What are the two types of power commonly discussed in criminal justice settings?

What are the two types of power commonly discussed in criminal justice settings?

• A. Coercive (punishment) and Reward (incentives)
• B. Internal (within the organization) and External (over the public)
• C. Formal (official) and Informal (unofficial)
• D. Expert (specialized knowledge) and Referent (charisma)

Answer: (B)

Power in criminal justice work is often discussed in terms of where action happens: inside the agency and with the public. Internal power means the authority and influence that managers and officers wield within the organization—deciding policies, directing resources, supervising personnel, and shaping how work gets done. External power is the authority the agency uses when interacting with citizens and communities—enforcing laws, making arrests, presenting cases, and ensuring public safety. This split helps explain how influence operates from within the organizational structure and from the agency’s legal role in society. While other frameworks describe power in broader theories (like coercion versus incentives or formal versus informal norms), the internal/external distinction is the most practical and commonly used lens in criminal justice settings.

Power in criminal justice work is often discussed in terms of where action happens: inside the agency and with the public. Internal power means the authority and influence that managers and officers wield within the organization—deciding policies, directing resources, supervising personnel, and shaping how work gets done. External power is the authority the agency uses when interacting with citizens and communities—enforcing laws, making arrests, presenting cases, and ensuring public safety. This split helps explain how influence operates from within the organizational structure and from the agency’s legal role in society. While other frameworks describe power in broader theories (like coercion versus incentives or formal versus informal norms), the internal/external distinction is the most practical and commonly used lens in criminal justice settings.