The criminal justice system in Northern Ireland is made up of several agencies and departments. Together they are responsible for the administration of justice and maintaining law and order. They also share responsibility for detecting and stopping crime, dealing with offenders and overseeing the work of prisons.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) came into being in November 2001, following recommendations made by the Independent Commission on Policing. The police are responsible for detecting and investigating crime and also play an important part, along with other organisations, in preventing and reducing criminal activity.
The work of the police is overseen by the Northern Ireland Policing Board, which sets plans and targets and monitors performance. The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland independently investigates complaints against the police.
For more details on the work of the police follow the links below:
The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) is headed by the Director of Public Prosecutions who decides independently whether or not to prosecute people for committing criminal offences. The PPS decides what the charges should be and is responsible for prosecuting the case at court.
The Northern Ireland Court Service provides administrative support for Northern Ireland's courts at all levels. It is responsible for court buildings, staff and for the administrative processes needed to progress cases. Decisions in court are made, however, by judges. The Court Service also advises the Lord Chancellor and the Secretary of State for Justice in relation to their policy responsibilities with regard to the courts here.
The Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) is responsible for providing prison services in Northern Ireland. Its aim is to keep those committed to prison by the courts in secure, safe and humane custody. By working with prisoners and with organisations, NIPS seeks to reduce the risk of re-offending and as a result, aims to protect the public.
The Prison Service currently has three operational establishments:
The Probation Board for Northern Ireland is a community-based Board with the status of a Non-Departmental Public Body. It has a number of functions which are laid down in legislation:
It also funds organisations that provide hostels for offenders, and run various projects in the community, which address the offending behaviour of offenders who are under PBNI supervision.
The role of Forensic Science Northern Ireland (FSNI) is to deliver effective scientific advice and support to enhance the delivery of justice. FSNI works mostly in support of the police, although other customers include the State Pathologist, Police Ombudsman’s office and a number of private and international customers. It also provides independent expert scientific advice to Northern Ireland's courts.
The Compensation Agency operates statutory schemes for compensating victims of crime who have been physically and/or mentally injured or who are a dependant or relative of a deceased victim. Compensation for criminal damage to property can be awarded in certain defined circumstances where it was malicious and caused by terrorism or an unlawful assembly.
Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland (CJI) is an independent body created by the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002. CJI undertakes a programme of inspections of organisations in the area of criminal justice as well as thematic inspections which look at issues affecting the criminal justice system as a whole.
CJI's inspections examine the strengths and weaknesses of organisations with a view to identifying scope for improvement. It may make recommendations designed to help improve their performance.
The Youth Justice Agency was launched on 1 April 2003.
The main aim of the Agency is to reduce youth crime and to build confidence in the youth justice system. The Agency works with children aged 10-17 years who have offended or are at serious risk of offending.
The Agency delivers a range of services, often in partnership with others. These include diversionary interventions through a network of community-based offices, youth conferencing (a restorative process in which victims have a say), and custody for the most serious offenders.
A number of agencies work across national boundaries in the UK:
The Serious Organised Crime Agency was formed with the merging of the National Crime Squad, National Criminal Intelligence Service, elements of HM Revenue and Customs that dealt with drug trafficking and associated criminal finance and a part of UK Immigration Service which dealt with organised immigration crime. It is an intelligence-led agency with law enforcement powers and responsibility for reducing the damage caused to people and communities by serious organised crime.
Employing teams of lawyers, accountants, police officers and other specialists, the Serious Fraud Office investigates and prosecutes serious and complex fraud in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
For more information on the work of these agencies, follow the links below:
Crime, justice and the law