Justice and Community Safety Directorate

We provide a range of services in the ACT to maintain a safe, just and resilient community.

What we do

We provide services to the ACT community and government, across:

justice
community safety
emergency preparedness and response
protection of rights.

We are committed to:

maintaining the rule of law and supporting a democratic society
strengthening community safety
enhancing access to justice
caring for and supporting people who are at a higher risk of vulnerability
protecting people’s legal and human rights and interests
building community and business resilience to emergencies, disasters and disruptions
supporting formal partnerships and shared decision making with First Nations peoples.

Read our strategic plan.

Download our annual reports.

Executive

Director-General, Justice and Community Safety Directorate: Ray Johnson APM (acting)
Deputy Director-General, Justice: Kelly Williams (acting)
Deputy Director-General Community Safety: Wilhelmina Blount (acting)
Chief Operating Officer: Danielle Krajina

Download the JACS organisational chart [PDF 167 kB].

Business units

ACT Government Solicitor: provides legal services, including advice and representation to the ACT, its government agencies, ministers and office holders.
ACT Courts and Tribunal: supports the administration of justice by providing support and services to judicial officers, tribunal members, and those using the courts and tribunal.
ACT Corrective Services: provide adult correctional services to support the rehabilitation and successful reintegration of offenders into the community.
ACT Emergency Services Agency: provides emergency management services to the Canberra community.
ACT Human Rights Commission: protects the rights of vulnerable members of the community. Provides education and advice to members of the community on how to protect their rights (SOH).
ACT Parliamentary Counsel's Office: provides legislative drafting and publishing services for the Territory.
Director of Public Prosecutions: institutes, conducts and supervises prosecutions and related proceedings (SOH).
First Nations Justice Branch: supports community consultation and management of justice related programs for the ACT First Nations adult community.
Legislation, Policy and Programs Branch: advises on and develops policy and legislation in relation to all aspects of civil and criminal law in the Territory, including the administration of the justice system. Develops and administers a variety of justice and community safety initiatives.
Office of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People's Commissioner: protects and promotes the rights, interests and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in the ACT (SOH).
Office of the ACT Inspector of Custodial Services: provides independent oversight of ACT correctional and youth justice facilities, focusing on continual improvement and the prevention of ill-treatment (SOH).
Public Trustee and Guardian: provides permanent and secure trustee, guardianship and administration services to the ACT community (SOH).
Security and Emergency Management Division (SEMD): provides whole-of-government coordination and strategic policy advice on security and emergency management matters across the ACT.
Strategic Policy and Programs, Community Safety: provides policy advice and program design for community safety priority issues.

SOH denotes a statutory office holder. They exercise their role independently with administrative support from the Directorate. The duties and functions of statutory office holders are assigned in legislation.