Expansion of court diversion program to reach 93 per cent of eligible defendants across NSW

Monday, 16 September 2024

The successful Magistrates Early Referral Into Treatment (MERIT) program is being expanded across NSW to help more people to access the support they need to address their alcohol and other drug (AOD) use.

MERIT is a voluntary pre-plea Local Court diversion program that provides access to a range of AOD treatment services for 12 weeks while court matters are adjourned. Adult defendants can be referred to MERIT by magistrates, police officers, lawyers, their families or themselves.

To participate in MERIT a defendant does not need an admission of guilt, but must:

• have a treatable AOD problem
• usually reside within a defined catchment area

The MERIT program is designed to provide holistic AOD treatment and respond to underlying health and social welfare issues at the point of a person’s contact with the criminal justice system.

MERIT is an inter-agency initiative of the Department of Communities and Justice, NSW Health, the Chief Magistrate’s Office and NSW Police Force.

Prior to its expansion, MERIT was available at 62 Local Courts across NSW (55 Drug MERIT sites and 7 Alcohol and Drug MERIT sites). The extension will enable the program to reach approximately 93 per cent of eligible defendants across NSW through a total of approximately 89 sites by 2026.

The expansion will establish 29 new AOD MERIT sites and enhance 12 existing Drug MERIT sites to include alcohol treatment services. Sixteen new residential rehabilitation and nine new withdrawal management beds will also be established to facilitate priority access to AOD treatment for MERIT participants.

Eight new AOD sites are operational in Wentworth, Scone, Windsor, Griffith, Leeton, Narrandera, Albury and Corowa. Ten existing MERIT sites in Muswellbrook, Katoomba, Penrith, Cessnock, Maitland, Newcastle, Raymond Terrace, Toronto, Tamworth, Singleton, have been enhanced to provide alcohol treatment in addition to their existing drug treatment services.

The expansion of the MERIT program to additional sites across NSW is part of the NSW Government’s final response to the Special Commission of Inquiry into the Drug ‘Ice’ (the ‘Ice’ Inquiry).

Since its inception at Lismore Local Court in 2000, MERIT has supported more than 27, 000 people and evaluations have consistently demonstrated positive health and criminal justice outcomes.

For more information about the program, visit the MERIT website.