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PARKINSON'S LAW AND THE UNITED STATES BUREAU OF PRISONS

NCJ Number
47241
Journal
Contemporary Crises Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1978) Pages: 209-215
Author(s)
A C VILLAUME
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
A FEDERAL PRISON INMATE EXAMINES THE SELF-PERPETUATING NATURE OF BUREAUCRACIES AS ILLUSTRATED IN THE HISTORY OF THE U.S. BUREAU OF PRISONS.
Abstract
IN 1957, C. NORTHCOTE PARKINSON SUGGESTED THAT THE NUMBER OF WORKERS IN ANY PUBLIC BUREAU WILL TEND TO RISE REGARDLESS OF THE AMOUNT OF WORK (IF ANY) TO BE DONE. PARKINSON'S LAW HAS TWO AXIOMS: (1) THAT AN OFFICIAL WANTS TO MULTIPLY SUBORDINATES, NOT RIVALS AND (2) THAT OFFICIALS MAKE WORK FOR EACH OTHER. PARKINSONS'S LAW WAS TAKEN AS SATIRE, BUT PARKINSON WAS SERIOUS IN HIS POSTULATION. FROM 1930 TO 1947, THE U.S. BUREAU OF PRISONS' INMATE POPULATION HAS INCREASED BY 93.76 PERCENT, WHILE THE NUMBER OF BUREAU EMPLOYEES HAS INCREASED BY 874 PERCENT. THE SIZE OF THE INMATE POPULATION HAS FLUCTUATED, WHEREAS THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF BUREAU EMPLOYEES HAS BEEN FAIRLY CONSTANT. TO COMPENSATE FOR THE SKETCHINESS OF DATA FOR THE EARLIER YEARS, A SEPARATE ANALYSIS OF THE YEARS 1970-1975 IS PRESENTED. DURING THIS PERIOD, THE INMATE POPULATION INCREASED BY 21.24 PERCENT WHILE THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES INCREASED BY 82.75 PERCENT. EVIDENCE THAT THE INCREASE IN BUREAU STAFF HAS NOT RESULTED IN BETTER TREATMENT FOR INMATES IS DRAWN FROM THE AUTHOR'S OWN EXPERIENCE. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT PARKINSON'S LAW HOLDS TRUE FOR THE U.S. BUREAU OF PRISONS. SUPPORTING DATA ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)

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