The Justice and Community Safety Directorate is continually involved in the law making process. It plays a critical role in maintaining and reforming the ACT’s body of law.  The Directorate advises the Attorney-General, the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, and the Government in general to ensure that ACT laws meet the needs of our changing society.

Approximately half of all of the Government’s legislative reform is prepared by the Directorate.  The Directorate also provides the Attorney-General and the Government with internal scrutiny services for consistency with the Human Rights Act 2004 and with the legal framework of the Territory as a whole.

The Directorate plays a significant role in improving the Territory’s criminal, civil and administrative justice systems including managing the ACT Policing purchasing agreement and various justice programs. It also assists in the coordination of several independent law reform advisory bodies. The ACT Attorney-General receives advice on law reform from these advisory bodies.

Current News/ Hot Topics:

Proposed Amendments to ACT Child Sex Offender Laws

The ACT Government is proposing a number of reforms to the Crimes (Child Sex Offenders) Act 2005. The rationale for the introduction of these proposed amendments is to improve ACT Policing’s ability to protect the lives and sexual safety of children in the ACT. These proposed reforms will work in conjunction with and strengthen measures already in place around child sex offenders, including the child sex offender register and child sex offender prohibition orders. By increasing the effectiveness of available tools to monitor child sex offenders, the ACT Government is contributing to a community that is safe, inclusive and respectful.

The ACT Government is calling for submissions from the community in relation to the proposed changes. View further details about the proposals and how to provide submission.

Evaluation of the ACT Drug Diversion Programs

An external Evaluation of the Australian Capital Territory Drug Diversion Programs (2013) was led by the Drug Policy Modelling Program, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales. The Evaluation identifies the strengths and challenges of the current ACT police and court drug diversion system and provides ten recommendations to expand the investment and effectiveness of diversion programs in the ACT. The implementation of the recommendations will strengthen diversionary intervention in the ACT and provide a pragmatic response that aims to increase the capacity to reduce subsequent offending, reduce drug use and decrease criminal justice costs.

DPMP Monograph 22 [.PDF 607 KB]

Drug Diversion Evaluation Report [.PDF 2 MB]

Statutory Review of the Crimes Act 1900

On 5 June 2014, Attorney-General Mr Simon Corbell MLA tabled in the ACT Legislative Assembly the statutory review of Crimes Act 1900, section 374 (Summary disposal of certain cases at prosecutor’s election).

The review found that the 2011 changes to the jurisdiction of the ACT Magistrates Court are generally supported by the legal profession, those in the criminal justice system and victims of crime, and should be retained.

Statutory Review of the Crimes Act 1900

Submissions to the Review

Domestic Violence Prevention Council

The DVPC is the peak advisory body to the ACT government on domestic violence issues.

Law Reform Advisory Council

The LRAC provides information to the ACT government on a range of law reform proposals.