Open and Closed System Models in Criminal

¶ … open and closed system models in criminal justice. Specifically it will define open and closed system models of organizations and explain why it is important that the criminal justice professional should know the differences between these models. It will also provide a specific organizational example of each type of organization, one for open systems and one for closed systems, and describe how these organizations meet the criteria of either the open or closed system perspective. There are vast differences in management and outcome between open and closed system models in organizations, and these differences are especially important to the criminal justice system. An open system allows for change and growth, while a closed system is less flexible and far more bureaucratic.

The open and closed ideas of system models in organizations were originated by organizational experts Robert L. Kahn and Daniel Katz in the 1960s. There are three basic system models: open, rational, and natural. The natural and rational systems tend to be closed systems. These open and closed systems are the most applicable to the criminal justice system. In general, the different systems deal with relationships, structures, and interdependence as they relate to organizations, management, and the individuals within the organizations.

The open system model is defined as systems that can maintain themselves in their environment with the resources available to them. Some natural examples of open systems are living cells, or a constant whirlpool in a stream (Roeckelein 208). One management writer notes about open systems, "Simultaneously, however, the core system of the organization is subject to criteria of rationality and hence needs determinateness and certainty" (Ciarkowski 117). Open systems are not formal structures, and they are not natural individuals, but they are interdependent on situations and the environment around them, but they are always self-maintaining.

Closed systems, on the other hand, are always independent of their environment. They concentrate on items such as technology, location, size, ownership, managerial strategies, and leadership styles, and tend to look at problems internally, rather than allowing input from the outside. Closed systems are often technology or technically related because they are certain and based on certain rules. Some natural examples of closed systems are our own solar system, or an ant's behavior (Roeckelein 208).

It is extremely important for the criminal justice professional to understand the difference between these two models because they can be applied to many aspects of the criminal justice system, from police departments to federal courts, and knowing how each system functions can help the criminal justice professional mold themselves to each open or closed system situation. This can help them be more effective at their job, and more effective with dealing with the different aspects of the criminal justice system, no matter whether they are open or closed systems. It is also extremely important to fully understand the actions and concepts of these theories before the professional can initiate or suggest change in the current systems. They must understand how change will affect the organization and its goals, and to know that, they must know the ultimate purpose and purposes of both the open and closed system models.

Throughout the criminal justice system, there are numerous examples of both the open and closed system models. A good example of the open system model is the local Federal Prison. This is an open system because of the input of environmental factors into the prison system, such as laws and policies that may change over time, different prison populations, and the ability of the prison population to change their situations. One criminal justice expert notes, "Environmental inputs include official policies and actions regarding the use of punishment and incarceration and relevant case law and statutes affecting prisoners' access to legal forums" (Welsh 594). Thus, the Federal Prison is open to adaptation to environmental factors, it deals with relationships between the prison population, the administration, and the courts, and they are quite concerned with the individuals (incarcerated prisoners) within the system. The model can also change and adapt as laws are strengthened or weakened, budgets become larger or smaller, and the model itself undergoes reform. The system is interdependent on the court systems and the criminal justice system for adding or reducing the general prison population. The local Federal Prison is therefore an excellent and compelling example of an open system. The local Community Policing unit is also another example of an open system model.