access to NVDRS data for analysis and a web-based query system is open for public use that allows for electronic querying of data. NVDRS generates public health surveillance information at the national, state, and local levels that is more detailed, useful, and timely. Government, state and local communities have used NVDRS data to develop and evaluate prevention programs and strategies. NVDRS is also used to understand magnitude, trends, and characteristics of violent death and what factors protect people or put them at risk for experiencing violence.
CDC has received OMB approval for NVDRS since 2004. In this revision request CDC describes plans to (1) implement updates to the web-based system to improve performance, functionality, and accessibility, (2) add 13 new data elements to the web-based system, (3) add a School Associated Violent Death (SAVD) module as part of the NVDRS web-based system, (4) add new variables to NVDRS software, and (5) add a Public Safety Officer suicide module as part of the NVDRS web-based system.
In 2018, the NVDRS expanded by adding 10 new states and now includes all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territory health departments (56 jurisdictions). Jurisdictions are funded to abstract standard data elements from three primary data sources: Death certificates, coroner/medical examiner records, and law enforcement records, into a web-based data entry system, supplied by CDC. The exception is for large states that have more than 2,000 violent deaths occurring per year; these states have the option to collect data in selected counties/targeted areas that represent at least 40% of all violent deaths occurring within their jurisdiction, and some may achieve statewide coverage. The goal of NVDRS is to collect state-wide data in all funded entities. No sampling methods will be employed.
NVDRS website:
https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/datasources/nvdrs/index.html
NVDRS submission to OMB:
https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=202112-0920-012 Click on IC List for data collection instruments, View Supporting Statement for technical documentation. Submit comments through this webpage.
FR notice inviting public comment:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/01/19/2022-00855/agency-forms-undergoing-paperwork-reduction-act-review
For AEA members wishing to submit comments, "A Primer on How to Respond to Calls for Comment on Federal Data Collections" is available at
https://www.aeaweb.org/content/file?id=5806