Leadership in Criminal Justice

Part 1

Competence and Skill in Criminal Justice Leadership

There are a wide range of inefficiencies that have been identified and explored in the criminal justice realm. Similarly, entire studies have been conducted in an attempt to establish the source of the said inefficiencies. It would be prudent to assess the role that leadership plays in the optimal operation of criminal justice organizations.

It is important to note that in the past various strategies have been deployed in an attempt to ensure that those who occupy leadership positions across the entire criminal justice system have a set of skills and capabilities needed to effectively execute their roles and offer direction to staff and other stakeholders. This is particularly the case in the U.S. and the U.K. where, as Hoggett, Redford, Toher, and White (2019) point out, conversations about the professionalization of policing have resulted in the implementation of policies meant to ensure that those hired have the relevant qualifications, and that ascent to positions of leadership is earned and deserved. However, Flistad (2022) is of the opinion that the law enforcement industry, and to a larger extent, the entire criminal justice system faces a leadership crisis. This, according to the author, is to say that most of those serving in the diverse criminal justice system administrative roles do not necessarily have the prerequisite leadership skills and capabilities. The author has presented a number of compelling arguments in support of his assertion.

For instance, he indicates that it has been difficult to fill leadership positions left by the retiring baby-boomer generation fast enough. This leaves a leadership vacuum in some scenarios, with those filling the said positions lacking in skill and experience. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, the author also makes an observation to the effect that there has been little effort to properly structure and deploy leadership training to those holding or lined up to assume criminal justice administration roles (Flistad, 2022). This, according to the author, is more so the case given that the focus of police academies as well as traditional criminal justice training programs happen to be on crime reduction efforts and strategies. Little attention is given to effective leadership skills.

Attributes of Good Leadership

In a study conducted by Schafer (2010), it was established that ineffective leaders in law enforcement exhibited a set of traits and habits associated with poor leadership in other contexts of leadership, i.e. in the corporate world. Some of the habits of law enforcement officers deemed ineffective were inclusive of, but they were not limited to; lack of integrity, inability to communicate in an effective manner, arrogance/ego, micromanagement, and closed mindedness (Schafer, 2010). Towards this end, one could identify some of the attributes of good leadership in the realm of criminal justice as; integrity, effective communication skills, humility, and ability to delegate.

a. Integrity

To begin with, the relevance of integrity in the effective administration of criminal justice cannot be overstated. This is more so the case given that the criminal justice system happens to be the last bastion of hope in as far as justice and fairness is concerned. Further, unethical behavior in this realm could result in dysfunction of the entire system. For these reasons, those serving in leadership roles in this case should be guided by strong moral principles in the execution of their roles and duties. This would come in handy in efforts to rein in corruption and misconduct across the entire criminal justice system. In crisis management, unethical conduct could end up worsening an otherwise bad situation and trigger a series of undesirable outcomes. For this reason, the ability of a leader to remain true to the relevant moral ideals is instrumental in helping teams navigate the storms of crisis scenarios.

b. Effective Communication

One other crucial leadership attribute is effective communication. The inability of a leader to communicate in effective and meaningful formats would effectively hamper efforts to furnish juniors with the information or resource needed to function effectively in their diverse roles. Effective communication abilities are especially important during crisis scenarios. According to Bernstein (2011), in crisis situations, there is need to ensure that all stakeholders have the information needed to take decisive action. In such situations, there is also need to keep teams united. These two objectives cannot be achieved in the absence of seamless communication between leader(s) and juniors/followers.

c. Humility

Third, with regard to humility, it should be noted that in the absence of humility, one may be unwilling to see things from the perspective of others. This gets in the way of effective collaboration with collaboration being one of the most instrumental factors in the promotion of effectiveness in criminal justice functions and roles. According to Bernstein (2011), in crisis scenarios, two heads are often better than one. This is to say that chances of success in handling whatever crisis there is are further enhanced when stakeholders collaborate and appreciate the input of one another.

d. Delegating

Next, effective leaders should be able to delegate roles and functions in an effective manner so as to focus on undertakings considered high priority, and achieve optimal utilization of resources. Black, Bright, and Gardner...…have a significant impact on the attitudes of leaders. The authors back up this assertion with an example of an organization that has in place a culture that could be deemed employee-centric. As the authors indicate, this would likely influence the predominant approach to leadership. More specifically, a leader in this case is likely to embrace a consultative style of leadership that considers employees as crucial stakeholders and actively seeks to advance their interests.

Influence of a Leader on Organizational Culture

A leader does have a significant influence on organizational culture. One way in which a leader could influence organizational culture is through his or her behavior and orientation about key issues. This is more so the case given that these set the tone for the expected standards of behavior and mannerisms across the entire organization. For instance, a leader who is not open minded is likely to influence the establishment or organizational practices that stifle creativity.

Leaders could also impact organizational culture via the formulation and implementation of various rules, policies, and regulations. The said rules and policies are likely to direct the way things are done across the organization. For instance, policies that lean towards improved customer service are likely to promote a customer-focused organizational culture.

Sense Making in Decision Making: Influence of Organizational Socialization

To ensure that the decisions made are ideal, relevant, and can stand the tears of time, there is need for situational awareness. This is to say that one ought to be aware of the various factors (i.e. factors in both the external and internal environment) that are considered crucial and should, thus, be incorporated in decision making efforts. In essence, situational awareness is crucial for effective decision making. Leaders are sometimes called upon to make decisions in situations that are not only uncertain, but also hugely complex. In such a case, there is need to familiarize oneself with as many intervening factors as possible.

According to Cunha, Rego, and Simpson (2020), organizational socialization has got to do with the appreciation and/or embrace of organizational behaviors and values by an employee with the goal in this case being to enable the employee better execute his roles going forward, and become part of the larger employee family. This could have an influence on sense making in as far as decision making is concerned. When those joining an organization develop the crucial skills and capabilities to perform independently and to further enhance their efficiency and productivity, they are able to better understand their environment and establish what really matters. This is a key ingredient to effective decision making.…