Magistrates Early Referral Into Treatment (MERIT) is a voluntary program available in most Local Courts in New South Wales that provides the opportunity for adult defendants with substance abuse problems to work towards rehabilitation as part of the bail process.
Defendants can be identified by the Magistrates, solicitor, police or the defendants themselves as suitable for assessment for the MERIT program.
The MERIT team will then conduct an assessment after which the defendant may be accepted into MERIT to receive targeted drug and alcohol treatment. The Court may make the defendants involvement in MERIT a bail condition of bail.
MERIT program targeting alcohol is available only at selected courts, whereas the majority of courts entry is restricted to those whose primary concern is illict drugs.
Participating Courts
| Albion Park Tel: 4254 2700 Fax: 4254 2771 | Junee Tel: 6923 5761 Fax: 6923 5751 | Parramatta Tel: 9840 3474 Fax: 8838 2025 |
| Ballina Tel: 6620 7650 Fax: 6621 6212 | Katoomba Tel: 4734 2131 Fax: 4734 3145 | Penrith Tel: 4734 2131 Fax: 4734 3145 |
| Bankstown Tel: 8778 0700 Fax: 8778 0768 | Kempsey Tel: 6586 6030 Fax: 6586 6040 | Picton Tel: 8788 0700 Fax: 8788 0768 |
| Bathurst Phone: 6369 2070 Fax: 6361 4629 | Kiama Tel: 4254 2700 Fax: 4254 2771 | Port Kembla Tel: 4254 2700 Fax: 4254 2771 |
| Blacktown Tel: 9840 3474 Fax: 8838 2025 | Kyogle Tel: 6620 7650 Fax: 6621 6212 | Port Macquarie Tel: 6586 6030 Fax: 6586 6040 |
| Blayney Phone: 6369 2070 Fax: 6361 4629 | Lismore Tel: 6620 7650 Fax: 6621 6212 | Queanbeyan Tel: 6299 1725 Fax: 6299 1426 |
| Broken Hill Tel: (08) 8088 7199 Fax: (08) 8087 8970 | Liverpool Tel: 8778 0700 Fax: 8778 0768 | Raymond Terrace Tel: 4016 4656 Fax: 4016 4661 |
| Burwood Tel: 9515 7611 Fax: 9515 3722 | Maclean Tel: 6620 7650 Fax: 6621 6212 | Singleton Tel: 6543 2677 Fax: 6541 4004 |
| Byron Bay Tel: (07) 5506 7010 Fax: (07) 5506 7022 | Maitland Tel: 4016 4656 Fax: 4016 4661 | Sutherland Tel: 9540 7464 Fax: 9540 7579 |
| Campbelltown Tel: 8778 0700 Fax: 8778 0768 | Manly Tel: 9462 9199 Fax: 9439 2973 | Tamworth H Tel: 6766 8081 Fax: 6766 8083 |
| Casino Tel: 6620 7650 Fax: 6621 6212 | Milton Tel: 4422 5822 Fax: 4422 9684 | Toronto Tel: 4016 4656 Fax: 4016 4661 |
| Cessnock Tel: 4016 4656 Fax: 4016 4661 | Mt Druitt Tel: 9840 3474 Fax: 8838 2025 | Tweed Heads Tel: (07) 5506 7010 Fax: (07) 5506 7022 |
| Coffs Harbour Tel: 6650 0126 Fax: 6650 0098 | Mullimbimby Tel: (07) 5506 7010 Fax: (07) 5506 7022 | Wagga Wagga Tel: 6923 5761 Fax: 6923 5751 |
| Cooma Tel: 6299 1725 Fax: 6299 1426 | Murwillumbah Tel: 6620 7650 Fax: 6621 6212 | Wauchope Tel: 6586 6030 Fax: 6586 6040 |
| Downing Centre Tel: 9332 8788 Fax: 9332 8789 | Muswellbrook Tel: 6543 2677 Fax: 6541 4004 | Waverley S Tel: 9211 9277 Fax: 9281 5490 |
| Dubbo Tel: 6881 4064 Fax: 6885 4577 | Newcastle Tel: 4016 4656 Fax: 4016 4661 | Wellington Tel: 6884 7089 Fax: 6885 4577 |
| Fairfield Tel: 8778 0700 Fax: 8778 0768 | Newtown Tel: 9515 7611 Fax: 9515 3722 | Wilcannia Tel: (08) 8088 7199 Fax: (08) 8087 8970 |
| Forbes Phone: 6369 2070 Fax: 6361 4629 | Nowra Tel: 4422 5822 Fax: 4422 9684 | Wollongong Tel: 4254 2700 Fax: 4254 2771 |
| Gosford Tel: 4320 3057 Fax: 4320 2423 | Oberon Tel: 6392 6800 Fax: 6392 6805 | Woy Woy Tel: 4320 3057 Fax: 4320 2423 |
| Grafton Tel: 6620 7650 Fax: 6621 6212 | Orange Phone: 6369 2070 Fax: 6361 4629 | Wyong C Tel: 4356 9300 Fax: 4356 9305 |
| Hornsby Tel: 9462 9199 Fax: 9439 2973 | Parkes Phone: 6369 2070 Fax: 6361 4629 | |