Participation of Aboriginal people in the MERIT program : main findings

Author	New South Wales Attorney General's Dept: Crime Prevention Division
Date	2006
Source/Publisher	NSW Department of the Attorney General
Link(s)	https://localcourt.nsw.gov.au/local-court/sentencing--orders-and-appeals/sentencing-in-criminal-cases/diversion-programs/the-merit-program/publications.html
Subjects	Courts and sentencing

Description

This bulletin reports the main findings of the ‘Participation of Aboriginal people in the MERIT program’ report, released in 2006. The Magistrates Early Referral into Treatment (MERIT) program was developed following a recommendation of the New South Wales Drug Summit and diverts adult defendants with primary drug problems on bail from Local Court to a three-month intensive drug treatment program. As the Aboriginal population is significantly overrepresented in the NSW criminal justice system it is essential that all criminal justice intervention programs implemented to interrupt the crime/court cycle reach the Aboriginal population. Drawing on information relating to Aboriginal participation from program commencement in July 2000 to 31 October 2004, this bulletin looks at the referral and acceptance process, completion rates, and future developments.

Last modified: January, 2023 | Found a broken link? Help us get it right. Email ijc@aic.gov.au

The Indigenous justice clearinghouse is a collaboration between the Australian Institute of Criminology, the National Indigenous Australians Agency, the Australian States and Territories and New Zealand.

This work may be freely reproduced and distributed for non-profit purposes, however some restrictions apply. See the copyright notice for further details.