Organizational behaviors
The second week’s feedback suggests that each employee is distinct in their psychology and ability to fit in. Over time, the concept of organizational behavior evolved in breadth (Hitt et al., 2017). This research spawned modern theories of corporate organization and decision-making. Racial, economic, and gender roles affect how workers collaborate and function as a team. These studies consider identity and history. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation handles prison and parole enforcement and its headquarters are located in Sacramento. 66,000 federal officers and 42,000 local police officers are employed by the CDCR. After Customs and Border Protection and the New York City Police Department, CDCR is the third largest law enforcement agency in the United States. A peace officer oath was administered by CDCR correctional officials to law enforcement officers. The CDCR has 24,000 peace officers, 1,800 state parole officers, and 150 investigators working for it in 2013. 66,000 federal officers and 42,000 local police officers are employed by the CDCR. The CDCR is the third-largest law enforcement agency in the United States, behind Customs and Border Protection and the New York City Police Department. The state’s prison and parole enforcement agency is the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). Sacramento is where the company’s headquarters are located. A total of 66,000 federal police officers and 42,000 municipal police officers are employed by the CDCR. The CDCR is the third-largest law enforcement agency in the United States, behind Customs and Border Protection and the New York City Police Department. Sworn peace officers are now employed by the CDCR detention facility. More than 24,000 peace officers, 1,800 state parole officers, and 150 criminal investigators were employed by the CDCR in 2013. Over 66,000 federal police officers and 42,000 municipal police officers work for the CDCR as part of its mission. The CDCR is the third-largest law enforcement agency in the United States, behind Customs and Border Protection and the New York City Police Department (Farrell & Reichert, 2017). Officers of the CDCR Correctional Facility and Detention Center have sworn peace officers. It needs to cope with security issues of recidivism and prison escapes.
Factors that may have led to the issues
Prison escapes occur for several reasons. No crook ever thinks he will be caught. Everyone has a strategy to avoid being caught when people are imprisoned and cut off from their loved ones, their natural impulses to “fight or flight” kick in. “Fight” is seldom an option for inmates (Musick & Gunsaulus-Musick, 2017). He seizes an “opportunity” to join a gang of convicts attempting to leave. Sometimes a person reaches a psychological breaking point and feels that even death is better than the existing quo. Every year, tens of thousands of inmates are freed. Pre-release rehabilitation programs help detainees lead law-abiding, crime-free lives. Services include drug abuse education and treatment. Various studies show that well-designed and implemented programs may minimize recidivism and repeat offenders
Intervention and implementation strategies
The program’s structure for implementing performance issues at correctional facilities should be based on empirical facts first. Implementing a research-based methodology increases the chance of reducing recidivism. The Washington State Institute for Public Policy analysis shows the potential advantages of adopting evidence-based interventions (WSIPP). WSIPP selected research-based rehabilitation programs after evaluating assessment studies of different in-prison and community-based programs (Turner, 2018). It then assessed the financial advantages to Washington state and local governments if the plans were fully implemented. According to WSIPP, these interventions might decrease recidivism sufficiently to yield net budgetary gains. An extensive study backed this up. It has been noted that CTE programs in California might save the state money by lowering recidivism. The net savings might vary based on how Californian expenditures differ from Washington (such as managing jails and rehabilitation programs) and how well California implemented CTE initiatives.
The initiatives should also be evaluated for cost-effectiveness. Evidence-based rehabilitation programs are more likely to reduce recidivism, but they must still be examined directly (Turner, 2018). An assessment is required to evaluate the program’s recidivism-reducing effectiveness. An assessment is vital for two reasons. Even if a program has worked elsewhere, it is conceivable that it will not work in California. Because the convict population in California is so different from the target group, several components of the program cannot be replicated. Because rehabilitation programs must be cost-effective, public funds may be spent efficiently. As a result, the state allows more crime than necessary by not funding the most effective measures.
In addition, the initiatives must also target the most vulnerable and needy convicts. Reducing recidivism requires focusing on the most at-risk and in-need offenders. A 2010 research indicated that high-risk convicts who engaged in Ohio rehabilitation programs for at least a year had an eight percentage point lower recidivism rate than those who did not. Low-risk convicts who participated in programs for more than a year had a 7% greater recidivism rate than those who participated for less than a year. By giving effective rehabilitation programs to its most at-risk and needy convicts, the CDCR might reduce future crime and benefit local and state governments financially. The risk and need evaluations should be re-validated whenever there is a large change in the prisoner population. During validation, the evaluation is checked for accuracy. Assessing former prisoner populations may not correctly represent contemporary inmate numbers. Because risk evaluations are not regularly validated, high-risk convicts may be mislabeled as low-risk and denied crucial rehabilitation and treatment.
Policies when the problems arose
According to what we learned in week three, the issues such as prison breaks are a result of poor housing designs. The organization has faced several instances of prison breaks. First, the Housing Score did not match the department’s goals. The CDCR may be overprotecting inmates prone to minor misconduct but not significant misbehavior. To over-secure or over-restrict convicts goes against the department’s declared aim. We observed many elements that put into doubt the technique used by CDCR. We discovered that CDCR adjusted the approach without reassessing its accuracy, various modifications—such as changes in the prisoner population demographics—could have harmed its accuracy, and the methodology seems to underweight age (Bird et al., 2017). We discovered that the yearly recalculation of prisoner housing ratings has never been assessed. Moreover, the need for certain housing score overrides was unclear. Inmates’ age, time served, and behavior are three factors for which staff can override a housing score. CDCR rules now restrict some convicts from low security housing and monitoring. These policies place certain inmates in unnecessarily restrictive environments, increasing state costs and operational challenges.
Policy changes and implementation
To assign a new degree of housing security, CDCR must devise a new mechanism. It is advisable that the CDCR works with private investigators to device a new system for assigning offenders to housing levels upon arrival and annually afterward. We believe a better method might reduce prison violence and other misconduct while decreasing the likelihood of long-term detention (Bird et al., 2017). Expanding the Lowest Security Levels is also a possibility. On behalf of low-risk sex offenders, convicts serving longer terms, and inmates sought by other law enforcement agencies, we urge the Legislature to instruct CDCR to create protocols for housing them in the least secure settings feasible. It is also suggested that the facility install security cameras to watch how inmates and staff respond, as done at High Desert State Prison (HDSP). The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation utilizes this facility as a test site to explore whether cameras might help inmates and personnel stay safe.
Institutional behavior
Overcrowding and an unsustainable budget drove California’s correctional system from $5 billion in 2000–01 to $9 billion in 2010–11. In addition, the Supreme Court of the United States ordered prisoners in US prisons to be lowered to 137.5 percent of their design capacity in 2011 to satisfy constitutional standards for mental health and medical treatment (Simon, 2016). Legislature eventually passed Assembly Bill 109, the 2011 Realignment Legislation (realignment), which transferred the responsibility for incarcerating low-level offenders from the state to local governments, including counties. Despite reducing state prison inmates due to realignment, California’s recidivism rate remains high. The organizational culture aggravated the problem.
Change recommendations
According to lessons learned in week four, to reduce the possibility of criminals committing other crimes after release, it is important to intensify corrections by improving rehabilitation programs(Bird et al., 2017). Corrections have struggled to reliably place offenders on waiting lists for critical rehabilitation programs or prioritize those in need. As a result, 62 percent of offenders released in 2017–18 who were deemed recidivists received no rehabilitative services. A lack of personnel may prevent Corrections from adequately staffing its vocational and academic rehabilitation programs. These issues have resulted in low prisoner enrollment rates at the three institutions we studied. Also, correctional rehabilitation programs require more oversight to ensure efficacy (Bird et al., 2017). No recidivism goal has been set for rehabilitation programs, and their cost-effectiveness has not been assessed. No research has been done on whether Corrections programs reduce recidivism. Corrections must gather additional data and ensure that CBT programs are delivered as planned throughout all of its facilities to conduct this type of research. The Office of Inspector General and the California Rehabilitation Oversight Board (C-ROB) oversee corrections’ rehabilitation programs, but neither can assess their effectiveness in reducing recidivism or cost-effectiveness (Hanson et al., 2017). Corrections must demonstrate the increased expenditures made by the Legislature to extend rehabilitation programs to all state prisons. Prisons can reduce recidivism by tailoring rehabilitation programs to each inmate’s needs and threats. For example, a convict who has a history of drug abuse or cannot keep a job is more likely to return. Programs of rehabilitation address and mitigate these issues.
Effects of communication and professional development on the organization
According to what we gathered from week five, communication and professional development is fundamental for the growth of any organization. With 19 programs spanning six career sectors, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation promotes effective communication (Hanson et al., 2017). Each of the 19 initiatives “aligned with a favorable job outlook within the State of California” provides a path to a living wage. The Department’s professional development programs “use a stackable curriculum” to help each prisoner or student gain work skills and find a career path. No qualifications are required to participate. But, according to the Department, technological issues hampered the effort. Because certification exams were online, the program announced in November 2015 that it could only certify 26% of development programs. The criminal justice system’s social, economic, political, historical, and racial background shapes a person’s limited educational and training options. Prioritizing punishment over prevention and rehabilitation has disproportionately harmed poor and minority communities. However, studies show that re-entering society with education and skills is possible (Hanson et al., 2017). As a result of these encouraging findings, the federal and state governments are increasing efforts to make post-secondary education more accessible to convicts. While traditional post-secondary education can meet some of an inmate’s educational and training needs, reintegration requires addressing many more complex needs.
Media influence on agency operations.
To keep society safe, California funds all correctional facilities and programs. These facilities and initiatives should be public. According to CDCR policy, all important information about the Department’s activities and facilities should be published in the media. However, any situation that threatens the facility’s safety or invades the privacy of prisoners or staff will be carefully considered (Kaiser & Holtfreter, 2015). The public must have access to accurate information on the Department’s institutions and parole activities. Surprisingly, the media has proven useful in prisoner escape cases. In the event of an actual or suspected escape, the facility must contact local media and the missing youth’s hometown (Kaiser & Holtfreter, 2015). The Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services will promptly notify victims, and their immediate families of any changes in the youngster’s DJJ stay. The facility or camp will submit the missing youth’s physical description, expected absence, identity photo, and search efforts with law enforcement agencies.
Recommendation of how media can positively influence outcome
An increasing amount of data shows that engagement in the media may be beneficial in preventing or coping better with imprisonment in certain situations. Media may be used as an outlet for boredom and distraction, as well as a source of information about the world around them; utilize music to enhance their sense of self-worth and to excite their sexual appetites; They need to keep their minds stimulated in order to avoid becoming bored in their solitary confinement; make use of media to break up the monotony of their daily prison life and to keep them from becoming bored; and so forth. Even if certain media activities do not qualify as (partial) solutions in the context of specific jail issues, they can nonetheless promote other problem-focused coping mechanisms by providing ideas for solutions to the problem, encouraging a re-definition of the situation, and serving as a diversion from the situation. For example, various media activities, such as watching television, may be able to ease some of the physical manifestations of stress (for an overview of media functions in jail). By using media devices, it is feasible to trace convicts and locate prison hotspots.
Additionally, prison officials have started experimenting with new technologies that they hope will be beneficial in solving other difficulties. Radiofrequency identification may be effective in monitoring people’s movements when tracking their travels in the future (RFID). RFID tags may be embedded in a variety of items, including wristbands (Mitchell et al., 2016). It is possible to track movement by utilizing a network of sensors — known as RFID readers — equipped with an integrated circuit and a tiny antenna for transmitting radio signals. The devices are being used in certain correctional institutions, for example, to monitor convicts’ movements and to alert staff if there is an abnormally large concentration of people in a particular place. In certain cases, an individual’s movements are recorded in a computer, which may be used to determine who was in a particular section of the building at a specific time. Spot inspections at gates with a Portable Scanner may also be made more convenient with the assistance of media and other tools. On the other hand, millimeter-wave gateways are massive, immobile, and expensive. Correctional officials have said they are keen on employing low-cost, portable devices to improve their operations. These gadgets would allow prison personnel to perform spot checks and screenings at the facility’s entrances with more independence if equipped with them. This project is being funded by the National Institute for Justice, developing a portable detector that can identify anything from cell phones to Plexiglas. Nonmetallic items, such as improvised weapons made of wood or hard plastics, continue to be an issue for many correctional institutions, even though their metal detecting systems are functioning properly.
Changes to be made to the existing communication policies
There are many different methods to communicate in the correctional system. Our network includes inmates, coworkers, managers, administrators, and members of the general public. As a correctional officer, one of the most critical skills you can learn is communicating clearly and effectively with the general population. Every day, we must communicate instructions, thoughts, and ideas to a diverse range of audiences, some of whom may be difficult to reach with our messages (Malkin & DeJong, 2018). If someone wants to have a thorough picture of what is going on, they may need to hear a great deal of information. Although it is often preferable to communicate verbally, writing down what we want to convey is equally beneficial. Effective communication in both directions must be possible for us to function properly. It takes time and effort to produce an effective message. The words that are utilized and the context in which they are placed must be carefully studied. Even though for some people, this is a natural aptitude, for others, it may be a significant difficulty. By learning new communication skills, one may be able to increase the communication talents. Such talents will grow as one gather experience and reflect on their achievements and failures. This will allow them to achieve more success in the future. A few recommendations for improvement are provided below.
Truth: No matter what issue is being communicated within the correctional facility, it must be conveyed to others in a real and honest way to be effective. The only way to speak honestly is to have a thorough understanding of the topic matter on which one is expounding. Messages that are confused about the facts or have discrepancies in their information will be unorganized and untrustworthy to the recipient. It is more likely that the communicator will successfully attract and maintain a person’s attention if one seems honest and speak the truth. This assures that the target recipient will receive and understand the message.
Assessment: Prepare oneself to respond to the concerns and questions of the individuals with whom one are speaking. Examine every component of the message to see whether there are any issues on which people could agree or disagree with the message. To reinforce your message, prepare counterpoints to any obstacles you may have and additional data that will aid in support of your message. It’s also critical to demonstrate how and why the message is the best course of action compared to other options or suggestions.
Poise: When it comes to conveying your message, maintaining your calm is an important stabilizing factor to consider. It’s not just about having self-assurance; it’s about a whole lot more than that. Speaking the truth and having thoroughly examined your message instill trust in you. In truth, poise is partly about maintaining a pleasant attitude and conveying your message with enthusiasm. If one allows anything they are passionate about to become personal to them, the communicator might run the danger of having emotions or ego harmed. Nothing drives a person away faster than unpleasant emotional shouting, which is why one should avoid using it in their message if they are angry or resentful. Concentrate on the components of the message that are favorable. If one follows these steps, one will be able to maintain their cool and win over the person with whom one is conversing.
Changes in training and professional development
According to the paper’s recommendations, there are several ways in which a correctional officers’ professional status might be enhanced. Legislative uncertainty should be removed so that the requirements for hiring and training are very obvious (Malkin & DeJong, 2018). The adoption of consistent regulations for recruitment and training by states is recommended. All states should mandate mental illness and sexual misconduct training and adherence to an ethical code of conduct. Many states have confusing legislation regarding hiring and training. If the prerequisites for the post of the correctional officer are specified, potential applicants will have a better understanding of what they may expect from the role (Malkin & DeJong, 2018). Additionally, researchers will be able to detect better and analyze CO hiring and training in the future. For two reasons, it is beneficial to have basic requirements that are the same throughout all states. Because psychological testing is not necessary for the latter jurisdiction, an individual who is found inappropriate to serve as a CO in one state may be regarded competent in another. This is the current state of affairs. This situation may be avoided if universal requirements exist, such as background checks, a minimum level of education, and medical and psychological examinations and testing. The fact that this degree of uniformity is favorable to scientific research is the second advantage of this level of homogeneity. In the future, burnout and job satisfaction may be assessed side by side in comparison research. If the baseline recruitment and training criteria are the same across all states, it may be possible to investigate the influence of state-specific facilities and individual CO characteristics in more depth than currently possible. Because mental illness is unavoidable in prison, mental illness education should be made mandatory for all inmates. The issues of ethics and sexual misconduct are intertwined. In the case of the former, offering training may assist in reducing the number of rape cases that occur in prison. COs must adhere to a set of ethical norms in order to be deemed more professional.
How human resource policies may have an impact on the bottom line of a company
To demonstrate compliance with diversity, ethical, and training standards, as well as its commitments to regulation and corporate governance, policies may be implemented by a company both internally and externally. An employee’s employment contract and collective bargaining agreement, among other criteria, must be satisfied for them to be dismissed in accordance with applicable employment law standards (Kras et al., 2015). The most common technique for meeting these responsibilities is to draft an HR policy that specifies commitments, establishes standards of behavior, and describes disciplinary measures. Human resource policies and procedures guarantee that decisions are made consistently and that workers are treated equally. In addition, it is feasible for human resource policies to play an important role in sustaining and improving the desired business culture (Kras et al., 2015). Consider the following example: the organization’s recruitment and retention policies state that it values a flexible workforce(Clear et al., 2018). There is a multitude of reasons why policies and procedures are required. As a consequence, they make certain that their employees are properly informed about their employment situation. Also, they serve as the basis for treating all employees in the same manner. Supervisors and managers might utilize them as a set of guidelines to help them make decisions. They will serve as the basis for the development of an employee handbook.
They put in place a structure for regularly analyzing the effect of prospective changes on their personnel. To put it another way, they serve as a foundation for supervisory training and orientation programs for new workers, among other things (Kras et al., 2015). When developing human resource policies, it is essential to provide a clear and consistent definition of the organization’s policies covering all work circumstances and the methods that will ensure their fair implementation. Policies and procedures must be in place to accomplish this aim.
Recruitment strategies that are sensitive to cultural variations and effective in drawing new personnel
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation may benefit from several recruitment strategies. To begin, there is the option of using the services of a direct recruiting company. In the employment industry, the phrase “direct recruitment” refers to drawing qualified candidates from outside the organization by putting a job ad on the organization’s bulletin board (Bozick et al., 2018). Workers in blue-collar and technical positions are recruited via this kind of sourcing, sometimes referred to as “factory gate recruitment.” Employment exchanges are an alternative to traditional job searching. To get information about particular job opportunities, the employment exchange is obliged by law to receive this information. Job seekers interested in filling vacant positions may post their names and contact information on an employment exchange, maintained and made accessible to prospective employers. Using external recruitment to hire untrained, semi-skilled, and skilled workers is a good strategy for increasing your company’s overall productivity. Following that, we’ll look at Employment Agencies as a potential alternative source of employment. External recruitment sources, such as employment agencies, might be beneficial in some situations. Many industries, including the commercial, public, and government sectors, employ people via employment service organizations (ESOs). To suit the demands of the company, unskilled, semi-skilled, and skilled resources may be offered to it (Bozick et al., 2018). Organizations may pay to access the databases of qualified persons maintained by these authorities. When it comes to recruiting external candidates, advertisements are the most frequently used and preferred method (Bozick et al., 2018). Various print and electronic media are used to publicize the position, including the job description and the specific requirements for each position. Ads are the most successful method of finding competent candidates rapidly, and they may also be used to analyze the qualities of those individuals who have applied.
Conclusion
Criminal re-entry and prison escapes are largely prevented by the state’s efforts, which are centered on prison rehabilitation and correctional programs. The development of prison rehabilitation programs should be done according to recognized research criteria, such as ensuring that the programs are evidence-based. In contrast, CDCR’s programs do not always comply with these core principles, and state resources should be directed more directly at the most vulnerable offenders to maximize their effectiveness. In addition, the CDCR lacks sufficient performance measures to assess these programs regularly. That is why the Legislature must enhance CDCRs in prison rehabilitation programs in order to manage recidivism and, as a result, reduce the number of future victims while also generating savings for the government at all the government levels.
References
Bird, M., Grattet, R., & Nguyen, V. (2017). Realignment and Recidivism in California.
Bozick, R., Steele, J., Davis, L., & Turner, S. (2018). Does providing inmates with education improve postrelease outcomes? A meta-analysis of correctional education programs in the United States. Journal of Experimental Criminology, 14(3), 389–428.
Clear, T. R., Reisig, M. D., & Cole, G. F. (2018). American Corrections. In Google Books. Cengage Learning.
Farrell, A., & Reichert, J. (2017). Using U.S. Law-Enforcement Data: Promise and Limits in Measuring Human Trafficking. Journal of Human Trafficking, 3(1), 39–60.
Hanson, R., Bourgon, G., Safety, P., Robert, C., Mcgrath, J., Kroner, D., D’amora, D., Thomas, S., & Tavarez, L. (2017). A Five-Level Risk and Needs System: Maximizing Assessment Results in Corrections through the Development of a Common Language.
Hitt, M. A., Miller, C. C., Colella, A., & Triana, M. (2017). Organizational Behavior. In Google Books. John Wiley & Sons.
Kaiser, K. A., & Holtfreter, K. (2015). An Integrated Theory of Specialized Court Programs. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 43(1), 45–62.
Kras, K. R., Rudes, D. S., & Taxman, F. S. (2015). Managing up and down: community corrections middle managers’ role conflict and ambiguity during organizational change. Journal of Crime and Justice, 40(2), 173–187.
Malkin, M. L., & DeJong, C. (2018). Protections for Transgender Inmates Under PREA: a Comparison of State Correctional Policies in the United States. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 16(4), 393–407.
Mitchell, M. M., Spooner, K., Jia, D., & Zhang, Y. (2016). The effect of prison visitation on reentry success: A meta-analysis. Journal of Criminal Justice, 47, 74–83.
Musick, D., & Gunsaulus-Musick, K. (2017). American Prisons: Their Past, Present and Future. In Google Books. Taylor & Francis.
Simon, J. (2016). Californias New Carceral Logic: Health care, confinement, and the future of imprisonment. Boom: A Journal of California, 6(2), 22–31.
Turner, S. (2018). Moving California Corrections from an Offense- to Risk-Based System. UC Irvine Law Review, 8, 97.
write