What is delegation of authority?

• A. When a person with authority grants decision-making authority to another person.
• B. When a supervisor ignores subordinate input.
• C. When a court appoints a probation officer.
• D. When a facility hires a consultant.

Answer: (A)

Delegation of authority means transferring decision-making power for specific tasks from a person in authority to someone else, while the original holder remains accountable for the results. In corrections, this lets a supervisor empower trained staff to handle routine decisions within defined limits, ensuring decisions are made at the appropriate level and outcomes can be monitored. The essence is clear scope, ongoing oversight, and accountability for what happens after the decision. For example, approving routine leave within set thresholds or authorizing standard procedures within policy would be delegated, so decisions aren’t bottlenecked at the top. This is about transferring rights to decide, not about ignoring input, external appointments, or hiring someone to perform tasks without shifting decision authority.