The Standing Committee of Criminal Justice System Chief Executive Officers in NSW established the Network in 2004 as they assessed that there was a need for strategic research planning and coordination across the justice sector. There was a perceived need for greater collaboration between researchers and closer links between research and policy development.

NSW has a strong tradition of quality criminal justice research. The Network builds on this tradition through active research dissemination and a strategic approach to research across the sector. The Network promotes collaboration and research partnerships among justice agencies (Terms of Reference).

The current chair of the Network is Brendan Thomas, Assistant Director, Crime Prevention & Community Programs, Attorney General’s Department of NSW.

Secretariat support to the Network is provided by the Attorney General’s Department of NSW.

Government Criminal Justice agencies that participate in the Network are:

Aboriginal Justice Advisory Council
Australian Institute of Criminology
Judicial Commission of NSW
Justice Health (Centre for Health Research in Criminal Justice)
Legal Aid Commission of NSW
Ministry for Police
NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research
NSW Department of Aboriginal Affairs
NSW Department of Corrective Services
NSW Department of Juvenile Justice
NSW Law Reform Commission
NSW Police
Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
NSW Attorney General's Department