Explain equity theory and relate it to criminal justice agencies

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

• Equity theory posits that an individual's motivation level is affected by her or his perception of fairness in the workplace. Individual motivation must be understood in relation to how other employees are treated by management and/or the organization. The theory rests on two fundamental assumptions: individuals evaluate their own interpersonal relationships as they would any other commodity; and second, individuals develop expectations about their evaluation in the organization equivalent to the amount of individual contribution they make.
• For criminal justice organizations, the perception of inequity is fostered by a number of factors beyond the control of administrators. For example, the rigid structure of public contracts limits the ability of criminal justice administrators to deal with inequities. As such, employees may perceive a disjuncture between their work performance and the pay of other similarly situated employees.
• Within criminal justice organizations, employees perform a number of duties that go beyond typical pay considerations. Pay incentives, such as those seen in private industries with performance bonuses, simply do not exist within a criminal justice position.
• Equity theory can be applied, however, when one considers that being treated fairly and with respect goes a long way in positions where the primary motivation to perform is limited and appeals to more intrinsic rewards.