Criminal Justice Leadership Strategies and Practices - Coursework Example

Running Head: LEADERSHIP Criminal Justice Leadership Strategies and Practices (a) What are the different Strategies? There is a different approach to criminal leadership and different theories are being adopted. There is a movement from the traditional approach, which concentrated on two types of leadership theories and these were applied in police administration. The traditional approaches may be with the inclusion of the scientific theory. Scientific theory was for the consideration that beat cops were more of instruments, with money as their only source of motivation. There was also the theory of human relations that considered them as informal since it was a hands-off kind of approach. As opposed to these, there are modern theories and these are; style, trait and situational leadership theories. Style theory focuses on the adoption of one style of management. This is based upon the manager’s position as far as initiating consideration and structures are concerned. There were three styles of leadership brought forward under this, laissez-fair, democratic and autocratic leadership styles. Trait theory, on the other hand, is said to have been highly popular in the 1900s. Up to the 1950s, this theory formed the major factor when it came to the persons who would become leaders as regards the organization of criminal justice. The theory forms its basis on a major assumption that all good leaders have particular traits that poor leaders lack. The third and the last theory is that of situational leadership. This theory recognizes that a work place is a form of complex setting, which is faced with various rapid changes. Thus, it would be inadequate and ineffective if one style of management is applied in these differing situations. Therefore, the most apt way to lead is reliant on the current situation. (McKinney, 2008) (b) Are there different strategies? There are three different modern strategies. These are; style, trait and situational leadership theories. Style theory focuses on the adoption of one style of management. This is based upon the manager’s position as far as initiating consideration and structures are concerned. There were three styles of leadership brought forward under this, laissez-fair, democratic and autocratic leadership styles. Trait theory, on the other hand, is said to have been highly popular in the 1900s. Up to the 1950s, this theory formed the major factor when it came to the persons who would become leaders as regards the organization of criminal justice. The theory forms its basis on a major assumption that all good leaders have particular traits that poor leaders lack. The third and the last theory is that of situational leadership. This theory recognizes that a work place is a form of complex setting, which is faced with various rapid changes. Thus, it would be inadequate and ineffective if one style of management is applied in these differing situations. Therefore, the most apt way to lead is reliant on the current situation. (McKinney, 2008) (c) How do strategies and practices differ and how are they integrated? As explained earlier, these strategies differ in their approach to leadership. For instance, the explanations given are as follows: Style theory focuses on the adoption of one style of management. This is based upon the manager’s position as far as initiating consideration and structures are concerned. There were three styles of leadership brought forward under this, laissez-fair, democratic and autocratic leadership styles. Trait theory, on the other hand, is said to have been highly popular in the 1900s. Up to the 1950s, this theory formed the major factor when it came to the persons who would become leaders as regards the organization of criminal justice. The theory forms its basis on a major assumption that all good leaders have particular traits that poor leaders lack. The third and the last theory is that of situational leadership. This theory recognizes that a work place is a form of complex setting, which is faced with various rapid changes. Thus, it would be inadequate and ineffective if one style of management is applied in these differing situations. Therefore, the most apt way to lead is reliant on the current situation. (McKinney, 2008) Their point of integration comes in where all of them they are all in modern use and that they are applied by criminal justice administrators. This is as McKinney puts it in his article about the same. (McKinney, 2008) 2. Organizational Culture (a) Think Corporate Culture While talking or thinking about corporate culture, one cannot possibly note the point of demarcation of this expression with organizational culture. There is no point of demarcation as far as both are concerned. Various organizations have unique cultures. One of the definitions of this term is that it is the way people see as well as do things around a given organization. It is through history, tradition and structure that any given organization is seen to come up with their culture. Therefore, any given organization is granted its identity sense by its culture. This culture, fundamentally, entails what a given people stand for, who they are, and what they do. This is determined by way of rituals, meanings, beliefs, legends, language, norms and values. In summary, and as aforementioned, it refers to the way things are carried out in any given organization. It reflects what that organization has been perfect at in the past as well as what has worked for them in the past periods. The values lifted from this are taken up without queries by the members of the organization, who have been serving it the longest. Once a new worker joins a given organization, the initial things to learn are with the inclusion of the legends of that organization. This includes how they used to operate and their formal credentials. It is of essence to note that legends of a given organization are in a position to stay as well as form part of the established culture. There may be a scenario, where the pioneering founders of an organization may view the essence of training and education and this culture will shift once new managers join the organization. Some of the legends continue to be of essence while determining an organizational culture, though. (businesscasestudies.co.uk, 2011) (b) “Thin Blue Line,” is it the part of the organizational culture According to Crank in his book, the ‘thin blue line’ refers to that symbolic moral guardianship, which the police do. One of the most outstanding evils is killing one of them, because it reflects as a direct assault to the society. The unconditional backing from outsiders such as public officials and the press is a form of forced affirmation of the police’s moral righteousness as well as the vulnerability of the policed society. (Crank, 2004 p347) This can be seen as an organizational culture, amongst the police. This is because, it a day-to-day way of life of a police and it is also expected by the society of them. Thus, the society cannot go against such. Therefore, the police view their work with a perspective of mission. Through this, they feel that they are obliged to safeguard the existing social order. However, it would lead to fateful results in situations where their authority was under threat. (Dixon, 1999 p106) (c) What is an “organizational culture?” As aforementioned, it refers to the way things are carried out in any given organization. Various organizations have unique cultures. One of the definitions of this term is that it is the way people see as well as do things around a given organization. It is through history, tradition and structure that any given organization is seen to come up with their culture. Therefore, any given organization is granted its identity sense by its culture. This culture, fundamentally, entails what a given people stand for, who they are, and what they do. This is determined by way of rituals, meanings, beliefs, legends, language, norms and values. (businesscasestudies.co.uk, 2011) 3. Behavioral Theory (a) Define “Behavioral Theory” Behavioral theory is simply defined as that belief that the rate of success for any given leader forms its basis upon the way that leader behaves. (businessdictionary.com, 2011) (b) Discussion on behavioral theory Behavioral theory is highly intertwined with behavioral management. Behavioral management as a theory directs its attention to any given organization’s human element. The major premise under this is that more satisfaction with regards to workers will translate to better performance. Some scholars have made studies on this topic of behavioral theory. Under behavior management theory, scholars like McGregor, Maslow and Hawthorne have made studies on the same. Hawthorne carried out various experiments regarding this topic, McGregor came up with the X/Y behavior theory, and maturity theory, and Maslow had the hierarchy of needs. To a manager, behavior theories are very vital to that manager who regards him/herself as the organization’s leader. These characteristics of behavior of leaders are the ones that show the difference existing between leaders and non-leaders. Just to mention, there is the Walter Newsom’s advocacy for the theory of expectancy. This theory states that workers of any given organization are most likely to do what they are expected to do, so long as the organization states that that particular behavior is what is expected and at the same time there will be a reward for the same. Mayo, Elton on the other hand did what is referred to as the study of Hawthorne. This study concentrated upon the factors that are likely to account for a fall in productivity. There were two groups that were used to conduct this; the experiment and the control groups. The result, after making an observation was that workers are likely to produce more, so longs as they held the believe that the managers were attentive to what they were doing. Through this, thus, managers can increase productivity of workers if they addressed the needs of workers as well as listening to their wants, which would lead to higher motivation levels. (Hall, 2003) (c) How does it effect a criminal justice agency? In the criminal justice agency front, leadership behavior is very essential. Behavior school concentrates on the management theories of leadership. A major leadership theory that falls under this is the servant leadership. Thus, as per the argument behind this, managers are supposed to view themselves as being in a position to offer service, just like the case is in the employee scenario. The overall result will be more production. As recognized by Ohio State Studies, leadership has two dimensions and these are consideration and structure. Consideration is there where there exists a relationship of trust, subordinates’ ideas respect and a concern for the feelings of the subordinates. Structure is there where the leader makes a definition of the role of subordinates as well as his/her role. Emphasis in the school of behavior is placed upon the understanding that is to be placed on the organizational individual. Leadership is an influence relationship as opposed to that of control. The aim is at building up individuals and as a result improving the relations existing between superiors and subordinates. (Hall, 2003) 4. Planning (a) How is “planning” integrated in the pieces of this assignment? Under criminal justice planning is connected to a high extent to coordination. These refer to that function that community entities and local governmental entities in a given county enter a partnership with one another so as to promote, coordinate and finally, evaluate local criminal justice system’s administration. Note that this can also happen at a state level. For there to be success in the functions’ local criminal justice planning, there exists two essential components. These are; a committee of criminal justice coordinating with the equivalent leadership and membership and sufficient analytical/planning staff. A coordinating committee for criminal justice is formed by top policy makers and elected officials from agencies of criminal justice, community organizations and general government in the particular county. These, as leaders usually meet regularly so that they can continue with their planning of policies process. They also revise or create other policies after consent so that they can ensure effectiveness and efficiency of the system of local criminal justice. The policies will later aid in the achievement of the set goals in the local system of justice. On the other hand, the planning staffs serve in giving the committee some ideas. These ideas are such as innovative procedures as well as information. These help the committee to understand as well as analyze issues that lead to their making informed, and data-driven decisions with regards to policy. The members of the planning staff possess skills, knowledge, and abilities which aid them in identifying, researching, analyzing and proposing solutions to numerous issues that face the local system of criminal justice. (jeffco.us, 2011) (b) How does “planning” effect an agency? As can be lifted from Nashville.gov website, the major goal under criminal justice planning is to aid in better planning by the policy makers for the future expectations about demographic correctional facilities, services of criminal justice, intermediate sanctions and programs. The main focus by systems of criminal justice planning is forecast inmate populations under the supervision of correctional computer modeling. It presents reports per annum, which help to predict as well as assess the correctional population of inmates after a five-year period for a given county. It also, as a department, provides accurate data as well as a credible analysis to the persons that make policies, while making decisions for the justice system of a county. (Nashville.gov, 2011) 5. Community Relations (a) How do the other pieces integrate into creating good community relations or negative community relations? Community relations, fundamentally, refer to an organization, company or any other entity’s relationship with the surrounding community. Community relations can, thus, be taken to an entity’s cultivation of a positive kind of relationship and reputation to the members of public neighboring the organization. This forms a very crucial part of the organization’s corporate public relations. In the public relations, an entity is likely to make huge strides forward if it has a positive kind of community relation. This also serves in making the neighbors and the community to understand what the corporation does as a function or a role and this makes them to be in a better position to support such. It, basically, refers to both participation and support of local communities. (publicrelationsideas.com, 2011) In this study’s scenario, therefore, good community relations would involve good corporate culture in the criminal justice system. It would also call for a good ‘thin blue line’ besides proper criminal justice planning. Anything against these would lead to a bad community relation. (b) How important is community relations to a criminal justice agency? Due to negative community relations, due to such scenarios as repressive policing by some of communities, it may result into a hard task while trying to reduce the levels of disorderly kind of behavior. Therefore, good community relations have to be established in a criminal justice system for there to be success in the tasks carried out. (Travis, 2007 p509) In the public relations, an entity is likely to make huge strides forward if it has a positive kind of community relation. This also serves in making the neighbors and the community to understand what the corporation does as a function or a role and this makes them to be in a better position to support such. It, basically, refers to both participation and support of local communities. (publicrelationsideas.com, 2011) References: businessdictionary.com. (2011). Behavioral Theory. Retrieved 17 December 2011 http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/behavioral-theory.html businesscasestudies.co.uk. (2011). Strategy Theory: Corporate and Organizational Culture. Retrieved 17 December 2011 http://businesscasestudies.co.uk/business- theory/strategy/corporate-and-organisational-culture.html Crank, John P. (2004). Understanding police culture. Edition 2, revised. Elsevier. p347. Dixon, David. (1999). A culture of corruption: changing an Australian police service. Hawkins Press. p106. Hall, Aric. (2003). Behavioral Management Theory. Retrieved 17 December 2011 http://www.arichall.com/academic/papers/jus250-behavioral-mgt.pdf jeffco.us. (2011). Criminal Justice Planning. Retrieved 18 December 2011 http://jeffco.us/cjp/index.htm McKinney, Caol. (2008). Modern Leadership Theories in Criminal Justice. Retrieved 18 December 2011 http://voices.yahoo.com/modern-leadership-theories-criminal-justice- 1338251.html nashville.gov. (2011). Criminal Justice Planning. Retrieved 17 December 2011 http://www.nashville.gov/cjp/ publicrelationsideas.com. (2011). Community Relations. Retrieved 18 December 2011 http://publicrelationsideas.com/community_relations_000671.html Travis, Lawrence F. (2007). Introduction to Criminal Justice. Edition 7. Elsevier. p509. Read More