The Department of Justice was established on May 1, 1983 as a result of a government-wide reorganization. Many of the functions and responsibilities of the disestablished Department of the Attorney General, along with responsibilities from the Departments of Social Services and Intergovernmental Affairs, were transferred to the new department. The Minister of Justice remained the Attorney General of Saskatchewan and continued to hold the authority and responsibilities of the office.
Throughout its history, the department has been organized into several divisions based on the functions of: civil law; public law; corrections; justice and court services; public prosecution; registry and regulatory services; community justice; and administrative or corporate services. Responsibility for each division has been held by an appointed assistant deputy minister, associate deputy minister or executive director who has reported to the deputy minister of the department.
The Civil Law Division has provided legal services to the departments, agencies boards and commissions of the Government of Saskatchewan. Services have included the provision of legal opinions and the representation as counsel in lawsuits on behalf of the Crown.
The Public Law Division has provided legal advice to Government on matters relating to Aboriginal and constitutional law, the drafting of legislation and other legislative services. Prior to the establishment of the Community Justice Division in 1999, the division was responsible for law enforcement services, the coroners' office, control of firearms, and the Victim Services Program. As well, the division has been responsible for the Queen's Printer for the majority of the department's history.
The Corrections Division provided services and programs aimed at the care, control and supervision of offenders. This included the operation of correctional institutions and community training residences, and the administration of community corrections programs and the corrections management information system. For periods of the department's history, the responsibility for corrections was combined with justice services (in the Corrections and Justice Services Division, 1987-1991) and public safety (in the Solicitor General Division, 1991-1993). The Corrections Division was discontinued in April 2002. Its responsibilities and functions were transferred to the newly-established Department of Corrections and Public Safety.
Justice and court services have been the responsibility of the Court Services Division (1983), the Justice Services Division (1984-1987), the Corrections and Justice Services Division (1987-1991), the Registry Services Division (1991-2002), the Courts and Civil Justice Division (2002-2011) and the Court Services Division (2011-present). Throughout the history of the department, justice and court services have included the administration of provincial courts and judicial centres, sheriff services, maintenance enforcement, the services of the Registrar of Courts, family justice services, dispute resolution services, and support to the Saskatchewan Legal Aid Commission.
The Public Prosecution Division has provided legal representation on behalf of the public for matters in the criminal justice system. Functions of the division have also included the provision of guidance to municipal police forces in the investigation of crimes and assistance in the training of law enforcement officers.
Registry and regulatory services have been the responsibility of the Property Registration and Management Division (1983), the Justice Services Division (1984-1987), the Corrections and Justice Services Division (1987-1991), the Registry Services Division (1991-2002), the Courts and Civil Justice Division (2002-2008) and the Regulatory Services Division (2008-present). Registry and regulatory programs and services have included property registration, land titles assurance claims and the incorporation of businesses and non-profit organizations. These services were transferred to the Information Services Corporation between 2000 and 2010. Other functions of the division have included: mediation services; the administration of the Office of the Public Trustee; family justice services; support to various government boards and commissions; access and privacy services; information management; and consumer protection services.
The Community Justice Division was established in 1999 and has been responsible for: law enforcement services; the coroners' office; victims services; community services; Aboriginal and northern justice initiatives; the Aboriginal Court Worker Program; and the Interpersonal Violence and Abuse Unit.
Administrative and corporate services of the department have been provided by the Administration Division (1983, 1987-1991), the Management Services Division (1984-1987), and the Finance and Administration Division, as well as through various branches that reported directly to the deputy minister. Services provided have included human resources, communications, policy and planning, public education and finance. Administrative support has also been provided to the various independent boards and commissions that report to the department.
Throughout the department's history, boards, commissions and other bodies that have reported to the department have included: the Saskatchewan Farm Ownership Board; Farm Land Security Board; Public and Private Rights Board; Surface Rights Arbitration Board; Provincial Mediation Board; Office of the Rentalsman (known after 2006 as the Office of Residential Tenancies); Rent Appeal Commission; Saskatchewan Securities Commission; Saskatchewan Police Commission; Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission; Saskatchewan Law Reform Commission; Crimes Compensation Board; Saskatchewan Film Classification Board; Saskatchewan Film Classification Appeal Board; Agricultural Implements Board; Saskatchewan Mental Patients Review Board; Saskatchewan Police Complaints Investigator; Co-operative Securities Board; Public Disclosure Committee; Commission on First Nation and Métis Peoples; Saskatchewan Financial Services Commission; Law Foundation of Saskatchewan; North Battleford Water Inquiry; Commission of Inquiry into the Wrongful Conviction of David Milgaard; Commission of Inquiry into the Wrongful Death of Neil Stonechild; Funeral and Cremation Services Council; Justice of the Peace Review Council; Provincial Court Judicial Council; Saskatchewan Human Rights Tribunal; Saskatchewan Legal Aid Appeal Commission; Saskatchewan Real Estate Commission; and Traditional Elders Ministerial Advisory Committee.
In 2007, the name of the department was changed to the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General in accordance with The Ministry of Justice and Attorney General Regulations (R.S.S. 2007, c. G-5.1 Reg 142). A subsequent name change to the Ministry of Justice occurred in 2012 (S.S. 2012, c. G-5.1 Reg 157).
In May 2012, government reorganization resulted in the former Ministry of Corrections, Public Safety and Policing being downgraded to the Corrections and Policing Division of the Ministry of Justice (with public safety responsibilities being transferred to the Ministry of Government Relations.) The division, which has a cabinet minister responsible, reports (2013) to the minister. All other Ministry of Justice functions and responsibilities remain.