Organizational Behavior in a Criminal Justice Agency

Abstract

In United States there are number of local, state and federal police agencies that serve the people by protecting them and make sure justice is provided. Police is the most noticeable part of government, which people recognize. They are armed with special powers and have the authority to deal with public using force. The paper discusses the factors that could improve the behavior of police officers as well as police organizations. The factors that influence police behaviors are also discussed. The areas on which there is a need to work for the betterment of the police department as well as the society are also highlighted. The important elements that challenge the effectiveness of an agency are similar to the factors, about which discussion has been made in the paper.

Organizational Behavior in a Criminal Justice Agency

Introduction

The organizational elements needed for different businesses to attain success, are also the basic need of criminal justice agencies (Cowie, 2008). Failure of organizational elements in a criminal justice agency may lead to critical situations. Employees of the agency can get hurt or killed, whereas, if the elements fail, things are different in other businesses (Cowie, 2008).

Discussion

Components of Criminal Justice System

There are three components of criminal justice system:

Police

Court

Corrections

Organizational behavior examines that how individuals, groups and structure effects behavior within an organization and then the knowledge gained from this study is applied to improve the organization's effectiveness (Robbins, 2007).

Organizational Behavior in a Criminal Justice System

Organizational Structure of American Policing

American policing is considered as an industry, similar to the scenarios with goods and services, as there are a number of service providers (Skogan & Frydll, 2004). The American police structure is extremely fragmented, as there is no strict management in coordinated agencies, which are at distinct government levels (Skogan & Frydl, 2004).

In the national budget, the most costly things taken are law enforcement and criminal justice system. Majority of the policing cost is locally bear. From 1996 to 1997, about $41 billion were spent by local government on policing (Skogan & Frydl, 2004). The entire allocation of 1981-1982 was approximately equaled by the nation's largest local police departments in the year 2000 (Skogan & Frydl, 2004). $13.1 billion were spent by 62 local agencies, which served cities having a population of 250,000 and above, for their departments' operation (Skogan & Frydl, 2004).

Overtimes are paid to police officers by numerous departments, for the staffing of special events, extension of special units' shifts, in case of emergencies and also for compensation of persistent understaffing (Skogan & Frydl, 2004).

Characteristics of Police Officers

By improving the characteristics and outlooks of police officers, American reformers are putting best of their efforts, since 150 years to improve the police practices (Skogan & Frydl, 2004). A number of reformers have dedicated their efforts towards hiring, developing and retaining officers, who don't have a single criminal record or have been addicted to drugs, in other who have a perfect moral character (Skogan & Frydl, ...