UK Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Core Functions and Contact Guide | Courts, Prisons, Legal Aid

UK Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Core Functions and Contact Information

I. Core Functions

1. Courts and Tribunals Management: Responsible for administrative support, facilities management, and case process optimisation for the court system in England and Wales (including criminal courts, civil courts, and family courts) and the tribunal system (such as the Immigration and Asylum Tribunal and the Social Security Tribunal).
2. Judicial Appointments and Independence Safeguards: Oversees the judicial selection process through the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) to ensure judicial independence; manages the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO).
3. Criminal Justice Policy: Formulates and implements legislative proposals in the criminal justice field, covering sentencing reform, simplification of criminal procedure, and protection of victims' rights (under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2021 and the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024).
4. Prisons and Probation Services: Manages 117 prisons in England and Wales (as of April 2026 data) and probation services through His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), responsible for offender rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
5. Legal Aid: Manages publicly funded legal aid schemes through the Legal Aid Agency (LAA), covering civil, criminal, and family legal matters, with a 2025-26 budget of approximately £1.8 billion.

II. Headquarters Address

• Main office: 102 Petty France, London, SW1H 9AJ, United Kingdom
• Postal address: Ministry of Justice, 10th Floor, 102 Petty France, London, SW1H 9AJ

III. Official Website and Regional Notes

• England and Wales: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
• Scotland: Justice administration in Scotland is handled by the Scottish Government Justice Directorate, independent of the UK Ministry of Justice system.
• Northern Ireland: The Department of Justice, Northern Ireland has operated independently since devolution in 2010.

IV. Contact Information

• Switchboard: +44 (0)20 3334 3555
• Media enquiries: +44 (0)20 3334 3536
• Public enquiries: Submit via the Gov.uk online form
• Legal aid advice: Civil Legal Advice (CLA) helpline: 0345 345 4 345