Working Toward the Future: Why and How to Collaborate Effectively

• NCJ Number: 215902
• Journal: Corrections Today Magazine Volume: 68 Issue: 5 Dated: August 2006 Pages: 44-48
• Author(s): Judith Berman
• Date Published: August 2006
• Length: 5 pages
• Grant Number(s): SJI-99 N-039-CO1-1
• Sponsoring Agency: State Justice Institute
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Instructional Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article discusses the nature of collaboration, the challenges and benefits of collaboration, competent team members, and the content of the Web site on collaborative justice.

Abstract

The purpose of collaboration is to create a shared vision and joint strategies to address concerns that rely upon but go beyond the expertise of any one party in the collaboration. In the criminal and juvenile justice systems, collaboration can bring achievements that would be impossible with the resources of only one of the parties. A common purpose is the basis for motivating and structuring the collaborative endeavor. Being a competent team member in a collaboration requires both an understanding of how the agency represented fits into the goals of the collaboration, as well as knowledge of and skill in the collaboration process. The greatest challenge for members of the collaboration team is to modify customary methods of operation and priorities as a single agency in order to commit to the goals and cooperative process of the collaboration. If one or a few agencies represented in the collaboration attempt to impose their priorities and operational methods in the collaboration, the collaboration's distinctive goals will not be achieved. Among the greatest benefits of collaboration is an increase in mutual understanding among the agencies involved regarding how their work impacts other agencies in the criminal justice system. An important benefit for corrections is assuming a shared responsibility for public safety with other criminal justice agencies. The State Justice Institute and the Center for Effective Public Policy have developed the Collaborative Justice Web site. Products on the Web site include a training curriculum for a multiday workshop for enhancing the effectiveness of criminal justice teams. Monographs cover a number of topics related to collaborative teams. 3 notes