Organization of Law Enforcement Agencies

Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster

Organization and Organization and Administration of Administration of

law enforcementlaw enforcement agencies agencies


OrganizationsOrganizations

Two or more people Two or more people who cooperate to who cooperate to accomplish an accomplish an objective. objective.


Larger organizations can become Larger organizations can become bureaucracies bureaucracies

RulesRules SpecializationSpecialization Chain of CommandChain of Command Unity of CommandUnity of Command Span of ControlSpan of Control


SpecializationSpecialization

As organizations grow larger, people tend to specialize in tasks.


Chain of CommandChain of Command The line of authority and responsibility along which The line of authority and responsibility along which

orders are passed.orders are passed. The line will generally go from a higher ranked who The line will generally go from a higher ranked who

gives the order, i.e. an captain, lieutenant or gives the order, i.e. an captain, lieutenant or sergeant down to a lower rank.sergeant down to a lower rank.

In general, personnel give orders to only those In general, personnel give orders to only those directly below them in the chain of command, and directly below them in the chain of command, and receive orders from only those directly above them. receive orders from only those directly above them. For example, an officer who has a problem with For example, an officer who has a problem with carrying out an order is likely to get disciplined for carrying out an order is likely to get disciplined for not observing the chain of command if he skips the not observing the chain of command if he skips the officer who is in direct command of him, and officer who is in direct command of him, and directly appeals to a higher ranked officer in his directly appeals to a higher ranked officer in his chain of command.chain of command.


Unity of CommandUnity of Command

Everyone has only Everyone has only one person who one person who gives them gives them instructions –instructions – In an emergency In an emergency

situation this is situation this is especially helpful in especially helpful in avoiding avoiding contradictory contradictory orders.orders.


Span of ControlSpan of Control

The number of people who can be The number of people who can be effectively supervised.effectively supervised.


Communication Communication

Horizontal and Vertical Horizontal and Vertical (Downward and (Downward and Upward) Upward)

Communication Communication schemescheme Encoding – to convey Encoding – to convey

we translatewe translate Transmission – What we Transmission – What we

saysay Medium – how we Medium – how we

choose to transmitchoose to transmit Reception – Must be Reception – Must be

heardheard Decoding – Decoding –

interpretationinterpretation Feedback.Feedback.


Types of Downward Types of Downward CommunicationsCommunications

Job InstructionsJob Instructions Job RationaleJob Rationale Procedures and PracticeProcedures and Practice Feedback.Feedback. IndoctrinationIndoctrination


Horizontal Horizontal

Conversations with peers.Conversations with peers. Inside and outside organizationsInside and outside organizations

Another watchAnother watch Another JurisdictionAnother Jurisdiction

Exchange of official informationExchange of official information Exchange of personal informationExchange of personal information RumorsRumors


Law EnforcementLaw Enforcement PyramidPyramid

Administrators – Administrators – chiefschiefs

Mid-level Managers Mid-level Managers (Captains and (Captains and Lieutenants)Lieutenants)

First Line supervisorsFirst Line supervisors Police OfficersPolice Officers


Organizational Structure Organizational Structure (Line Operations)(Line Operations)

Primary or Primary or Secondary.Secondary.

Patrol is backbone, Patrol is backbone, primaryprimary

Investigations and Investigations and youth, etc are youth, etc are secondarysecondary


Organizational StructureOrganizational Structure(Support Functions)(Support Functions)

StaffStaff Recruitment, Recruitment,

training, personneltraining, personnel Auxiliary Auxiliary

(Technical)(Technical) Jail, property, Jail, property,

evidence, evidence, communications, communications, recordsrecords


Policy and Procedure.Policy and Procedure.

Policies are statements of Policies are statements of organizational organizational expectations about expectations about outcome;outcome;

Procedures are step-by-Procedures are step-by-step instructions;step instructions;

Rules are about behaviorRules are about behavior Regulations are about Regulations are about

thingsthings


SheriffSheriff

Typical Duties: Typical Duties: ElectedElected Correctional (less Correctional (less

than year, waiting than year, waiting for trial)for trial)

SubpoenasSubpoenas PolicingPolicing BailiffsBailiffs


First Line Supervisors First Line Supervisors Most direct influence Most direct influence

over patrol officers.over patrol officers. Ten Tasks ( Page 121)Ten Tasks ( Page 121) Four typesFour types

Traditional – Law Traditional – Law enforcement orientated. enforcement orientated. Expect cops to work.Expect cops to work.

innovative – look for innovative – look for officers to form officers to form relationships with relationships with communitycommunity

Supportive – Developing Supportive – Developing good relationships with good relationships with cops.cops.

Active – P4sActive – P4s


Organization and Organization and Administration of Administration of

law enforcementlaw enforcement agencies agencies

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Organization of Law Enforcement Agencies