Our role in justice
The Department for Correctional Services (DCS) serves a vital role in the criminal justice system in South Australia.
The department's objective is to improve community outcomes through efforts to reduce offender reoffending and provide for successful reintegration back into the community. This includes meaningful and targeted rehabilitation and education programs in addition to effective partnerships with other government departments, community based organisations, volunteers and the private sector.
Department initiatives are focused jointly on rehabilitative processes as well as targeting resources towards those offenders who present the highest threat to public safety.
As a result, DCS works closely with other justice agencies in South Australia to share information and target those offenders who present the greatest risk to the community.
The department’s vision, mission, values, stakeholders and outcomes are fundamental to operations and to the department’s success.
South Australian justice sector
The department’s relationship with other associated justice agencies is critical to offender risk management and community safety.
Other associated justice agencies include:
- Commissioner for Victims’ Rights
An independent statutory officer who helps victims in their dealings with the criminal justice system, public officials and public agencies. - South Australia Police [SAPOL]
SAPOL provides a range of policing services 24 hours a day to keep South Australians safe. - Attorney-General’s Department
An agency who bring together a diverse group of functions in the justice sector for and on behalf of the South Australian community. - Crown Solicitor’s Office
The office is provided through the Attorney-General and provides legal services to Government. - Department of Human Services
The Department of Human Services - Youth Justice – manages and supports young offenders. - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
Responsible for prosecuting people charged under South Australian laws with serious criminal offences. - Courts Administration Authority
The Courts Administration Authority is responsible for administration of our courts. - Parole Board of South Australia
The Parole Board of South Australia reviews and decides parole applications. - Ombudsman SA
The Ombudsman investigates complaints about South Australian Government and local Government agencies – including DCS.
We also have partnerships with many other organisations.
Australian corrective services
The DCS Chief Executive is a part of the Corrective Services Administrators’ Council (CSAC). The CSAC comprises the Chief Executives and Commissioners of Corrective Services Agencies in each Australian jurisdiction and includes New Zealand Department of Corrections.
This is a significant forum for considering and dealing with shared corrections issues and successes. CSAC promotes best practice in the delivery of corrections services through effective sharing of ideas and addressing key national issues.
The CSAC meets twice per year.
Other interstate correctional services
We also work closely with all other interstate correctional services, and New Zealand:
- Australian Capital Territory Corrective Services
- New South Wales Corrective Services
- Northern Territory Correctional Services
- Queensland Corrective Services
- Tasmania Corrective Services
- Victoria Correctional Services
- Western Australia Department of Corrective Services
- New Zealand Department of Corrections
International corrective services
We also value high-level liaison with other national and international criminal justice organisations through memberships including the Asian and Pacific Conference of Corrections Administrators (APCCA).
This is an annual meeting where senior corrections representatives of nations and territories in the Asia-Pacific region gather to discuss correctional services issues.
We are also a member of the International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA). A forum for criminal justice professionals to join in a dialogue and share ideas and practices aimed at advancing professional corrections.