ABSTRACT

All organisations, whether private or public sector, seek to improve criminal justice workplace practice from an evidence base, but often find it difficult to effectively translate research findings into policy or design best-practice interventions. This book provides a direct bridge between academic research in organisational behaviour and the management of workers within criminal justice agencies.

The public sector in particular is currently experiencing significant funding cuts and increasingly needs to create optimal workplace strategies to maintain frontline services and preserve the well-being of the work force. The aim of this book is to equip managers with knowledge about key processes and appropriate research methods, thereby enabling them to more readily understand and apply academic research to their workplaces. The means to translate research findings into implementation strategies are also clearly explained. Furthermore, essential organisational issues that either impede or enhance productivity, employee effectiveness, and management responsiveness to change are discussed, following a common chapter template of problem definition, research and analysis, evidence translation, implementation, and evaluation.

Written by experts in the field, this book applies cutting-edge theoretical discussions and research findings to evidence-based policy. It examines new strategies and best practice in the context of widespread demoralization of staff in the criminal justice sector due to the impact of increased austerity. Improving Criminal Justice Workplaces is essential reading for leadership teams, managers and supervisors in the court, police, probation, and prison services, as well as allied professionals such as forensic psychologists and HR professionals.

part I|75 pages

Framing issues

chapter 1|12 pages

Introduction

chapter 3|13 pages

Employee engagement

chapter 4|11 pages

Leadership and management

chapter 5|10 pages

Organisational communication

chapter 6|14 pages

Professionalisation

part II|69 pages

Tools

chapter 7|14 pages

Evaluation

chapter 8|13 pages

Focus groups

chapter 9|12 pages

Consultation and consultancy

chapter 10|14 pages

Surveys

chapter 11|14 pages

Delphi technique

part III|69 pages

Organisational problems and solutions

chapter 12|8 pages

Sustaining environments

Work–life balance

chapter 13|10 pages

Toxic environments

Occupational stress

chapter 14|11 pages

Transforming environments

Leadership development

chapter 15|16 pages

Dangerous environments

Bullying and harassment

chapter 16|16 pages

Diverse environments

Discrimination

chapter 17|6 pages

Conclusions

Final thoughts, emerging issues and next steps