Prison Service HQ

Prison Law and Policy Branch - Legislation

The role of the Legislation Unit is to provide legislation, and the legal framework, which will enable the Northern Ireland Prison Service to deliver the service required by Ministers on behalf of the people of Northern Ireland. The Unit is responsible for ensuring that prisons legislation reflects current policy requirements and meets contemporary, Human Rights and equality standards.

The Legislation Unit is responsible for reviewing and amending existing prison legislation to ensure it meets the Agency's current business needs and, where necessary, developing and introducing new legislative provisions. In October 2001, the Unit introduced The Life Sentences (NI) Order 2001 and The Life Sentence Review Commissioners' Rules 2001. Its responsibilities included the development of certain implementation policies arising from these legislative provisions. The Unit is currently reviewing the Prison and Young Offenders Centre Rules (Northern Ireland) 1995 and also contributes to legislation being prepared by other Government Departments and Agencies where there are common criminal justice links or other cross-jurisdictional interests.