Organizational Culture and the Placement of Pretrial Agencies in the Criminal Justice System

Abstract

This article intends to answer two sets of questions: whether the different organizational cultures of the courts and corrections produce similar or different effects in pretrial agencies, and whether the Edgar H. Schein definition of organizational culture could be applied to criminal justice agencies. Finding that the different organizational cultures produce different effects, the authors conclude that the court is the appropriate organizational home for a pretrial agency especially if the agency’s general purpose is to provide verified information and recommendations to the judicial officer. In addition, it is clear that the Schein organizational culture framework has operational applicability to pretrial agencies.