Nova Scotia. Director of Public Prosecutions

Other forms of name:
Nova Scotia. Public Prosecution Service

In 1990, in response to the report and recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Donald Marshall, Jr. Prosecution, responsibility for initiating and conducting crown prosecutions under the Criminal Code and provincial statutes was transferred from the Attorney General to an independent Director of Public Prosecutions appointed by the Cabinet. The Director is the head of the public prosecutions service and is responsible for all prosecutions within the jurisdiction of the Attorney General conducted on behalf of the Crown. The Director may conduct all prosecutions independently of the Attorney General except that the Director shall comply with all instructions or guidelines issued by the Attorney General in writing and published pursuant to the Public Prosecutions Act. The Director is, for the purpose of the Criminal Code (Canada) and the Summary Proceedings Act, the Attorney General's lawful deputy in respect of prosecutions; shall advise police officers in respect of prosecutions generally or in respect of a particular investigation which may lead to a prosecution when the police request such assistance; may issue general instructions or guidelines to a chief crown attorney, a regional crown attorney or a crown attorney in respect of all prosecutions or a class of prosecutions, and shall cause such instructions or guidelines to be published; and may issue instructions or guidelines to a chief crown attorney, a regional crown attorney or a crown attorney in a particular prosecution.

Notes: Authority record based on Statutes of Nova Scotia: 1990 c. 21, 1999 (2nd) c. 16.

see also Department of Justice