Frequently Asked Questions
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Below are some frequently asked questions about the Criminal Justice System.
(For a text version of the FAQs then please click here) 
- What does the Criminal Justice System (CJS) do?
- Who's involved?
- How does the Criminal Justice Process Work?
- How do I contact a Criminal Justice Board for my area?
What does the Criminal Justice System (CJS) do?
The Criminal Justice System consists of a complex system of agencies working together to deliver justice in England and Wales. It is one of the major public services and is responsible for: maintaining law and order, detecting crime, bringing offences to justice, supporting victims and witnesses and ensuring that offenders are punished and rehabilitated effectively.
Who's involved?
At a national level there are three Government Departments which share responsibility for the Criminal Justice System:
- The Home Office which has responsibility for policing
- The Ministry of Justice which has responsibility for offender management and for running our courts.
- The Attorney General's Office which oversees the Crown Prosecution Service
At a local level the core agencies that work together to deliver the criminal justice process are the police, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS, Her Majesty's Courts Service (HMCS), the Probation Service, Youth Offending Teams (YOTs) and Her Majesty's Prison Service (HMPS).
There are a number of other bodies involved at both a national and local level such as the Legal Services Commission, the Judiciary and voluntary organisations such as Victim Support.
How does the criminal justice process work?
Interactive guides to the Criminal Justice System are available on CJS Online. The guides are available for:
If you would like general information about the Criminal Justice System then click here to download the "Inside Justice" leaflet.
How do I contact a Criminal Justice Board for my area?
Your Local Criminal Justice Board can be found at www.lcjb.cjsonline.org
