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Department overview | |
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Formed | 1 July 2019 |
Preceding agencies | |
Jurisdiction | New South Wales |
Headquarters | 6 Parramatta Square, 10 Darcy Street, Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia |
Ministers responsible |
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Deputy Ministers responsible |
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Department executive |
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Website | www |
Footnotes | |
[1] [2] |
The New South Wales Department of Communities and Justice, a department of the Government of New South Wales, is responsible for the delivery of services to some of the most disadvantaged individuals, families and communities; and the administration and development of a just and equitable legal system of courts, tribunals, laws and other mechanisms that further the principles of justice in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It also provides services to children and young people, families, people who are homeless, people with a disability, their families and carers, women, and older people. The department is the lead agency of the Stronger Communities cluster of the New South Wales government. [3]
The department was formed on 1 July 2019 following the 2019 state election that saw the formation of the second Berejiklian ministry. The department assumed most of functions from the former Department of Family and Community Services, and the former Department of Justice. [4] The new department was originally meant to be named Department of Family, Community Services and Justice when announced on the gazette in April 2019, but was changed to its current name in June 2019. [1] [5]
Adult correctional operations are governed by the Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Act 1999. Other relevant laws include the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), Crimes Act 1900 No 40 (NSW), Crimes (Interstate Transfer of Community Based Sentences) Act 2004 (NSW), Protected Disclosures Act 1994 No 92 (NSW), Summary Offences Act 1988 No 25 (NSW), Prisoners (Interstate Transfer) Act 1982 No 104 (NSW), and Parole Orders (Transfer) Act 1983 No 190 (NSW).
Juvenile justice operates under the terms of the Children (Detention Centres) Act 1987 (NSW), the Children (Community Service Orders) Act 1987 (NSW), the Young Offenders Act 1997 (NSW), and the Children (Interstate Transfer of Offenders) Act 1988 (NSW).
DCJ is made up of seven divisions, including:
These are supported by a Strategy, Policy and Commissioning and a Corporate Services division.
Each division is led by a deputy secretary (the deputy secretary for Corrections is known as the Commissioner of Corrective Services). The deputy secretaries report to secretary, currently vacant, yet filed on an acting basis by Catherine D’Elia. [6]
The following ministers are responsible for the administration of the department and its agencies: [7] [8] [9]
All ministers were appointed with effect from 5 April 2023. [2] Ultimately the ministers are responsible to the Parliament of New South Wales.
The following agencies are administered by the department: [1]
The New South Wales Department of Justice was a state government agency in New South Wales, Australia, that operated under various names between 2009 and 2019. In 2019, most of its functions were absorbed by a new Department of Communities and Justice. The department was responsible for the state's justice system – courts, prosecutions, prisons, sheriffs – and most emergency service agencies.
Screen NSW, formerly known as the New South Wales Film and Television Office, or FTO, and before that the New South Wales Film Corporation, is a brand name that is part of Create NSW, an agency of the Government of New South Wales that is responsible for supporting and promoting the arts, artists and the various cultural bodies within the state of New South Wales in Australia. Screen NSW assists, promotes and strengthens the screen industry in the state of New South Wales. It was previously an agency in its own right, but since 1 April 2017 has been part of Create NSW. The name "Screen NSW" ceased to exist within Create NSW between that date and September 2019, when a restructure resurrected the brand. As of July 2022, Kyas Hepworth is the Head of Screen NSW.
Corrective Services New South Wales (CSNSW) is a division of the Department of Communities and Justice of the Government of New South Wales, Australia. CSNSW is responsible for the state's prisons and a range of programs for managing offenders in the community. The state has 36 prisons, 33 run by CSNSW and three privately operated. The agency traces its origins back to 1788, when New South Wales was founded as a penal colony.
The New South Wales Premier's Department, a department of the New South Wales Government, is responsible for leading the New South Wales public sector to deliver on the Government's commitments and priorities. The department provides administrative support that enables the cabinet to identify, design and implement a coordinated policy, project and reform agenda that boosts the efficiency, productivity and effectiveness across the State. The department consults and work closely with other New South Wales government departments, the Commonwealth Government, local government, business and the community to ensure responses to community needs are effective.
The Minister for the Arts is a Minister of the Crown in the New South Wales Government who has responsibilities for the administration and support for the arts in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The portfolio was abolished in 2019 and merged into the portfolio of Minister for the Public Service and Employee Relations, Aboriginal Affairs, and the Arts; and reinstated in December 2021.
The New South Wales Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism is a minister in the Government of New South Wales who has responsibilities which include the conduct and regulation of all police and services agencies and personnel and also deals with operational and event planning issues, and fire and rescue services in New South Wales, Australia. The Minister also serves as the Vice-Patron of NSW Police Legacy.
The New South Wales Minister for Corrections is a minister of the Government of New South Wales who is commissioned with responsibility for the administration of correctional services, juvenile justice, and prisons in the state of New South Wales, Australia.
The New South Wales Department of Family and Community Services (FACS) is a former department of the Government of New South Wales and was previously responsible for the delivery of services to some of the most disadvantaged individuals, families and communities in the state of New South Wales, Australia until July 2019.
The New South Wales Minister for Aboriginal Affairs is a minister in the Government of New South Wales with responsibility for administering legislation and policy in relation to that state's indigenous Australians in the state of New South Wales, Australia.
The New South Wales Minister for Families and Communities is a minister of the Government of New South Wales with responsibility for social policy and welfare, including matters relating to ageing, disability, multiculturalism, and veterans' affairs, women's affairs and youth in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The portfolio is currently held by Kate Washington, who also holds the position of Minister for Disability Inclusion.
The Minister for Industrial Relations is a Minister of the Crown in the Government of New South Wales who has responsibilities for matters relating to industrial and labour laws and regulation in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The portfolio was established in 1895 in the Reid ministry and titled Minister for Labour and Industry, held in conjunction with the Minister of Public Instruction. The minister is responsible for assisting the Premier and the Treasurer in the administration of their respective clusters.
The Department of Justice and Attorney-General (DJAG) is a department of the Queensland Government with responsibilities for the administration of justice, support to Queensland courts, regulatory policy and consumer protection, legal aid, youth justice, corrective services, and other community and legal services.
In the Australian legal system, a good behaviour bond is a type of non-custodial sentence which involves the condition of the offender's "good behaviour" for a set period. The condition of "good behaviour" primarily requires the offender to obey the law, but may also include additional probation officer supervision, mandatory medical treatment or participation in rehabilitation, counselling and intervention programs. These imposed conditions are determined by state legislation and at the magistrate's discretion. A good behaviour bond may be established with or without a recorded legal conviction for the offence. The specific conditions which constitute a good behaviour bond, as well as the consequences for breaching them, vary under each Australian state or territory's legislation, but overall are used most commonly for first-time and juvenile offenders.
Resilience NSW was a Government of New South Wales executive agency within the Department of Premier and Cabinet, focused on disaster management and was responsible for disaster recovery and building community resilience to future disasters. It was established on 1 May 2020, following the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season a few months prior. It replaced the Office of Emergency Management, an office within the Department of Communities and Justice.
The Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading is a minister in the Government of New South Wales responsible for administering legislation and policy in relation to consumer affairs and SafeWork regulation in New South Wales, Australia.
The Minister for Multiculturalism is a minister of the Government of New South Wales with responsibility for social policy and welfare, including multiculturalism in the state of New South Wales, Australia.
The Minister for Veterans is a minister of the Government of New South Wales with responsibility for veterans' affairs in the state of New South Wales, Australia.
The Minister for Disability Services is a minister of the Government of New South Wales with responsibility for social policy and welfare, including matters relating disability in the state of New South Wales, Australia.
The Minister for Seniors is a minister of the Government of New South Wales with responsibility for social policy and welfare concerning seniors or the aged in the state of New South Wales, Australia.