The Department of Justice (DoJ) is responsible for the justice system in Northern Ireland, including policing policy, courts, prisons, youth justice, legal aid and support for victims of crime.
Political leadership
The department is led by minister Naomi Long (Alliance Party). Justice is the only Executive department whose minister is elected by cross-community vote of the Assembly rather than allocated via d’Hondt.
Legislative programme
Three bills are currently attributed to DoJ:
- Justice Bill — Consideration Stage
- Criminal Justice (Sentencing etc.) Bill — Committee Stage
- Victims and Witnesses of Crime Bill — Committee Stage
Its legislation is scrutinised by the Committee for Justice.
Data sources
Ministerial and bill-stage data are drawn from the NI Assembly’s official records, kept up to date by the weekly Assembly sync.
See the department’s full profile, remit and official links at mlas.news/department/justice/.