Department of Justice: About us

The Department of Justice is responsible for administering the province’s justice system. We support peoples rights, safety and access to justice through the department’s programs and services. We also provide legal services to government and its departments and agencies.

We oversee policing and public safety, and manage the court system and correctional services. We also provide victim services to the victims of crimes, enforce court-ordered and spousal support payments and manage the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner service.

• overseeing policing and public safety
• managing and supporting the province’s court system
• administering sheriff and correctional services
• providing victim services to help victims of crime
• enforcing court-ordered child and spousal support payments
• leading the province to become more accessible
• providing legal services to government

The Department of Justice employs about 1,600 people, including correctional officers, sheriffs, lawyers, probation officers, court administrators, youth workers and firearms experts across the province.

• increasing crime prevention efforts to support economic and social wellbeing
• protecting the cyber safety of Nova Scotians
• improving the enforcement of child and spousal support orders
• reducing delays in the justice system
• developing an African Nova Scotia justice plan and and supporting inclusion and diversity in the justice system
• working with the Department of Community Services to create programs that address domestic violence
• expanding the Domestic Violence Court