The Criminal Justice System of England and Wales
The Criminal Justice System (CJS) is one of the major public services in the country. Agencies such as the Police, the Crown Prosecution Service, the courts and the National Offender Management Service are working together to deliver criminal justice.
The work of these agencies is overseen by three government departments: the Ministry of Justice, the Home Office and the Attorney General's Office.
These departments and agencies are working together to reform and improve the Criminal Justice System in order to:
- Prevent and detect more crime;
- Give victims and witnesses more support; and
- Punish and rehabilitate more offenders.
The Local Criminal Justice Boards lead on key priorities for reducing crime and administering justice on a regional basis. Specifically, LCJBs are charged with local delivery of the following CJS objectives:
- Improving the delivery of justice;
- Improving the service provided to victims and witnesses; and
- Improving public confidence.