The Department of Correctional Services was established as a department in its own right in 1984. Correctional Services had previously operated as a Division under the Department of Community Development. In 1986 the new department took responsibility for youth justice and took charge of the two existing detention centres, Giles House, in Alice Springs and Malak House in Darwin. It also established the Wildman River Wilderness Work Camp. At that time, the Northern Territory was the only place where youth justice was under the control of correctional rather than welfare personnel. In 1987 the Department of Correctional Services amalgamated with the Department of Health and Community Services to become the Department of Health and Community Services – Correctional Services.