Justice and Security

Charged with the maintenance of order within Schwerdt, the Ministry for Justice and Security administers the court system, law enforcement organs, and the penal correctional system. By tradition, the Minister holds a doctorate of law, although not a requirement for appointment.

 

Organisation of the Ministry

Three main divisions facilitate the efficient fulfillment of the Ministry's mission. A Deputy Minister oversees each division.

Public Safety

Protection from crime, violence, and terrorism are key to the free development and well-being of citizens. To this end, the Ministry has charge of the civil police. Ministerial reinvention following the promulgation of the Basic Law in 1513 amalgamated the former criminal, border, rail, and sea police forces into a single law enforcement organisation, the Security Police (Sicherheitspolizei or Sipo). This enhances services and eliminates duplication. Public safety services have nationwide jurisdiction but are organised along regional lines.

The Sipo prosecutes normal law enforcement and order maintenance. This includes proactive and reactive crime intervention as well as border and governmental facility protection. The agency also provides criminal and forensic investigative services. Specialised sections protect the transport infrastructure and enforce maritime and other transport laws.

Fire and emergency services, in concert with the Ministry for Labor and Social Wellbeing, operate along regional lines, but under centralised management. An emergent combining of police and fire duties is meeting expectations in trials; the scheme is under consideration for nationwide implementation.

Furthering the professional and technical expertise of public safety workers takes place at the Realm Institute for Security and Criminology (RISK).

Judicial Affairs

The law is the foundation of our free democracy. The central task of legal policy is to safeguard and further develop our state based on the rule of law. This includes preparing new statutes, ammendments, and recisions. The Ministry scrutinises draft bills and international agreements as to their constitutionality and compatibility with the Basic Law and existing statutes.

Administration of the court system permits judicial authorities the unencumbered ability to render decisions with regard to civil, criminal, commercial and financial, copyright and intellectual property, labor, and procedural law which may come before the courts.

Penal Affairs

Persons and other entities sanctioned by the judiciary must fulfill their obligation to society, whether through payment of monetary fines or time in incarceration. Schwerdt's penal system provides inmates the ability to make ammends for their wrongs through work which benefits society. Penal institutions strive to be self-sufficient and, on average, are about 90% so.