Criminal Justice Organizations Questions and Answers1

Criminal Justice Organizations Questions and Answers

1. What are some major problems with implementing the ideas of a human service model of employee supervision in criminal justice organizations? How do you think employees would react to such a supervision model?

One of the major problems of implementing the ideas of a human service model of employee supervision in criminal justice organizations is that the majority of the clientele that all employees of the criminal justice organizations tend to deal with on a consistent basis are soon-to-be and/or convicted criminals (United States Department of Justice, 2016). Dealing with what some would consider are the lowest common denominators of society, particularly to the law-abiding public servants would make a human service model of employee supervision in criminal justice organizations difficult. This is one of the key reasons, although consideration must also be given to the fact that the people who go through the criminal justice system are human beings and under the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States (Cornell University Law School, 2016). However, there are many fundamental rights that are stripped of criminals in American society. According to Freedom House (2016), criminals are often ruled by a judge legally not to live amongst one another, they have restrictions on gun ownership and they have restrictions once released on bond for even their movements within a certain area or restrictions on going out of a particular state as just a few examples. Due to these circumstances, one can easily find and determine that criminals are the lowest common denominator making it far more difficult to implement a human service model of employee supervision in criminal justice organizations. Perhaps the deceased rapper Tupac Shakur is right: “take the evil out of the people and they will be acting right” (Google Play Music, 2016).

2. What type of supervisor do most employees like to work for? Would they select a traditional, innovative, or supportive supervisor? Do you believe that employee personalities may influence what type of supervisor is favored?

The supervisor that most employees like to work for is a flexible one that understands the needs of their employees. The supervisor does not have any favorites in the office environment (or does not make this publicly known) and treats all of their employees equally. The supervisor does not tolerate any office gossip and/or in-fighting, as well constantly makes the work environment an enjoyable one to be one with their upbeat personality which is absolutely vital when you are working for criminal justice organizations. Employees of criminal justice organizations would choose a supportive supervisor over a traditional and/or innovative one because the environment of working in the criminal justice systems is so bleak at times that the support is greatly needed by the leader of the staff. I definitely believe that employee personalities would influence what type of supervisor would be favored. No one – and I mean no one – can please everyone at the same time. This is simply impossible! What I believe is not what someone else would believe, although I would have people agreeing with me at the same time as well (United States Department of Justice, 2016).

3. Describe the role of a probation officer. What are the norms and values associated with this work? Include those that can be regarded as legitimate, as well as, those regarded as illegitimate. What are the sources of these norms and values? How do education, training and the work experience influence them?

A probation officer keeps in touch with the convicted person to ensure that they are meeting the terms of their probation. The convicted person must visit in person the probation officer and if the convicted person fails to do so too many times, then the bond will be pulled and the convicted person can be re-arrested for violation of the probation. One of the terms of probation, if decreed by a judge or magistrate is for the convicted person to meet with their probation officer. The norms of this work are that a probation officer must be a person that believes in the improvement and well-being of human beings. Most probation officers have some type of social work and/or social studies background. Some probation officers have gone to college to specially be probation officers, or they have received training through the criminal justice organization (United States Department of Justice, 2016).

4. What are some of the biases that would underlie a police officer's discretionary decision whether or not to make an arrest? What biases or beliefs do you possess that would impact your decision to make an arrest or to release the offender?

Biases that would affect a police officer’s discretionary decision whether or not to make an arrest would be the following:

The race of the person – racial profiling does exist
The gender of the person – women have it easier in this regard
The comportment of the person – people that appear to be wealthier, such as class issues, would affect a police officer’s decision, as it would anyone
The language the person speaks – if the police officer cannot communicate with the person who may be arrested, this could cause a miscommunication problem
The physical or mental state of the person – if the person either seems drunk, high, mentally unstable, or is physically challenged, all of these factors plus others could affect the decisions that go into an arrest (United States Department of Justice, 2016).

All of the above would impact my decision if I were a police officer and making an arrest. I am human too.

5. Describe the role of ethics in a criminal justice organization. Why do incidences of corruption occur? How can administrators reduce the number of ethical violations?

The role of ethics in a criminal justice organization is important. It means that proper ethical conduct must be held up at all times regarding the relationships amongst court staff, as well as the relationships between police and prisoners or the accused, and/or even the relationships between probation officers and accused persons as just a few examples. Incidences of corruption occur mainly because sometimes certain persons do not see themselves as being paid enough for the work that they do, so they go through corrupt means to receive added pay in an illegal way. This latter point is one of the reasons. Administrators can reduce the number of ethical violations by having higher penalties for those people who do break the law concerning ethical conduct. Particularly with judges and the police – there really needs to be an ombudsman overseeing their actions (Freedom House, 2016).

1. Distinguish between power and authority. Do you believe the foundation of criminal justice organizations is power or authority? Why? Give examples in everyday criminal justice life that reflect the differences among these concepts.

Power is when you feel strong. Authority is when you can do something about that strength. The foundation of criminal justice organizations is authority. There are many people who may want to even steal something and because they know they would get caught and go to jail for it – the law – the authority of the law – prevents them from doing it (United States Department of Justice, 2016).

2. Think of the prison as a criminal justice organization. How does political power play out among life staff, supervisors, and administrators? Do inmates participate in the political structure?

Inmates do not really participate in the political structure of a prison unless they are keeping the peace and being of good behavior (United States Department of Justice, 2016).

3. Identify the best conflict-resolution strategy for dealing with a police emergency. Why is this the best course of action?

When dealing with a police emergency, the best thing to do is to remain as calm as possible if at all possible. This is good because the mind works better when it is calm (United States Department of Justice, 2016).

4. A growing number of line-level criminal justice practitioners have college degrees. Will the advanced education of these practitioners create greater or less resistance to change from within criminal justice organizations?

The growing number of these practitioners with advanced education will create less resistance to change from within criminal justice organizations (Freedom House, 2016).

5. Discuss why you think police officers and/or their supervisors may be skeptical of researchers asking questions in and around their department. Why would officers be inclined to cooperate or not cooperate? If you were the police chief, how would you handle this situation?

Social media, Twitter, Facebook, local, state and provincial television, radio – all of these things make police officers very careful about what they say because it could be proliferated in a nano-second now a days (United States Department of Justice, 2016).

References

Cornell University Law School. (2016). U.S. Constitution: Fourteenth Amendment. Ithaca, New

York: Cornell University. Retrieved from:

Freedom House. (2016). Rule of Law: Criminal Justice and Property Rights – Full Chapter.

Washington, DC: Freedom House. Retrieved from:

Shakur, T. (1992). “Changes,” Google Play Music. New York: Google. Retrieved from:

United States Department of Justice. (2016). Phasing Out our Use of Private Prisons.

Washington, DC: United States Government. Retrieved from: