Editorial Introduction: The Evolution of the Concepts Correctional Organization and Organizational Change

Abstract

The five papers in this special issue of the Criminal Justice Policy Review focus on the concepts of correctional organization and organiza tional change and reflect a sampling of theoretical and research efforts to understand these concepts at the micro and macro policy level. Each arti cle links us to definitions, studies, and debates that have evolved over the last forty years in criminology and criminal justice centering on the idea of the organization as a system. The "system theme" in the papers includes the conceptualization of the prison as a complex social system, theory and research on correctional and criminal justice system change, and the application of systems management principles to the improve ment of correctional/criminal justice agency operations.