About the Department of Justice
The Department of Justice (DOJ) was established by the Department of Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2010 and came into existence on 12 April 2010. It has a range of devolved policing and justice functions, set out in the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2010.
The mission of the Department is to support the Minister of Justice in building a fair, just and safer community.
With the exception of the offices of First Minister and deputy First Minister, all Ministerial offices became vacant upon the elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly which took place on 5 May 2011.
David Ford was re-elected as Minister for the Department of Justice on 16 May 2011, having secured the necessary cross-community support within the Assembly.
In addition to its statutory functions, the department provides resources and a legislative framework for its agencies and arms length bodies (which together constitute most of the justice system in Northern Ireland). Together with these organisations the department is responsible for ensuring there is a fair and effective justice system in Northern Ireland and for increasing public confidence in that system.
Agencies
The Department has five Agencies:
- Northern Ireland Prison Service: The Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) is an executive agency of the Department of Justice responsible for providing prison services in Northern Ireland. By working with prisoners and stakeholder organisations it also aims to reduce levels of re-offending.
- Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service: The Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (NICTS) is an executive agency of the Department of Justice. It provides administrative support to the Northern Ireland courts and tribunals, and to the Judiciary; enforces civil court judgments through the Enforcement of Judgments Office and sponsors the work of the Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission.
- Compensation Agency: The Compensation Agency (CA) is an executive agency of the Department of Justice responsible for supporting the victims of crime, either by personal injury or criminal damage, by ensuring that they are appropriately compensated in accordance with relevant statutory schemes.
- Forensic Science Agency: The Forensic Science Agency (FSNI) is an executive agency of the Department of Justice responsible for the provision of effective scientific advice and support to enhance the delivery of justice.
- Youth Justice Agency: The Youth Justice Agency (YJA) is an executive agency of the Department of Justice responsible for preventing offending by children and young people through delivery of a range of community based, court ordered and diversionary interventions, youth conferencing and the provision of custody where necessary.
The Department also sponsors a number of Non-Departmental Public Bodies/bodies affiliated with policing and justice.
