ORGANIZATIONAL THEORY

My Theory of Public Organizational



My Theory of Public Organizational

Alameda County Probation Department is divided into two divisions: Juvenile Division and Adult Division. Each division is divided into several units. The department has a history of being one of the best departments is not just the state of California, but also in the nation. Over the last few years, the department's reputation has been on the decline. The department's reputation seems to be caused by staff. The staff's morale is on the decline because the style of government is pseudo-military when many of the staff has a Bachelor degree in a field of human behavior, a social science or sociology. Former Chief Sylvia Johnson had secured millions of dollars to build not only a new juvenile detention facility, but a Juvenile Justice Center. She had in-put from the stake holders. The new facility would have offices for Probation Officers, a wing for behavioral health/mental health staff, it would house the courts, provide offices for judges, the district attorneys, and public defenders. The detention center would be a 500 bed facility. The plans also included adequate parking space. Chief Johnson retired before the facility was built.

In coming Chief Donald Blevins, decided that he could save some money. Mind you the cost to build the facility was grant-funded. It did not come from county or departmental coffers. He sent over $5 million dollars back to the government agency that funded the project. He decided that all that parking was not necessary. He decided that the facility could survive with half those beds. He also neglected to provide space for the Behavior Health staff. All departments except the courts provide support for Probation. All Probation Officers in Alameda County have historically had private offices with the prime offices (offices with windows going to senior Deputy Probation Officers). When it came time to move into this beautiful new facility, Behavioral Health had no office space. So Chief Blevins decided to give Behavioral Health the Probation Officers offices. Now the Probation Officers at the Juvenile Justice Centers have cubicles. Every other unit who newly moved into the Juvenile Justice Center had wonderful offices, Probation Officers had none. They had offices at the “old hall.” New and improved was not better for them.

One would think that a person who works in public service would actually desire to provide service to the public. Contrary, it seems that some of our colleagues are here just to collect a pay check and to see who can get the least work done in a day. Could this low-morale be a direct result of the office environment? When the Probation Officers voiced their concerns, Chief Blevins said, “Quit whining.”The new Juvenile Justice Center as designed by Chief Johnson would have had a parking garage. Now the facility that has more staff than ever before, has limited parking space. Parents who came to court were late for hearings because they could not find a ...