In the territories, the Department conducts all criminal prosecutions, including prosecutions under the Criminal Code . The Department also fulfils Canada's treaty obligations to provide assistance to foreign states in criminal matters through the extradition and mutual legal assistance processes. The Department's mandate means that its work covers both common and civil law. Common law is a system handed down from Great Britain in which judges use precedents, or previous decisions, to guide their own decisions. Civil law was introduced into North America by the French, and continues to be used in the form of the Civil Code of Quebec .
Common law is used throughout the rest of Canada.
Other countries look to it as a model in shaping their own legal systems. But there is always room for improvement, and the Department is constantly looking for new ways to work with Canadians to improve the justice system here at home. Department of Justice policy encourages and supports innovative approaches, notably in such areas as dispute resolution and Aboriginal justice which explore constructive alternatives to the traditional pattern of courts and prisons. Another good example is crime prevention . The Department has been working with a wide range of partners at all levels of government as well as non-governmental groups to help communities develop effective local crime prevention programs.