About the Ministry of Justice and the
Police
The Ministry of Justice
was established in 1818. The Ministry has approximately 270 employees
divided between seven departments, the Minister’s office and the Information
Unit.
The main purpose of the Ministry is to provide for the
maintenance and development of the basic guarantees of the rule of law. An
overriding objective is to ensure the security of society and of individual
citizens.
The Minister of Justice is the head of the Ministry, and its
political leader. The Minister has currently two State Secretaries and a
Political Adviser, who are all political appointees.
The highest ranking permanent official is the Secretary
General, who leads the Ministry’s administration. Each of the seven
departments is led by a Director General.
The
main tasks of the Ministry:
1. Secretariat for the political staff
- prepare cases for the Government, the King in Council and the Storting
- help to carry out the policies of the Government
2. Management of agencies
- development of and contact with external agencies and the courts
3. Administration
- responsibility for administrative tasks that affect individuals,
companies, institutions, municipalities and government agencies
- service to the general public
Priority
areas of the Ministry of Justice:
- reducing crime
- security and the rule of law
- openness and democracy
- executing the tasks of the Criminal Justice System and
providing service to the public
Departments
