Vision: A joined-up criminal justice system that protects human rights, builds public confidence and trust, and works together to improve efficiency and the experience of stakeholders to support a safe, fair and inclusive Ireland.

We will:
• Prioritise actions to support our shared commitment to prevent and respond to crime and to reduce harm
• Work to ensure that good quality, timely information is provided to users and that they are dealt with through fairness, dignity and respect at all stages; and
• Build an innovative culture, embedding system-wide thinking, collaborative working and evidence based decision making

Strategic pillars:

• Strengthening strategic collaboration
• Improving user experience
• Data as a driver
• Building workforce capability
• Increasing public understanding

Criminal justice sector in Ireland

An Garda Síochána: Ireland’s police service is responsible for crime prevention, detection and investigation as well as the prosecution of minor offences.

Forensic Science Ireland: Responsible for analysing samples submitted from crime scenes, providing expert evidence in criminal trials and overseeing Ireland’s DNA database.

Legal Aid Board: Responsible for the administration of three non-statutory criminal legal aid schemes; legal representation for those detained by Gardai for certain offences, certain High Court and Supreme Court applications and in relation to specified Criminal Asset Bureau (CAB) investigations.

The Probation Service: Works with offenders, in prison and the community, to reduce their offending. The Probation Service also manages community service orders and provides assessment reports to the Courts, the Parole Board and the Irish Prison Service in relation to offenders it works with.

The Department of Justice: Sets the strategic direction for a large part of the criminal justice sector; enables and supports the criminal justice organisations to work together collaboratively.

Irish Prison Service: Responsible for the safe and secure custody of persons held on remand and those sentenced to prison. It also supports offender care and rehabilitation and reintegration into the community.

The Courts Service: Responsible for the management of Courts, supporting judges, providing information on the courts system to the public and providing court buildings and facilities for court users.

Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions: Responsible for the direction and supervision of public prosecutions and related criminal matters. The Office is entirely independent of the Government Department/Agency structure