Department of Justice and Public Safety, GovNL

PO Box 8700, St. John’s, NL A1B 4J6

St. John’s Correctional Facilities:

Clarenville/ Whitbourne Correctional Facilities:

St. John’s Court Facilities:

Mandate:

The mandate of the Department of Justice and Public Safety derives primarily from the Executive Council Act. This mandate reflects the dual responsibilities of the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General for Newfoundland and Labrador. Reflecting the role and authority of the Attorney General, the Department of Justice and Public Safety provides legal services to the Crown including legal advice to departments, litigation, prosecution and legislative drafting services. While the Executive Council Act is the primary legislative authority for the Department of Justice and Public Safety mandate, the policies, services and programs are also governed by 105 pieces of legislation. The Department has sole responsibility for administering 94 of those, with shared responsibility for 11.

Target Population:

Offenders and victims as well as their families; public bodies and both the Supreme and Provincial Courts of NL.

Highlights of Programs/Services Offered:

• ATIPP Office oversees the implementation and coordination of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015 by providing guidance and assistance to public bodies that are subject to the Act. This is done through training, providing advice and guidance as well as the development of policies, procedures, guides and educational resources.
• Civil Division is responsible for providing legal services to Provincial Government departments and agencies. These services include providing legal opinions, drafting commercial and financial documents, and representing the Provincial Government and its agencies in negotiations and civil actions before administrative tribunals, all levels of court and judicial inquiries.
• Corrections and Community Services has responsibility for offenders, as well as for victims of crime. It is responsible for the safe and secure custody of young and adult offenders, for providing adult community corrections in the form of probation services, and for providing services to victims of crime.
• Court Services is responsible for providing infrastructure and administrative support to the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Provincial Court of Newfoundland and Labrador.
• Family Justice Services is responsible for promoting dispute resolution outside the Court process in helping families resolve separation and divorce issues. The program assists parties in resolving custody, access and child support issues and offers parent information sessions, mediation, counselling, as well as recalculation of child support.
• Office of the Legislative Counsel provides legislative drafting services to government. Additionally, in conjunction with the Office of the Queen’s Printer and the House of Assembly, it ensures the publication and dissemination of provincial legislation.
• Policing Services are delivered through the province’s two policing agencies: the RNC and the RCMP. Through a broad range of policing services, both police forces are responsible for fostering and maintaining peaceful and safe communities.
• Additional Enforcement Services include: the Office of the High Sheriff, which provides administrative, jury and security services to the Supreme and Provincial Courts; the Support Enforcement Program, which collects and distributes court-ordered funds for support; and the Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Division, which focuses on protecting the province’s valuable fish and wildlife resources.
• Public Prosecutions is responsible for prosecuting all offences pursuant to the Criminal Code of Canada and provincial statutes. Prosecutors appear in every level of court in the province and in the Supreme Court of Canada. Public Prosecutions also provides legal opinions and advice on criminal and criminal-related matters to policing agencies and other government departments that enforce provincial statutes