NCJ Number
64997
Journal
Federal Probation Pages: 51-54
Date Published
Unknown
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE OPERATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF TODAY'S CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS REQUIRE CONTEMPORARY MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES AND THE SYSTEMS APPROACH OFFERS POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO CORRECTIONAL PROBLEMS.
Abstract
THE SYSTEMS APPROACH TO CORRECTIONS SEES THE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION AS BEING COMPOSED OF MANY INTERRELATED PARTS OPERATING TOGETHER TO ACCOMPLISH CORRECTIONAL GOALS. APPLYING THE SYSTEMS APPROACH REQUIRES SYSTEMS ANALYSIS--SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVE COURSES OF ACTION WHICH MIGHT BE TAKEN TO ACHIEVE SPECIFIED OBJECTIVES. THE WHOLE SYSTEM MUST BE INTEGRATED AND EACH SUBSYSTEM, OR PART, OF THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM MUST OPERATE TOWARD A COMMON GOAL. THE NATURE OF INPUTS MUST BE CONSIDERED. DRUG OR NARCOTIC OFFENDERS CURRENTLY REPRESENT A CHANGE IN CORRECTIONAL INPUTS, AND THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM MUST DEVELOP PROGRAMS SUITABLE FOR THESE INMATES. EX-INMATES ARE ONE OF THE OUTPUTS OF A CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM, AND THEIR QUANTITY MUST BE MAINTAINED TO PREVENT OVERCROWDING AS MUST THEIR QUALITY IN ORDER TO FULFILL REHABILITATIONAL GOALS. OUTPUTS MUST BE MONITORED TO INSURE THAT THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM IS MEETING ITS GOALS. PROPER FEEDBACK IS NECESSARY TO INSURE A CONTROL POINT IN OUTPUTS. CORRECTIONAL SYSTEMS SHOULD ALSO EVALUATE THEIR OUTPUTS AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE FIELD SINCE THE CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATOR CAN LEARN FROM THE EVALUATION OF THE EX-INMATE WHAT ADJUSTMENTS TO THE SYSTEM ARE NECESSARY FOR IMPROVED MAINTAINABILITY. DATA MUST ALSO BE SHIFTED TO INSURE THAT ONLY RELEVANT INFORMATION REACHES CONTROL POINTS SINCE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT CONTROL POINTS ARE OF PRIMARY IMPORTANCE. THE DIRECTOR MUST PROVIDE PROPER DIRECTION FOR THE SYSTEM AND BE CAPABLE OF EVALUATING FEEDBACK INFORMATION. THE SYSTEMS APPROACH TO CORRECTIONS THUS INVOLVES LOOKING AT THE TOTAL PICTURE AND WEIGHING THE LIABILITIES AND ASSETS OF EACH UNIT AGAINST ANOTHER, THEREBY CREATING A BALANCED SYSTEM, FREE OF INTERDEPARTMENT CONFLICT AND UNITED IN GOAL PURSUITS. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS APPENDED.