Prisons Directorate is responsible for the line management of public sector prisons, ensuring delivery against key performance indicators and prisons' service agreements, together with compliance with legal requirements.

The Directorate holds the responsibility for the implementation of prisoner policy, and provides policy instructions, guidance, advice and briefing on operations and security issues to a wide range of internal and external customers and stakeholders. Changes to accommodate fluctuations in population levels and minimise the risks associated with overcrowding are managed from with the Directorate.

The Legal Services team provide legal advice on areas of potential risk and manage claims and court cases raised by prisoners. The team facilitates the movement of prisoners between jurisdictions and provides advice on the Prison Rules, Freedom of Information requests and sentencing and warrant issues. The team is also responsible for the Victim Notification Scheme which provides eligible victims with key information relating to prisoners who committed the offence against them.

Prisons Directorate, in conjunction with public sector prisons, maintains a variety of systems to provide assurance of the delivery of critical systems to the SPS Board.

The Directorate also incorporates the National Intelligence Bureau, Legal Services, Prison Industries and SPS Central Stores.