The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) provides the Northern Territory community with an independent, professional and effective criminal prosecution service.
The Director of Public Prosecutions decides whether a prosecution should go ahead, prepares the case for court, and then goes to court to represent the Territory in criminal trials.
Our aim is to operate with integrity and respect the needs of victims, witnesses and the community.
We are responsible for providing a fair and effective prosecution service for all people across the Northern Territory, in the regions and remote communities as well as Darwin and Alice Springs.
The DPP operates throughout the NT to serve the Supreme Courts in Darwin and Alice Springs; Local Courts in Tennant Creek, Katherine and Nhulunbuy; and Bush Courts in remote communities.
Our team comprises solicitors, Crown Prosecutors, Witness Assistance Service (WAS) officers, and Legal Administration Support employees.
We develop, recognise and celebrate the knowledge, skills and commitment of our people.
With offices in
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Darwin
See court locations -
Katherine
See court locations -
Alice Springs
See court locations
The Director of Public Prosecutions and the Deputy Director are located in the Darwin office which comprises lawyers and Legal Administration Support employees. The legal team is a combination of Crown Prosecutions and Summary Prosecutions. The Witness Assistance Service manager and WAS officers serve the Northern Region and East Arnhem Land. Lawyers and WAS employees regularly travel to regional and remote court locations. Legal Administration Support is provided by a business manager and a practice manager.
For all Darwin matters, Summary Prosecutors appear in all criminal proceedings regardless of the seriousness of the offences, where charges are initiated by Police. They conduct the bail and arrest lists, direction hearing and mental health lists, and the hearing lists for adults and youth. They also prosecute matters referred by Police. Summary Prosecutors appear in court when there has been a breach of proceedings, as instructed by NT Correctional Services and the Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities.
The Katherine office consists of lawyers, a WAS coordinator and Legal Administration Support employees.
In Katherine and NT Circuit Courts, Police Prosecutors appear in the initial stages of bail and arrest and criminal case management. Summary Prosecutors then assume responsibility for the hearing stage, or when requested to take responsibility for complicated or sensitive sentence hearings or applications.
Lawyers, Legal Administration Support employees, a practice manager, Crown Prosecutions and Summary Prosecutions in the Alice Springs office serve surrounding areas and the Barkly region. A WAS team comprises a coordinator and officers who regularly travel to regional and remote court locations.
In Alice Springs and NT Circuit Courts, Police Prosecutors appear in the initial stages of bail and arrest and criminal case management. Summary Prosecutors then assume responsibility for the hearing stage, or when requested to take responsibility for complicated or sensitive sentence hearings or applications. Crown Prosecutors appear in Supreme Court trials in Alice Springs.