Departments of the CJS

Ministers

Ministerial responsibility for the Criminal Justice System is spread across three government departments: the Ministry of Justice, the Home Office and the Office of the Attorney General. The ministers jointly responsible for the Criminal Justice System are listed below.

The Rt Hon Jack Straw MP

Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor

As Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor, the Rt Hon Jack Straw MP is responsible to Parliament for criminal law and sentencing, reducing reoffending and for prisons and probation. This includes responsibility for the former Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA), overseeing Magistrates' Courts, the Crown Court, the Appeals Courts and the Legal Services Commission.

The Rt Hon Jacqui Smith MP
Home Secretary

The Home Secretary is responsible to Parliament for crime and crime reduction, policing, security and counter-terrorism, borders and immigration, passports and identity.

The Rt Hon Baroness Scotland of Asthal QC
Attorney General

The Attorney General is responsible to Parliament for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), Customs and Excise Prosecutors, the Treasury Solicitor's Department and the Director of Public Prosecutions in Northern Ireland.

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