Criminal Justice
Inspection Northern Ireland (CJI)

CJINI is an independent statutory inspectorate, established under the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002, constituted as a non-departmental public body in the person of the Chief Inspector.

Neither the Chief Inspector nor his permanent staff are to be civil servants, though civil servants may be seconded to the Inspectorate.

The CJI will be funded by and report to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, who has powers to direct the Chief Inspector to undertake specific pieces of work.

Normally, however, it will be for the Chief Inspector to propose a programme of work, which is subject to the approval of the Secretary of State and, in respect of the Public Prosecution Service, of the Attorney General.

The Chief Inspector will be free to report as he finds, but his programme of work will be expected to support the Government's aims and objectives.

The CJINI was established in accordance with Recommendation 263 of the Review of the Criminal Justice System in Northern Ireland of March, 2000.