Effects of Organizational Factors On Use of Juvenile Supervision Practices

A growing literature emphasizes the importance of strengthening organizational contexts to support the adoption and use of best practices in correctional environments. The current study examines the relationships between organizational factors and use of current best practices in a juvenile correctional agency. Using survey data for 393 probation officers and supervisors in 33 field offices in a statewide juvenile correctional agency, the authors examined the relationships between staff’s self-reported use of service-oriented supervision practices and their perceptions of organizational functioning within their offices. The results from a hierarchical model demonstrated that lower levels of staff cynicism for change, more favorable perceptions of supervisory leadership, and greater integration with community-based service providers were significantly related to greater use of service-oriented practices among supervision staff. Office climate and integration with the judiciary and mental health agencies are not significant. Findings and their implications for research and practice are discussed.

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