Chapter Two – The Structure of Criminal Justice Organizations

Define three major differences between the open system and the closed system.

Define hierarchical and organic. Define the major differences between centralized and

decentralized organizations. Define organizational mission, policy, and procedure. Understand the basics of agency budgeting. Understand the difference between the formal and informal

structure of an organization. Understand the role of administration in promoting agency

ethics. Understand agencies through the four frames perspective.

Criminal justice organizations vary greatly in size, structure and purpose.

Criminal justice organizations are compared by:o Their organizational models

• Hierarchical versus Organico Their structural dimensions

• Task specialization• Formalization• Span of control• Centralization versus Decentralization• Complexity• Allocation of line and staff personnel

Hierarchical

Structurally rigid-clear chain of command.

Leadership exists within supervisor/subordinate relationships.

Function best in stable or predictable environments.

Communications is vertical and downward.

Organic

Loosely connected-authority is diffused.

Leadership is more peer-oriented.

Can function efficiently in unstable or unpredictable environments.

Communication is horizontal.

Hierarchical

Focus on processes, procedures, and rules.

Decision making and conflict resolution come from the top.

Workers perform narrowly defined (specialized) tasks.

Responsibility is individually based.

Organic

Focus on results. Decision making and

conflict resolution can come from anywhere.

Workers may perform a number of tasks.

Responsibility may be team based.

Task Specialization – the process of dividing work processes unto smaller tasks.o Narrowly defined work tasks = high task

specializationo Broadly defined work tasks = low task

specialization

Formalization – the establishment of written rules and regulations that govern the work activities.o High levels of formalization (many rules)o Low levels of formalization (few rules)

Span of Control – the number of subordinates reporting to a supervisor.o Wide (more subordinates per supervisor)o Narrow (few subordinates per supervisor)

Centralization versus Decentralizationo In centralized organizations important decisions

are made by upper managers.o In decentralized organizations important

decisions are made in the lower levels.

Complexity – defined by the number of units within an organization.o Vertical complexity – number of levels in the chain of

command (tall organizations).o Horizontal complexity – number of units across the

organization (flat organizations).

Line/Staff Allocation – the balance between line and staff personnel.o Line employees ‘exist’ within the chain of command.o Staff employees ‘exist’ outside the chain of command.

The ideal bureaucracy has;o A written mission that is logically implemented by,o Policies and procedures,o Performed by employees who;• Understand and accept the mission,• Have a working knowledge of the policies and

procedures, and• Carry out their tasks in accordance with their job

descriptions.

A mission is a statement of an organization’s; o Common purpose,o Continuing purpose for existing,o Ideology,o Values, ando Operating principles (Houston and Parsons, 2006).

Provides clear understanding of an agency’s purpose, goals, and objectives.

Declares an agency’s values and operating philosophy. Provides employees with a basis for ethical decision

making. Helps keep an organization’s daily activities focused.

Policy – a clear statement that defines what action is to be taken and why. Policies include a;o Statement of purpose,o Required action, ando Rationale for that purpose.

Procedure – step-by-step descriptions of the activities that agency members need to follow to achieve the objective or goal put forth by a policy.

Criminal justice organizations acquire resources through a process that is cyclical, formal, and political.

Line-item budgeting is the most common form.

Periodically, the agency must submit to an audit to determine whether they have spent the funds appropriately.

The goals, activities, or structures that are not officially acknowledged by an organization.

The informal structure may be a product of an organization’s actual culture and includes;o The informal communications system – the

grapevine or rumor mill.o Informal work groups – loosely knit teams organized

on an ad hoc basis.o Informal leadership – individuals with a great deal of

expertise and communication skills.

Organizations can be analyzed effectively when viewed through four frames or perspectives (Bolman and Deal, 2003).

Each frame describes distinctive attributes of an organization.

Viewing organizations through these frames helps locate problems within the organization.

Structural frame – the organizational hierarchy, division of labor, job descriptions, mission, policies, procedures, etc.

Human resource frame – assumes organizations exist to serve human rather than organizational needs.

Political frame – views organization as a place in which interest groups compete for scarce resources.

Symbolic frame – views organizations as tribes, theater, or carnivals in which organizational culture is driven by ritual, ceremonies, stories, heroes, and myths rather than be managerial authority.

Closed systems are hierarchical, formal, and mechanistic. Open systems are informal and organic. They rely on

professionalism. Hierarchy refers to an agency’s chain of command. The term organic describes loosely structured professional

organizations. In centralized organizations, authority and decision

making is at the top of the structure. In decentralized organizations, authority and decision

making are generally founded at the lower levels of the structure.

Mission is a statement of the organization’s purpose. Policies explain what needs to be done to achieve the

mission. Procedures are step by step directions on how to

implement policies. Public agencies request funds to operate from the political

entities they serve. Budgets need to be approved, implemented, and audited

for compliance.

Informal structure refers to the purpose, goals, and activities that are not officially acknowledged.

The formal structure refers to the officially recognized arrangement of the organization.

Administrators have a duty to operate ethically and to indoctrinate agency members with organizational ethics.

Viewing organizations through structural, human resources, political, and symbolic frames provides a unique analytical perspective.

After years of civil rights litigation, labor union disputes and political change, the Bigton Police Department has hired a new chief from another department in the hopes of making some changes.

This new chief is given the authority (and responsibility) to make significant changes to improve the department.

Using the four frames model (Bolman and Deal, 2003) develop a list of questions within each of the four frames that the chief might use to identify the source of this agency’s problems.