The Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans, commonly referred to as the Justice Secretary, is a position in the Scottish Government Cabinet. The Cabinet Secretary has overall responsibility for law and order in Scotland. The Cabinet Secretary is assisted by the Minister for Community Safety. The current Cabinet Secretary for Justice is Keith Brown, who was appointed in May 2021. History The position was created in 1999 as the Minister for Justice, with the advent of devolution and the institution of the Scottish Parliament, taking over some of the roles and functions of the former Scottish Office Minister of State for Home Affairs that existed prior to 1999. As with the UK Secretary of State for Justice, but unlike some other justice ministers, the Cabinet Secretary does not have any oversight of prosecutions - in Scotland these are handled by the Lord Advocate. Overview Responsibilities The responsibilities of the Cabinet Secretary for Justice include: Policing Fire and rescue services Courts & sentencing The justice system and criminal law procedure Violence reduction Prison reform and prisoner policy Reducing reoffending Security Youth justice Access to justice Civil law Victim/witness support Criminal injuries compensation Legal aid fund Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service Bairn's Hoose Justice reform National Community Justice Strategy Veterans Public bodies The following public bodies report to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice: Disclosure Scotland Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland Judicial Complaints Reviewer Parole Board for Scotland Police Investigations and Review Commissioner Risk Management Authority Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Scottish Law Commission Scottish Legal Aid Board Scottish Legal Complaints Commission Scottish Police Authority Scottish Prison Service Salary The Cabinet Secretary for Justice is paid a total salary of , which is made up of for being a MSP, and an additional allowance of for the responsibility of being a Cabinet Secretary. List of office holders See also Politics of Scotland Scottish Government Scottish Parliament References Justice Scots law formal titles