Functional Responsibility:
The legislation that established the Solicitor General was The Department of the Solicitor General Act (S. A. Chapter 67, 1973). In the Act, the Solicitor General exercised the power and was charged with the duties attached to the office of the Solicitor General of England by law or usage insofar as those powers and duties are applicable to Alberta and are not assigned to any other Minister. The Solicitor General was charged with such duties that were assigned by the Solicitor General by law or by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. The Solicitor General had the power to establish boards, committees or councils deemed necessary in an advisory or administrative capacity. In later amendment to the act the Solicitor General could make grants if authorized to do so by regulations under section five of the Department of the Solicitor General Act (R.S.A. Chapter D-28, 1980).
The new department assumed from the Department of the Attorney General functional responsibility for Probation, Corrections and Policing. The Department of the Solicitor General administered The Police Act, The Private Investigators, Security Guards Act and the Liquor Control Act. These functions were merged with the Department of Justice in 1992.
Once again in 2001 the Department of the Solicitor General was created and charged with the functional responsibility of providing the administration of Corrections and Policing in Alberta.

Predecessor and Successor Bodies:
Before the Solicitor General was established as a Department the Department of the Attorney General performed the functions of this Ministry. On December 15, 1992 the Solicitor General was merged with the Attorney General to form the Department of Justice. In 2001, two divisions of the Alberta Justice formed the Department of the Solicitor General for the second time in the history of the Province.

Administrative Relationships:
The Minister of the Department of the Solicitor General was a member of the Executive Council appointed by the Lieutenant Governor under the Great Seal of the Province as Solicitor General. Until 1975 the Solicitor General reported to the Lieutenant Governor. In 1976 an annual report for the department was submitted to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. The Lieutenant Governor in Council could make regulation under the Department of the Solicitor General Act concerning the Solicitor General's ability to make and administer grants.

Administrative Structure:
The Department had a hierarchical organizational structure. The Solicitor General headed the department with the assistance of the Deputy Minister. In 1973 the Department included the Law Enforcement Branch, the Correction Branch, Probation Services, Finance and Administration Division, a Training Division and Personnel Services Branch. In 1975 the department would expand to include the Motor Vehicle Branch and Research and Planning Division. The Department was re-organized in 1990 to include Administrative Services, Correctional Services, Motor Vehicles Administration, Protection Services and Law Enforcement. With the re-establishment of the Department in 2001, the administrative structure had two major divisions, Correctional Services and Policing.
The Public Security Division, within the Department of Justice, functioned not only to provide policing but also provided financial benefits to victims of crime and provides funding for victims programs and services under the Victims of Crime Act. The function and enabling legislation was transferred to the newly created Department of the Solicitor General in 2001 as the Victims and Regulatory Services Branch with the Public Security Division.

Names of Chief Officers:
Wilma H. Hunley 1973-1975
Royal A. Farran 1975-1979
Graham L. Harle 1979-1983
Neil S. Crawford 1983-1984
Ian W. C. Reid 1984-1986
Kenneth L. Rostad 1986-1988
Marvin E. Moore 1988-1989
Richard S. Fowler 1989-1992
Stephen C. West 1992
Heather Forsyth 2001-

• Adult inmate case files (1911-1996)
• Adult probation case files (1974-1991)
• Alberta Human Resources Research Council Operational and administrative records (1968-1973)
• Professions and Occupations Bureau Operational and administrative records (1942-1986)
• Commission of Inquiry on Policing in Relation to the Blood Tribe Operational records (1989-1991)
• Deputy Minister's Office Operational records (1973-1987)
• Highway Patrol Branch Operational and administrative records (1952-1986)
• General Administration Division Administrative records (1934-1974)
• Law Enforcement Branch Operational records (1943-1992)
• Motor Vehicles Division Operational files (1964-1989)
• Motor Vehicles Division Assistant Deputy Minister's Office files (1987-1989)
• Court and Prisoner Security Branch Operational records (1987-1989)
• Motor Vehicles Division Issuer case files (1970-1986)
• Motor Vehicles Division vehicle and operator case files (1967-1981)
• Motor Vehicles Division accident claim case files (1947-1989)
• Calgary Remand Centre operational records (1958-1986)
• Edmonton Remand Centre operational records (1984-1995)
• Lethbridge Correctional Centre operational records (1911-1980)
• Fort Saskatchewan Correctional Centre operational records (1912-1982)
• Belmont Correctional Centre operational records (1954-1981)
• St. Paul Correctional Centre operational records (1976-1986)
• Peace River Correctional Centre operational records (1965-1984)
• Vegreville Correctional Centre operational records (1978-1981)
• Correctional Services Division operational records (1929-1986)