The Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) has traditionally operated under a functional organizational structure within state government that clearly separates services provided into two main categories: prisons and parole services. both categories reporting to the agency director. A function-based organizational structure provides clear direction for job requirements, enables staff to become experts in their assigned area, which increases productivity. Although this structure was used successfully by the DRC for many years, it unintentionally created a separation between management levels and their subordinates, as well as a division between the prison services and the parole services of the agency. To address this division, the DRC changed its structure to a regionalized type of organization. The underlying goal of this transition is to blur boundaries within the functional structure and decentralize functions across the agency. Decentralization will empower organizational leaders, increase lines of communication at all levels, and create bridges within and between prison and parole services. The decentralized structure will make staff more available on the ground to see, hear and feel what is happening in their area, allowing them to build relationships with community partners and offenders. All of these changes are intended to support and promote DRC's mission to “reduce recidivism among those we touch” (Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction). Common in most state-run prison systems in the United States; The Ohio RDC maintains several functions. Author Dean John Champion identified these functions in his book, Administration of Criminal Justice: Structure, Funct...... middle of paper ......credit throughout its facilities, including prisons, academies training, central office, penal industries, parole services and the parole board. Receiving such an award demonstrates that Ohio is a national leader in many correctional areas and in innovative approaches to fulfilling the essential functions of a prison system; providing societal protection, punishing offenders, rehabilitating them and reintegrating them into society as functioning prosocial members. Works Cited Champion, Dean John. Administration of criminal justice: structure, function and process. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, Inc., 2003. print. Ohio Department of Corrections. ODRC: 3-level system. June 2013. the web. March 26, 2014. Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. “2013 Annual Report”. 2013. Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. the canvas. March 26 2014.