Criminal Justice Act (with its many variations) is a stock short title used for legislation in Canada, Malaysia, the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom relating to the criminal law (including both substantive and procedural aspects of that law).
It tends to be used for Acts that do not have a single cohesive subject matter.
Criminal Justice Acts may be a generic name either for legislation bearing that short title or for all legislation which relates to the criminal law.
The change in nomenclature is due to the demise of the Parliament of Northern Ireland and the imposition of direct rule.
These orders are considered to be primary legislation.