NCJ Number
65538
Journal
RESIDENTIAL AND COMMUNITY CHILD CARE ADMINISTRATION Volume: 1 Issue: 2 Dated: (SUMMER 1979) Pages: 121-140
Date Published
1979
Length
20 pages
Annotation
THIS REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ON THE DECISIONMAKING PROCESS IN INSTITUTIONAL SETTINGS FOCUSES ON ORGANIZATION MEMBERS' PARTICIPATION AND ITS EFFECT ON THE ACHIEVEMENT OF ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS.
Abstract
THE FOCUS OF THE DISCUSSION IS THE JUVENILE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION. IN THE ORGANIZATIONAL SETTING, THE DECISIONMAKING PROCESS IS THE SELECTION OF ALTERNATIVES TOWARD ACHIEVING THE ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS. ORGANIZATIONS ARE INFLUENCED BY 3 BASIC FACTORS: THE CULTURAL SYSTEM WHICH SETS LEGITIMATE GOALS; THE TECHNOLOGY WHICH DETERMINES THE MEANS AVAILABLE FOR REACHING THESE GOALS; AND THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE IN WHICH SPECIFIC TECHNIQUES PERMIT GOAL ACHIEVEMENT. CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS BELONG TO AN ORGANIZATION CATEGORY OFTEN TERMED PEOPLE-WORK OR PEOPLE-PROCESSING. THEIR MAJOR FUNCTION IS TO WORK ON PEOPLE, AND THEY ARE USUALLY RESOCIALIZATION SYSTEMS CORRECTING CERTAIN SOCIAL OR PSYCHOLOGICAL DEFICIENCIES IN THEIR CLIENTS. THE LITERATURE REVEALS THAT INMATE PARTICIPATION IN THE DECISIONMAKING PROCESS WITHIN THE INSTITUTIONAL ORGANIZATION HAS A POSITIVE EFFECT ON INMATE ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR. INMATES EXPRESS MORE FAVORABLE DISPOSITION TOWARD THE STAFF AND BETTER POSSIBILITIES FOR COOPERATION. PARTICIPATORY DECISIONMAKING ALSO NEUTRALIZES AUTHORITARIAN CONTROL AND FACILITATES INDIVIDUAL MOTIVATION. IT INCREASES INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY LEADING TO HIGHER GROUP LOYALTY AND GROUP PERFORMANCE STANDARDS. OFFENDERS HAVE A HIGHER DEGREE OF IDENTIFICATION WITH ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS AND THE ADMINISTRATION CAN TAKE MORE INITIATIVE TOWARD ACHIEVING THEIR RECLAMATION, RESOCIALIZATION, AND REHABILITATION GOALS. THESE EFFECTS ARE LESS CONCLUSIVE AND LESS POSITIVE IN THE POST-RELEASE PERIOD. THE ARTICLE RECOMMENDS THAT ACTION RESEARCH PROGRAMS BE CONDUCTED IN THIS FIELD TO EVALUATE VARIOUS METHODS OF PARTICIPATION IN THE DECISIONMAKING PROCESS. EFFORTS SHOULD ALSO BE MADE TO DEVELOP MORE SOPHISTICATED CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS APPENDED. (MJW)