Strengths and Weaknesses the Governmental and Private Social Work Organizations
Research has shown that the governmental agencies and the non-governmental organization all have weaknesses and strengths which can be integrated in the provision of social work. The NGOs conducting social work of the not-for business service provision, it is easy to conjure up a bright vision of the efforts workers put in without being affected by the effects of intricate bureaucracy and corruption (Francois, 2003, p. 56). This is a major weakness in governmental agencies.
The strengths of the NGOs also have their corresponding weaknesses especially those related to setting of the program agendas, making crucial decision and allocation of resources. Over the recent past, the numbers of NGOs coming up to conduct social work have been increasing drastically (Francois, 2003, p. 56). The reasons have been that there is very little time that they need to outsource government services, there is increased professionalization and also social business.
The NGO are staffed by altruistic workers and volunteers dedicated to working towards ideological instead of financial gains. The founders of the NGOs as opposed to government agencies are creative, and enthusiastic and also creative enough to offer better services and products (Francois, 2003, p. 59). Private social work bodies can distribute their profits to employees where they can offer better salaries and flexible working hours. However they are not under incentive to make profits for their organization. They are hence able to win competitive advantage.
Should Criminal Justice Be Privatized
Over the recent decades, there has been an emergence of two distinctive, alternative approaches to the administration of justice. There is the private law enforcement and the restorative justice options. These alternative initiatives and programs have been developed because of difference reasons (Pastor, 2003, p. 34). First, is that, the private citizens have taken an active role in gaining responsive crime control. The second is that, the psychological need of the victims of crimes has to be managed as well as the state of the perpetrators.
The big concern is whether the criminal justice should be privatized on not. Basically, alternative are very essential in any sector of governance. It creates competition and more alternatives to chose from. It is the same reason why privatization of criminal justice has grown (Pastor, 2003, p. 56). However, the private criminal justice system is still new but it is gradually taking shape, trying to fill the many gaps in the system. As such it’s limited to law enforcement stage alone. However, if criminal justice if formally privatized, there will be an alternative and a second option for seeking justice (Pastor, 2003, p. 34). It could be a better option with separate and effective means of maintaining law and order, administering justice and providing punishment and correctional services.
With a shift to private ownership will make the justice system more efficient. It’s been noted that the private sector offers piecemeal service to the justice system but full adaptation will give it power over decision making process concerning use of resources (Schneider, 1999, p. 198). Addressing the issue of criminal justice in this context and in relation to the whole country’s economy, the concern should not be whether it should be privatized or not.
Rather why it been so late to do it. Governance requires a robust private alternative in order to make the public criminal justice system to grow and reform. With the public provisioning all services, public justice system may not be competent (Schneider, 1999, p. 198). Many industries have alternative private systems like the healthcare, construction, and education industry among others. If getting justice is a fundamental right as its always flaunted, and that the state offer the service free of charge or for those who cannot pay, it is important that there be a private service able to do the same (Schneider, 1999, p. 201). It will have better deliver free of bureaucracies and interference from politics.
Reference List
Francois, P. (2003). Not-For-Profit Provision of Public Services, The Economic Journal, 113, C53-C64.
Pastor, J.F. (2003). The Privatization of Police In America: An Analysis and Case Study. Jefferson, NC: McFarland.
Schneider, L.A. (1999). Public-Private Partnerships in the U.S. Prison System, American Behavioral Scientist, 43 (1), 192-208.