OVC Technical Assistance Guide: Guide to Protecting Human Subjects

• NCJ Number: 228964
• Date Published: January 2010
• Length: 7 pages
• Agencies: OVC
• Publication Type: Technical Assistance

Annotation

This guide is part of the Office for Victims of Crime's (OVC's) online series of technical assistance guides that serve as tools for victim service providers and allied professionals that need to conduct program evaluations or needs assessments.

Abstract

Conducting program evaluations is an important part of operating and managing any program. This step allows program managers to determine whether their programs are meeting the needs of their client base and achieving the overall goals of their program. When conducting a program evaluation, program managers need to be aware of Federal regulations that protect the privacy and confidentiality of persons involved in the research. This guide, from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime, provides basic information about these regulations and how they relate to the program evaluation or needs assessment. The guide is divided into four sections: 1) why human subjects need to be protected and what Federal regulations are in place to protect them; 2) which activities may be subject to Federal law regarding privacy for study participants; 3) who is responsible for approving activities affected by Federal privacy regulations; and 4) forms that can be used to protect privacy and confidentiality of study participants. A resource section includes a list of organizations that are available to provide assistance to program managers, and a glossary of terms used in the guide. 2 appendixes