Court referral of eligible defendants into treatment (CREDIT)

• Reach:

  NSW

• Focus area:

  Mainstream

• Status:

  Current

• Evaluated:

  Yes

Overview

The Court referral of eligible defendants into treatment (CREDIT) program is a diversionary program that was trialed between 2009 and 2011 at Tamworth and Burwood Local Courts in New South Wales (NSW). The key objectives of the CREDIT pilot program were to:

• reduce re-offending by encouraging and assisting defendants appearing at local courts to engage in education, treatment or rehabilitation programs and by assisting them to receive social welfare support
• to contribute to the quality of decision-making in the local court by helping ensure that information on defendants' needs and rehabilitation efforts are put before the court.

Offenders over the age of 18 years motivated to address issues that relate to their offending behaviour may be eligible for this program. People can self-refer to the program or be referred by a Magistrate, NSW Police, legal services, court staff, support workers from other programs or family and friends. Participants are offered facilitated access and support to a services providing education, training, treatment, rehabilitation or other social welfare assistance, such as drug assessment, treatment or support.

Abstract adapted from No bars and Lily Trimboli

Evaluated publications

Trimboli L (2012)

NSW Court Referral of Eligible Defendants into Treatment (CREDIT) pilot program: an evaluation.

Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research

• Links
• View report: NSW Court Referral of Eligible Defendants into Treatment (CREDIT) pilot program: an evaluation (PDF - 628.1 KB)
• View media release: CREDIT evaluation
• View website: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research

Links

• View information: Lawlink - diversion programs
• View information: No bars - court and prison diversion programs
• View contact details: Lawlink - local court