About the Department

The Department of Justice and Public Safety is responsible for the dual offices of:

The Attorney General, who is responsible for:

  • Administering criminal justice in the province, and the prosecution of all offenses under the Criminal Code of Canada, and the statutes of Newfoundland and Labrador;
  • Representing the Crown in matters of civil litigation;
  • Providing legal services to all government departments and agencies;
  • Representing the Crown where public rights of concern to the provincial government are being questioned;
  • Providing advice to government on proposed legislation, carrying out studies for the reform of law, and providing legislative drafting services for the government;
  • Providing access to legal aid to those persons who are eligible.

The Minister of Justice and Public Safety, who is responsible for:

  • Administering court services;
  • Administering correctional systems;
  • Administering police protection.

Mandate

This mandate reflects the dual responsibilities of the Minister of Justice and Public Safety and the Attorney General of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Department is responsible for the provision of legal services to the Provincial Government and is responsible for the protection and safety of people in the province with respect to their persons and property. The Department’s responsibilities are met through:

  • Managing the Fines Administration Division
  • Overseeing the Support Enforcement Program
  • Administering the Office of the Public Trustee
  • Protecting human rights and administering the Human Rights Commission
  • Administering the courts, including family justice services
  • Delivering adult probation services
  • Overseeing the Office of the High Sheriff
  • Providing services to victims of crime
  • Offering legal advice to provincial government departments
  • Delivering legislative drafting through the Office of the Legislative Counsel
  • Administering legal aid services
  • Supporting the Serious Incident Response Team
  • Prosecuting accused persons
  • Providing police protection
  • Operating the province’s correctional facilities
  • Administering the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner

Vision

A justice and public safety environment that is accessible and understood and which plays a key role in creating a fair, equitable and safe society where all people can pursue their lawful rights and freedoms.

^ Top of Page

Lines of Business:

  • Adult Probation is responsible for administering court imposed, community-based sentences for offenders who require supervision, control and counselling to develop their potential as law abiding members of the community.
  • Civil Division is responsible for providing legal advice 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.
  • Court Services is responsible for providing infrastructure and administrative support to the Provincial Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador. Family Justice Services, which falls under the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, is responsible for promoting dispute resolution outside the court process. The program assists parties is resolving parenting and support issues and offers parent information sessions, mediation, and counselling. Provincial Court also has responsibility for three specialty courts: Drug Treatment Court, Intimate Partner Violence Intervention Court, and Mental Health Court.
  • Correctional Services is responsible for the safe and secure custody of youth and adult offenders, which includes services and programs for sentenced, remanded and detained offenders to assist with recovery and reintegration back into the community after release from custody.
  • Finance and General Operations Division is responsible for planning, organizing, directing and controlling overall financial and administrative operations of the Department, including coordinating the annual budget submission, providing budgetary advice, ongoing financial analysis and consultative services, monitoring expenditures and receivables during the financial year for accurate financial information and financial reporting, ensuring proper financial controls and monitoring systems are in place, and human resource administration supports.
  • Fines Administration is responsible for the processing, billing and collection of fines, penalties and surcharges imposed on individuals by Provincial Court, summary offence tickets, or other legislation. Ticket processing, billing and collection services are also provided to third parties such as municipalities, hospitals, and postsecondary institutions.
  • Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is an independent entity that is responsible for reporting, investigating and recording deaths pursuant to the Fatalities Investigation Act. The Chief Medical Examiner is also responsible for appointing physicians to act as medical examiners and appointing medical investigators.
  • Office of the High Sheriff is responsible for providing services to the Supreme and Provincial Courts. The Office of the High Sheriff administers the jury system, provides court security, judgement enforcement and trust account services, and executes orders and decisions of the Court.
  • Office of the Legislative Counsel provides legislative drafting services to Government. Additionally, in conjunction with the King’s Printer and the House of Assembly, the office ensures the publication and dissemination of provincial legislation.
  • Office of the Public Trustee is responsible for protecting the financial assets and well-being of clients under the Public Trustee Act, 2009. The Office of the Public Trustee is a Crown corporation created by legislation and operates fully independent of government.
  • Policing Services are delivered through the province’s two policing agencies: the RNC and the RCMP. The Policing and Public Safety Division provides administrative accountability on the provision of policing services. Through a broad range of policing services, both police agencies are responsible for enforcing the law to protect public safety.
  • Policy, Strategic Planning and Information Management is responsible for providing leadership in the identification, development and implementation of broad policy initiatives, departmental, horizontal planning, and accountability processes in government, as well as for supporting informed policy development through internal and external stakeholder engagement. The Division holds department-wide responsibility for all matters relating to records and information management.
  • 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 Provincial Government departments that enforce provincial statutes.
  • Support Enforcement performs several services related to the collection and distribution of court-ordered funds for support, maintenance or alimony. This includes registering and transmitting Support Orders, issuing Notices of Garnishments, tracing delinquent payers, and receiving and transmitting interjurisdictional Support Orders applications.
  • Victim Services provides a free service to support victims of crime. Services are available to adult victims of crime, 16 years of age and older, whether the crime has been reported or a charge has been laid. Services are also available to children, youth, or witnesses when under 16 years of age, when charges are laid.

^ Top of Page

Staff

As of April 1, 2026, the Department employed 1,551 staff, including the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC). It also funds RCMP officers and civilian staff to deliver frontline policing in about 41 locations across Newfoundland and Labrador under the Provincial Policing Services Agreement and Community Tripartite Agreements. The Department employs a wide range of professionals including lawyers, police officers, social workers, psychologists, counsellors, correctional officers, youth care counselors, deputy sheriffs, information management specialists, administrators, financial managers, educators and administrative support staff.

^ Top of Page

The People We Serve

The Department primarily serves the general public and Government departments and agencies. The Department provides a range of services to individuals or groups of individuals through the courts, public prosecutions, family justice services, support enforcement, victim services, correctional services, fines administration, and policing. The Provincial Government itself is also a significant client of the Department. Civil law services are provided to Provincial Government departments and agencies in the form of legal advice, as well as representation in litigation. Legislative drafting services are provided by the Office of the Legislative Counsel.

^ Top of Page