theoretical and practical application of loose Coupling: a Study of Criminal Justice agencies in the State of florida

Karl Weick’s (1976) application of loose coupling theory to the study of organizations presented an opportunity to explore how social service agencies interact in exchange relationships. However, there has been little empirical research in the social sciences that applies loose coupling to social service organizations since that time. This is especially problematic as public agencies, such as criminal justice agencies and mental health agencies, are increasingly being tasked with the daunting prospect of working together to address social issues. However, what was not addressed was the systemic fragmentation associated with both the criminal justice and mental health systems. The current study sought to explore the fragmentation within the criminal justice system based on the theory of loose coupling. To accomplish this, a Tailored Design Method (Dillman, 1991) survey, utilizing multiple mail-based and email-based contacts, was administered to all law enforcement agencies within the state of Florida. Findings indicate that the system is not as fragmented as believed in that responding agencies are not only willing to couple with outside agencies but also report relatively high levels of experience with interprofessional collaboration. These findings have profound implications for the future of multi-agency responses to social problems.