[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 28, Volume 2]
[Revised as of July 1, 2001]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 28CFR512.14]

[Page 461]
 
                    TITLE 28--JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION
 
           CHAPTER V--BUREAU OF PRISONS, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
 
PART 512--RESEARCH--Table of Contents
 
                           Subpart B--Research
 
Sec. 512.14  Submission and processing of proposal.

    (a) An applicant may submit a preliminary research proposal for 
review by the Office of Research and Evaluation, Federal Bureau of 
Prisons, 320 First Street, NW., Washington, DC 20534. Staff response to 
the preliminary proposal does not constitute a final decision.
    (b) If the study is to be conducted at only one institution, the 
applicant shall submit a formal proposal to the warden of that 
institution. Proposal processing will be as follows:
    (1) The warden shall appoint a local research review board to 
consult with operational staff, to evaluate the proposal for compliance 
with research policy, and to make recommendations to the warden. The 
local research review board is encouraged, but not required, to meet the 
membership requirements of an IRB, as specified in 28 CFR part 46.
    (2) The warden shall review the comments of the board, make a 
recommendation regarding the proposal, and forward the proposal package 
to the Regional Director, with a copy to the Chief, ORE.
    (3) The Regional Director shall review the proposal and forward 
recommendations to the Chief, ORE.
    (c) If the study is to be conducted at more than one institution or 
at any other Bureau location, the applicant shall submit the research 
proposal to the Chief, Office of Research and Evaluation, Federal Bureau 
of Prisons, 320 First Street, NW., Washington, DC 20534. The Chief, ORE, 
shall determine an appropriate review process.
    (d) All formal proposals will be reviewed by the BRRB.
    (e) The BRRB chairperson may exercise the authority of the full BRRB 
under an expedited review process when another official IRB (either 
within or outside the Bureau) has approved the research, or when, in 
his/her judgment, the research proposal meets the minimal risk standard 
and involves only the following:
    (1) The study of existing data, documents, or records; and/or
    (2) The study of individual or group behavior or characteristics of 
individuals, where the investigator does not manipulate subjects' 
behavior and the research will not involve stress to subjects. Such 
research would include test development and studies of perception, 
cognition, or game theory. If a proposal is processed under expedited 
review, the BRRB chairperson must document in writing the reason for 
that determination.
    (f) The Chief, ORE, shall review all recommendations made and shall 
submit them in writing to the Director, Bureau of Prisons.
    (g) The Director, Bureau of Prisons, has final authority to approve 
or disapprove all research proposals. The Director may delegate this 
authority to the Assistant Director, Information, Policy, and Public 
Affairs Division.
    (h) The approving authority shall notify in writing the involved 
region(s), institution(s), and the prospective researcher of the final 
decision on a research proposal.

[59 FR 13860, Mar. 23, 1994, as amended at 62 FR 6661, Feb. 12, 1997]

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