The Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) has marked two decades since one of its most effective programs to reduce re-offending was first introduced in the Local Court.
Attorney General Mark Speakman said the Magistrates Early Referral into Treatment (MERIT) program was helping to end the cycle of addiction and drug-related offending.
“The program works because it doesn’t just focus on a person’s criminal behaviour, but directs participants into rehabilitation to help them address the drug and alcohol use that led to the offending in the first place,” Mr Speakman said.
“Over 20 years, MERIT has demonstrated how the criminal justice and health systems can effectively work together to help people get their lives back on track and keep away from the criminal justice system in future,” he said.
“Participation is voluntary and allows adult defendants charged with relatively minor offences to work towards their recovery as part of the bail process.”
Mr Speakman said evaluations conducted over the program’s lifespan had consistently found participants who completed MERIT were less likely to reoffend.
“Defendants report significant improvements to their health and wellbeing and a significant decrease in their drug use,” the Attorney General said.
“MERIT began as a trial in Lismore Local Court with 55 participants in the first year, while in 2019 more than 2,300 defendants received access to treatment in 62 locations across NSW,” he said.
Mr Speakman said more than 35,000 people had participated in MERIT to date, with more than 22,000 successfully completing the program.
*The 20-year celebration of the program is discussed in this week’s “PS-sssst!” column at this PS News link.
