INTERORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND NETWORK PROPERTIES AS CONTEXTUAL VARIABLES IN THE STUDY OF POLICE PERFORMANCE (FROM POLICE AND SOCIETY, 1977 BY DAVID H BAYLEY - SEE NCJ-44651)

• NCJ Number: 44659
• Author(s): J P CLARK; R H HALL; B HUTCHINSON
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 17 pages
• Corporate Author: Sage Publications, Inc; University of Denver
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE INFLUENCE OF ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT ON THE FUNCTIONING OF POLICE JUVENILE DIVISIONS IN 10 MAJOR U.S. CITIES IS EXAMINED.

Abstract

THE JUVENILE DIVISION TASKS CONSIDERED IN THE STUDY INCLUDE APPREHENDING JUVENILE OFFENDERS AND RUNAWAYS, INVESTIGATING OFFENSES OR COMPLAINTS ABOUT PROBLEM YOUTH, PROTECTING THE PUBLIC FROM PROBLEM YOUTH, WORKING WITH OTHER AGENCIES, PROMOTING POSITIVE COMMUNITY-POLICE RELATIONS PREVENTING JUVENILE CRIME, PROTECTING THE COMMUNITY BY PREVENTING AND CONTROLLING PROBLEM BEHAVIOR, AND CONDUCTING RESEARCH AND PLANNING PROGRAMS. RATINGS OF POLICE PERFORMANCE IN EACH TASK AREA AND ASSESSMENTS OF INTERORGANIZATIONAL VARIABLES WERE OBTAINED FROM OFFICERS IN THE JUVENILE DIVISIONS AND FROM SELECTED PERSONNEL IN JUVENILE COURTS, PROBATION OFFICES, DETENTION FACILITIES, SOCIAL WORK DIVISIONS OF SCHOOLS, AND JUVENILE DIVISIONS OF WELFARE AND MENTAL HEALTH AGENCIES. THE INTERORGANIZATIONAL VARIABLES EXAMINED INCLUDE FREQUENCY AND METHOD OF INTERAGENCY CONTACT, REASON FOR INTERAGENCY CONTACT, BASIS OF CONTACT, POWER OF THE POLICE AGENCY RELATIVE TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, IMPORTANCE OF THE INTERAGENCY CONTACT, QUALITY OF COORDINATION, EXTENT OF DISAGREEMENTS OR DISPUTES, EXTENT TO WHICH DIFFICULTIES ARE WORKED OUT, COMPATIBILITY OF OPERATING PHILOSOPHIES, QUALITY OF INTERAGENCY COMMUNICATIONS, AND IMAGE OF THE COMPETENCE OF AGENCY PERSONNEL. THE FINDINGS SHOW THAT THE NATURE OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL MILIEU IN WHICH POLICE OPERATE IS RELATED TO THE QUALITY OF THEIR TASK PERFORMANCE. THE QUALITIES OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL ENVIRONMENT MOST CONSISTENTLY AND HIGHLY RELATED TO POLICE PERFORMANCE ARE GOOD COORDINATION, A HIGH IMAGE OF POLICE PERSONNEL'S COMPETENCE, LOW INCIDENCE OF DISAGREEMENTS OR DISPUTES, EXTENSIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION, HIGH LEVEL OF INTERAGENCY COMMUNICATION, AND HIGHLY COMPATIBLE OPERATING PHILOSOPHIES. SUPPORTING DATA ARE INCLUDED.