The Justice and Community Safety Directorate and its portfolio agencies bring together the government activities concerned with supporting the legal and justice functions for the community. These functions encompass:

• Parliamentary Counsel's Office - for the drafting and notification of ACT legislation.
• ACT Policing - for law enforcement.
• ACT Law Courts and Tribunal administration - for support to the ACT Supreme Court, the Magistrates Court and the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
• Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions - for independent prosecution of serious criminal law offences.
• ACT Corrective Services - for management of the ACT's prison and detention centre, known as the Alexander Maconochie Centre, and for parole and other community-based corrections.

Other participants in the ACT law enforcement environment include:

• Legal Aid ACT - for the provision of legal information and advice, duty lawyer services, and grants of financial assistance.
• Legal practitioners (solicitors and barristers) - for legal advice and representation.

The ACT's justice system focuses on the enforcement of the law and the protection and enhancement of the rights of individuals, corporations and other entities through the use of courts, tribunals, mediation, and other conflict and dispute resolution services.

The ACT justice system seeks to ensure fairness to all persons involved. A fair justice system is one that:

• is accessible
• deals with matters in a reasonably expeditious manner
• ensures that all people involved conduct themselves in a way that promotes and respects rights.