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Australian Indigenous HealthBulletin
 

Magistrates' early referral into treatment (MERIT and QMERIT) program

 

Overview

The Magistrates' early referral into treatment program is a court diversion program which provides the opportunity for adult defendants with substance use problems to work, on a voluntary basis, towards rehabilitation as part of the bail process. If identified by either the police, solicitor or magistrate as eligible for assessment for the program, the defendant is offered the opportunity to be interviewed and assessed for suitability by program staff. If accepted, a drug treatment program is developed that matches the defendant's needs.

The program currently operates in New South Wales (NSW), where it is known as MERIT, and Queensland (Qld), where it is known as QMERIT. It provides a service to 13 of the 14 courts in the North Coast area of NSW, and at Maroochydore and Redcliffe in Qld. On 1 July 2009, the Rural alcohol diversion program formally merged with MERIT, allowing MERIT to be available to defendants at select courts whether their primary substance of concern is alcohol or an illicit drug.

Abstract adapted from North Coast Area Health Service and Legal Aid Queensland

Contacts

North Coast Area Health Service
New South Wales Department of Health
Crawford House
Hunter Street
Locked Mail Bag 11
Lismore NSW 2480
Ph: (02) 6620 2100
Fax: (02) 6621 7088

Department of Justice and Attorney-General
Brisbane Magistrates Arrest Court
240 Roma Street
Brisbane Qld 4000
Ph: (07) 3836 0677 (Court Diversion Office)
Ph: (07) 5430 4100 (Maroochydore)
Ph: (07) 3480 4600 (Redcliffe)
Email: CourtDiversion@justice.qld.gov.au

Related publications

Passey M, Patete S, Brooks L (2004)

Drug use, social functioning and health outcomes among participants of Lismore MERIT: a rural pre-plea court diversion program.

Paper presented at the Health2004: 18th World Conference on Health Promotion and Health Education. , Melbourne

Larney S, Martire KA (2010)

Factors affecting criminal recidivism among participants in the Magistrates Early Referral Into Treatment (MERIT) program in New South Wales, Australia.

Drug and Alcohol Review; 29(6): 684-688

Public Accounts Committee (2010)

Helping Aboriginal defendants through MERIT.

In: Seventh report on the examination of the Auditor-General's performance audits. Sydney: Legislative Assembly, NSW: 16-22

Passey M, Flaherty B, Didcott P (2006)

The Magistrates Early Referral into Treatment (MERIT) pilot program: a descriptive analysis of a court diversion program in rural Australia.

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs; 38(4): 521-529

Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council (2010)

Improving Aboriginal participation in the MERIT program.

North Sydney, NSW: New South Wales Department of Health

Cain M (2006)

Participation of Aboriginal people in the MERIT program.

Sydney: Crime Prevention Division, NSW Attorney General’s Department

Martire K A, Larney S (2009)

Aboriginal participation in MERIT.

Sydney: Crime Prevention Division, NSW Attorney General’s Department

Martire KA, Larney S (2009)

Women and the MERIT program.

Sydney: Crime Prevention Division, NSW Attorney General’s Department

Links

 
Last updated: 16 July 2012
 
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