Criminal justice

Protection of human rights and freedoms in criminal procedure

The Ministry of Justice conducts analyses of the effectiveness of legislation related to criminal law and criminal procedure law and prospects for improvement. Having regard to the essential need to protect the rights and freedoms of the individual and the citizen and the interests of society and the state, the Ministry provides legal opinions and suggestions for improving legal regulation in the field of criminal procedure. It also participates in the evaluation of legislation in the areas of criminal law and criminal procedure law, and organises proposals for amending (improving) or repealing this legislation.

The fight against corruption

The Ministry of Justice makes proposals on draft anti-corruption programmes for the Ministry and the agencies assigned to its field of regulation as well as on corruption prevention and control in the Ministry’s field of activities. The Ministry of Justice also analyses and summarises evaluation of the areas of activity of the agencies assigned to the Ministry’s field of regulation where there is a high probability of corruption.

In implementing the measures for the anti-corruption programme of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, the Ministry of Justice participates in coordinating the provisions and measures of the National Anti-Corruption Programme of the Republic of Lithuania; within its competence, it implements the measures for the National Anti-Corruption Programme of the Republic of Lithuania, provides summaries and reports on the fight against corruption, and controls the implementation of appropriate measures in the agencies subordinate to the Ministry of Justice.

The Justice Minister is in charge of the Interdepartmental Commission for Coordinating the Fight against Corruption.

International cooperation in the field of criminal procedure

Within its competence, the Ministry of Justice participates in working groups for drafting European Union and international treaties in the area of criminal procedure, and ensures the transposition of these provisions into the national legal system.

Legal regulation of criminal offences and criminal liability

The Ministry of Justice is striving to create a national legal system that is in line with the concept of the rule of law and the legal experience of the European Union. Taking into account the state’s crime prevention approaches, criminal policy directions, international commitments, and trends in international cooperation, the Ministry of Justice prepares, or helps prepare in conjunction with other state institutions, draft legislation for the adoption, amendment or repeal of legal norms of the criminal law of the Republic of Lithuania relating to the criminalisation of criminal offences, modification of the features of an element of an offence, the decriminalisation of criminal offences, as well as changes to the legal consequences provided for in the criminal law of the Republic of Lithuania for committing a criminal act.

Execution of sentences and arrest

The Ministry of Justice conducts analyses of legislation relating to penitentiary law and arrest, the activities of the Prison Department under the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania and the application thereof, as well as of the state and effectiveness of legal norms and prospects for their development. The Ministry helps organise and coordinate the execution of sentences and arrest and the social reintegration of offenders; it analyses the activities of the Prison Department and its subordinate agencies and state enterprises, prepares draft legislation in the areas of penitentiary law and arrest, makes proposals for amending (improving) or repealing legislation, analyses legislation related to the execution of sentences and arrest and presents conclusions, and so on.

Probation

The Ministry of Justice analyses the effectiveness of legislation regulating probation, evaluates and summarises foreign probation practice, coordinates development of the legal and institutional system of probation, and helps organise the social reintegration of offenders on probation.

Service in the penal system

The Ministry of Justice prepares draft legislation regulating service in the Prison Department and its subordinate agencies, as well as the legal status and social guarantees of the officials working in these agencies.

Juvenile justice

The Ministry of Justice coordinates the implementation of juvenile justice, focusing on the differentiated needs of juvenile offenders, the institutions and employees working with them, and the general public.