The multi-dimensional environment of publicly funded U.S. crime laboratories and its impact on lab priorities

• NCJ Number: 302738
• Journal: Journal of Crime & Justice Volume: 43 Issue: 3 Dated: 2020 Pages: 362-376
• Author(s): M. C. Matusiak; Et Al
• Date Published: 2020
• Length: 15 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2010-DN-BX-0001
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Award: Opening the Black Box of NIBIN:A Process and Outcome Evaluation of the use of NIBIN and its Effects on Criminal Investigations.

Annotation

Using a national census and a survey of laboratory directors, this study assessed crime lab directors’ awareness of their institutional environments. 

Abstract

Institutional theory of organizations has been increasingly applied to U.S. police organizations; however, there is a dearth of literature that applies institutional theory to publicly funded U.S. crime laboratories. The current study found that lab directors perceived a multi-dimensional institutional environment surrounding their labs, and they attributed varying levels of importance to sovereigns within their institutional environments. Lab directors also identified a multi-dimensional, organizational priority structure. Further analysis indicates that directors’ perceptions of their environments significantly impacted organizational priorities, findings that support institutional theory. (publisher abstract modified)