NCJ Number
119109
Date Published
1988
Length
7 pages
Annotation
A type of participatory management called jail management teams has been introduced in some correctional institutions in New South Wales, Australia as one strategy for carrying out a planning and evaluation process throughout the corrections department.
Abstract
The main goal was to use more effectively the varied skills and experience of the various sections of the institution in preparing plans. Additional goals were to improve relationships between the different disciplines in the jail and to develop a forum for broader discussions of approaches to offender management. However, both management theory and experiences in other areas of work also support its use. Some superintendents resisted the introduction of this new approach. Their teams often failed to be useful and only reinforced the negativity of the staff. Other problems were the exclusion of the lower ranks and difficulties in developing teamwork. Nevertheless, a survey has found better conflict resolution, better use of staff skills, and better understanding of the problems of subsections to be among the benefits of the team approach. The experiment has shown that crucial elements in establishing a policy of team management include an education program, leadership training, training conducted within each institution, and the use of procedures and methods determined by each team.