The Administration and Management of Criminal Justice Organizations: A Book of Readings

Administrators of contemporary criminal justice organizations must balance their finite resources among an ever-changing list of infinite demands. Challenges come from a diverse range of constituent groups within an agency as well as from offenders and the community, often resulting in contradictory requests. The articles in this outstanding collection introduce the reader to the complexity of court, police, and correctional organizations, resulting in an appreciation of the role of the administrator. They question traditional methods and practices as administrators meet the organizational demands of the twenty-first century. These ideas permeate the five sections of the text. The first section places criminal justice organizations in the context of their structure and function. Section two examines the role of the individual by stressing the importance of an individual’s adaptation to organizational composition and demands. Section three covers group behavior, emphasizing the links between formal and informal elements within criminal justice organizations. Section four highlights the importance of criminal justice processes for an understanding of criminal justice administration. Finally, section five examines change within criminal justice organizations, noting that many reforms bring about unintended consequences for both criminal justice administrators and society.