Magistrates' Early Referral Into Treatment (MERIT) Program.

Magistrates' Early Referral Into Treatment

MERIT is operating and providing a service to thirteen of the fourteen courts in the North Coast area. There are offices in Lismore, Tweed Heads and Port Macquarie; an outreach service in the Clarence area operating from Lismore; and outreaches to Kempsey and Wauchope operating from Port Macquarie.

MERIT is a court diversion program that provides an opportunity for some defendants with drug problems to work towards rehabilitation as part of the bail process on a voluntary basis. If identified by either the Police, solicitor or Magistrate as eligible for assessment for the MERIT program, the defendant is offered the opportunity of being interviewed and assessed for suitability by MERIT staff. If accepted, a drug treatment program is developed that matches the defendant’s needs.

The MERIT team will consider other sources of referral including self referrals. The Court would make the defendant’s involvement in MERIT a condition of bail. The drug treatment program will generally be for a minimum three month period. MERIT was originally developed and trialed in Lismore, and is has now been adopted by all Area Health Services state-wide.

•  Eligibility
•  Treatment Plan
•  Bail Period
•  Sentencing Hearing