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.

Civil Justice
Civil Justice has several branches and agencies:

  • Civil Legal Services are the internal law firm to the Manitoba government. They provide legal services to all government departments, agencies, boards, commissions, committees and government corporations that do not have their own legal counsel. The branch does not provide legal services to the public.
  • The Family Law branch provides legal services and advice about family law to government departments. They help government develop family law policy, programs and legislative initiatives. They also work to increase awareness of family law initiatives and issues among the general public and the legal profession. For more information go to: Family Justice.
  • The Constitutional Law branch provides the government with legal services for constitutional matters. Branch lawyers defend legislation and government programs before the courts in response to constitutional challenges in both civil and criminal cases. The branch also advises government departments on the federal constitution, including the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. For more information go to:

    Constitution Acts 1867 to 1982 (English)
    Constitution Acts 1867 to 1982 (French)

  • The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner deals with situations involving risk to human life. The Chief Medical Examiner (CME) investigates all unexpected, unexplained, suspicious, violent and children's deaths in Manitoba. If a relative dies suddenly and you are contacted by the CME, this site will help you to understand the procedures followed before and after an inquiry or investigation. Find out here.
  • The Manitoba Human Rights Commission (MHRC) is an independent agency under Civil Justice. It operates under The Human Rights Code and works towards reducing unreasonable discrimination and promoting equality of opportunity and freedom from discrimination for all Manitobans. Have you been a victim of unreasonable discrimination? Go to Manitoba Human Rights.
  • The Manitoba Law Reform Commission (MLRC) is an independent Manitoba agency established by The Law Reform Commission Act. They review and recommend reforms towards modernizing and improving provincial laws.
  • The Legal Aid Manitoba Act establishes Legal Aid Manitoba as an independent agency that provides legal services to individuals, groups and organizations who may have difficulty paying for a lawyer.

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.

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