Managing Style of the Criminal Justice System
System theory emerged significantly later compared with scientific and human relations approaches. In fact, system theory is a combination of the two previously discussed approaches. Partially, it borrows operations from scientific approach and partially from human relations approach. Von Bertalanffy (1950) is generally recorded as the founder of the system theory. Much of systems theory is rooted in the scientific method. To be more specific, an experiment is hypothesized and controlled; data is then collected and analyzed.

The purpose of the strategy is to continuously raise information about the processes ongoing in an organization in order to make strategic adjustments of the current managerial process. The goal of managers is to keep track of costs, whereas the managerial process itself starts from definition of a company as an interactive system. Establishment of objectives that will be used as the performance criteria follows. Then, formal subsystems are created with consideration given to human relations within an organization. Finally, subsystems are integrated into the whole system.

Every one of the discussed above management styles has its disadvantages and positive sides that must be considered when selecting the most appropriate managerial approach for the criminal justice system. Human relations theory allows too much of personal impact to be used in corrections. In contrast, scientific management style should be employed with corrections. As this theory is essentially based on a direct and explicit coordination with written objectives and requirements, it should be used in such a system as corrections, where employees must follow instructions directly.

In contrast, human relations theory would be the most appropriate solution for courts, where individual approach is needed for overall the court system to operate efficiently. When it comes to speaking about law enforcement agencies and police specifically, a modification of the two theories - human relations and scientific approach that emerged in the form of systems theory is the most appropriate solution. This management style is based on scientific principles and at the same time considers informal relations between employees and in such way creates positive internal organizational environment for employee flexibility and accountability.

Each theory should be applied with every single part of the criminal justice system. It should be pointed out, that variations of the managerial approaches can be employed from state to state, as for every part of the criminal justice system depending on the local legislature, the needs for a certain management style might differ. When viewing the criminal justice system as a single unit, systems theory would be the most appropriate solution.