The department of Justice Equality and Law reform is responsible for a number of divisions relevant to a family after a homicide.
 You will find a wide range of information on the Department of Justice, Equality and Law reform on:
www.justice.ie
In this resource page we will concentrate on the following divisions:
Minister’s office and Secretary General’s office
94 St Stephen’s Green
Dublin 2
Phone:              00 353 1 6028202
Lo-Call:             1890 221 227
Fax:00 353 1 6615461 
Email                 minister@justice.ie
                        info@justice.ie

Addresses for Other Buildings

Pinebrook House
71–74 Harcourt Street
Dublin 2

Montague Court
Montague Street
Dublin 2

Crime & Law Enforcement Division

The Department of Justice is committed to taking whatever actions are necessary to reduce the level of crime in our society make our communities and our streets safer meet our obligations in line with human rights and international obligations
More information on this section can be found at:

www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Crime_and_law_enforcement

Criminal Law Reform Division

The Criminal Law reform division is responsible for advising the Minister and the Government in the development of policy on criminal law reform needed to meet political commitments or fulfill domestic or international legal obligations falling within the Minister’s remit, as well as drawing up any subsequent legislative proposals for approval by Government.
This involves keeping the criminal law under review so as to identify potential reforms for consideration by Government.
As part of this process, they engage in and promote research and assess reports or submissions from advisory or research bodies, notably from the Law Reform Commission and consult with relevant interests.
It also involves us in close co-operation with relevant departments in relation to policy development, and the implementation and monitoring of legislation and international instruments.

Courts Policy /Legal Services Division

Under the Courts Service Act 1998, responsibility for the management of the courts system is conferred on the Courts Service, which was established in 1999.The role of Courts Policy Division is to discharge ministerial functions in relation to the courts. The division is also responsible for all aspects of policy, secondary legislation, financing and management of the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme. 
More information on this section can be found at:

www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Courts_policy_and_Legal_services

A wide range of information (including Judgements database) on the court services is available at:

www.courts.ie

Freedom of Information  

The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act came into effect on 21 April, 1998.The FOI Act was amended on 11April, 2003 and is known as the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Act, 2003.The following records held by Government Departments or certain public bodies may be requested:

1. Any records relating to you personally, whenever created
2.  All other records created after 21 April, 1998

A ‘record’ can be a paper document, information held on computer, printouts, maps, plans, microfilm, microfiche, audio-visual material, etc.
You do not have to give a reason as to why you want access to particular records, and the Government department or body concerned must give you an explanation if it refuses you access to any record that you have looked for.
A decision on your FOI application must normally be made within 20 working days.
Application Forms are available at:

www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Forms_FOI

For help on making an FOI request, please visit Freedom of Information FAQ.

For more comprehensive information on Freedom of Information including the text of the FOI Acts, please visit the FOI Central Policy Unit website at www.foi.gov.ie.

All requests under the FOI Acts should be addressed to:
Freedom of information officer
Department of Justice, Equality and Law reform
Pinebrook House
Dublin 2
Phone: 00353 1 602 8202 Ext 8408/8417
Lo Call: 1890 221 227 Ext. 8408/8417
Fax: 00353 1 602 8652
Email: foi@justice.ie

Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal

If a victim dies as a result of crime, his/her family is entitled to claim compensation under the Scheme of Compensation for Personal Injuries Criminally Inflicted.
This scheme is funded by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and organised by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal.

The family will be paid the actual loss of earnings and expenses that may have incurred before the death, future loss of support or maintenance for anyone that was dependent on the victim, funeral and burial expenses and mental distress money for immediate family members

Compensation will be paid in a single payment, and application should be made as early as possible as it may take a number of months if not years before it is completed.

Under the terms of Article 10 of the Scheme, compensation is not payable in circumstances where the offender and victim were living together at the time of the incident

AdVIC is strongly opposed to this aspect of the scheme and will continue to lobby the Minister of Justice for a change.

More information about the scheme and fatal injury application form can be downloaded at:

www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/WP09000068

It can also be obtained from:
Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal
13 Lower Hatch Street,
Dublin 2
Tel: 01 6610604

Filled forms should be sent to above address along with receipts for expenses.

You may seek the help of a voluntary agency to help you to fill the form, but note that the tribunal will not pay your legal expenses if you seek legal representation.