To facilitate interagency cooperation and collaboration throughout the Rhode Island criminal justice system by way of strategic planning, program coordination, data collection and statistical analysis; while providing fair, efficient and accountable grant administration so as to improve the state's overall response to crime and victimization and enhance public safety.

The Rhode Island Justice Commission (RIJC), formerly the Governor's Justice Commission, is the agency within the Executive Department of the State of Rhode Island governmental structure charged with planning, coordination, data collection, statistical analysis and grant administration and distribution for the adult and juvenile criminal justice systems. Through these efforts the RIJC develops comprehensive programming for the purpose of improving the state's overall response to crime issues.

The RIJC's primary responsibility is to plan and apply for, receive and administer various federal grants including the Byrne Memorial Drug Control and Systems Improvement Formula Grant; the Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Act Formula Grant; the Victims of Crime Act Victims Assistance Formula Grant; the S.T.O.P. Violence Against Women Act Formula Grant. Additionally, the RIJC administers one state grant program, the Rhode Island Neighborhood Crime Prevention Act.

The Rhode Island Justice Commission was established in 1969 by Title 42, Chapter 26 of the Rhode Island General Laws. The RIJC's legal authorization can be found in the State's General Laws, specifically Chapter 26, Sections 42-26.1 through 42-26-13, 42-26-17.