Patricia Staunton
" As part of the NSW Drug Summit 1999 Government Plan of Action a range of innovative programs have been established to try and break the drugs-crime cycle. In July 2000 a 12-month pilot program began at Lismore Local Court to divert people with drug-related offences to treatment and rehabilitation services.
To underscore the positive approach the scheme was called MERIT - Magistrates Early Referral into Treatment program. The MERIT case management team was established as part of the Northern Rivers Area Health Service*.
The challenges facing diversion programs is to resolve the different perspectives and requirements of the criminal justice system and health care system. From the Magistrate's perspective it is important that health professionals have an understanding of legal procedures and court requirements. On the other hand it is equally important that judicial officers, lawyers and police have an appreciation of the roles of case managers and treatment and rehabilitation services.
On behalf of the magistrates of the Local Court, I welcome the MERIT initiative as a positive step in providing diversion programs for drug dependant offenders across New South Wales. Such programs are of great assistance to the Court as part of the sentencing process and underscore the cause and effect relationship between drug dependency and criminally offending behaviour. "
Patricia Staunton
Chief Magistrate
* now part of the North Coast Area Health Service