About Us
Manitoba Justice administers the Crown Law justice systems in Manitoba. The responsibilities come from provincial legislation such as:
- The Department of Justice Act
- The Correctional Services Act
- The Legal Aid Manitoba Act
- The Victims’ Bill of Rights
Canada’s Constitution Act, 1867 also makes the department responsible for federal legislation including the Criminal Code and the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
On behalf of the province, Manitoba Justice also administrates and enforces over 100 additional provincial statutes relating to civil law, court administration, correctional services, regulatory provisions and related matters.
Manitoba Justice is also responsible for:
- Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
- Law Enforcement Review Agency (LERA)
- Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation
The department also provides funding to a number of arm’s-length bodies:
- Human Rights Commission
- Legal Aid Manitoba
- Law Reform Commission
With the diverse services, Manitoba Justice is one of the largest departments employing over 3,000 staff throughout the province.
Department staff provide varied expertise.
- lawyers
- correctional officers
- managers
- administrators
- financial officials
- law enforcement specialists
- information technologists
- social workers
- teachers
- nurses
- paralegals
- clerical and support staff
For more information, go to Manitoba Justice Annual Report.
Aboriginal Justice Implementation Commission
The Manitoba government established the independent Aboriginal Justice Implementation Commission in November of 1999 to develop an action plan on practical, cost effective and attainable methods of implementing recommendations from the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry (AJI). The AJI was established in April 1988 to investigate the condition of Aboriginal people in the justice system.
Community Justice
Manitoba has a balanced approach to justice, the traditional court system and the community based justice system which supports over 60 justice committees.
Crown Law Division
The Crown Law division has oversight of the legal operations of the Department of Justice. It is responsible for the prosecution of criminal offences under provincial statutes and the Criminal Code of Canada. In addition, it provides legal services and advice to all government departments and agencies on civil, family, and constitutional law matters. Through policy development and analysis, it advises the government on modernization and improvement to provincial laws and programs. It also considers matters relating to law in Manitoba with a view to making recommendations for the improvement, modernization, and reform of laws and the justice system. The division is the point of reporting for the administration of the complaint process set out in The Human Rights Code and provides outreach and education for Manitobans regarding their rights and responsibilities under the Code.
Crown Law continues to develop and support initiatives of the Manitoba government to improve the administration, effectiveness, and timeliness of justice in Manitoba. In carrying out the division’s mandate, four branches report to the Assistant Deputy Attorney General:
- Manitoba Prosecution Service
- Crown Law Analysis and Development
- Legal Services
- Manitoba Human Rights Commission
Legal Services Branch
The Legal Services branch functions as the law firm to the provincial government. Its role flows from the constitutional and statutory responsibilities of the Attorney General as the chief legal advisor to government and the guardian of the rule of law and the public interest.
The branch’s mission is to provide timely, high quality, helpful, efficient, and cost‐effective legal services that meet the needs of its clients. The following operating principles support its mission and goals:
- service is customer focused;
- service is cost‐effective; and
- commitment to the highest standards of service.
The Legal Services branch provides a full range of legal services to all government departments, agencies, boards, commissions, committees, and government corporations that do not have their own legal counsel. While the branch provides most civil legal services to government and its agencies, in appropriate circumstances, the Department of Justice will retain outside counsel through the branch.
Counsel within the branch are mindful of the potential government‐wide implications of the advice provided and work to ensure that consistent advice is provided. This means active consultation and collaboration among counsel in balance with the provision of cost‐effective legal services. Counsel provide legal services in the following areas:
- Aboriginal Law
- Access to Information, Privacy Law and Records Management
- Administrative Law
- Civil Litigation
- Constitutional Law
- Contracts and Agreements
- Conveyancing
- Corporate and Commercial
- Education Law
- Election‐related legal advice
- Environmental Law and Natural Resource Management
- Executive Government Organization and appointments to Boards and Commissions
- Family Law
- Information Technology
- International Law, including Trade Agreements
- Legislative Review and Policy Development
- Policing and Security
- Procurement
- Provincial Taxation
- Training and Education
The Legal Services branch continues to provide services through a cost‐recovery model for external clients, such as Crown Corporations, Special Operating Agencies, and post‐secondary institutions. All counsel provide legal advice in relation to operational, program, and policy matters of the branch’s clients and are organized into six groups (Aboriginal and Natural Resources, Constitutional Law, Corporate, Commercial and Information Technology, Crown Law, Family Law, and Litigation).
Courts
Courts division provides the staff and services who operate the courts in Manitoba. Staff includes court clerks, sheriffs, and services the fines collection and the Maintenance Enforcement Program.
Community Safety Division
Community Safety is the largest division of Manitoba Justice. It administers sentences imposed by the courts on offenders who are in custody or on probation.
Criminal Justice Division
Criminal Justice provides police protection for all areas of Manitoba. It works closely with the RCMP, municipal and Aboriginal police forces. They also administer the Private Investigators and Security Guards Program, the Public Safety Investigation Unit and Victim Services.
- Law Enforcement Review Agency
The Law Enforcement Review Agency (LERA) is an independent agency under Criminal Justice. If you have a complaint against a member of a municipal police force in Manitoba, you have a right to say what happened and be listened to. The Law Enforcement Review Agency is an independent non-police agency mandated to investigate public complaints of abuse of authority by on-duty municipal police officers, under the authority of The Law Enforcement Review Act. The RCMP has its own independent complaints process. If you have a complaint about an RCMP officer, visit the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP website.
Legislative Counsel
Legislative Counsel plays a central role in drafting bills for the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, whether they originate within Manitoba Justice or with another department, agency or a private member of the Legislative Assembly.
Policy Development and Analysis
Policy Development and Analysis takes a lead role in developing new legislation, policies and programs, provides advice to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, and to other parts of the department.
Manitoba Prosecutions Service Division
The Manitoba Prosecutions Service brings cases to court in Winnipeg and over 60 other communities within Manitoba. Learn how the criminal legal process works.
Community Notification Advisory Committee
Visit the Community Notification Advisory Committee web pages to learn how Manitoba Justice works with other agencies to deliver community notifications about high-risk sex offenders.