Judge Pratt is a case study that shows the importance of leaders treating their employees within organizations. Newark’s Judge Pratt has a different approach to dealing with criminality. Newark Community Solutions was created by the leader. This helped to transform the traditional notion that criminals should be locked up without being addressed. Judge Pratt determined that the mere act of imprisoning people did not reduce crime in the area or decrease the chance of recidivism. Newark Community Solutions helped the judge to create a trusting environment that fosters community cooperation. Community hearings and “community courts” gave offenders and their families the opportunity to have a voice in justice. A judge created an environment in which convicts weren’t viewed as felons but rather as citizens of society. Northouse 2019, 2019: The courts’ mission shifted from the traditional idea of punishing lawbreakers, to helping them become productive members of society through drug addiction treatment. By using constructive norms Judge Pratt helped improve the court’s performance by decreasing repeat offenders, and other drug-related criminal activity.
Court staff also stressed that followers should respect one another and treat each other the same way their leader treats them. The judge set an example in the program by giving training sessions to deputies and court personnel, as well as police officers and lawyers, on handling defendants. Judge Pratt also set up a community advisory panel to facilitate dialogue between court participants. Judge Pratt developed non-standard tasks, including essays about himself. This was in order to move away from traditional court procedures. These assignments helped the court understand the underlying issues of the defendants. The leader devised a new communication method with suspects. In it, she explained the charges to them and set expectations. Leaders facilitate the development of constructive organizational environments by creating a framework, analysing norms and encouraging cohesion. Newark’s criminal justice system has been able to apply the new changes in a pragmatic and efficient manner.