Magistrates Early Referral Into Treatment (MERIT) Research Bulletins

NDARC Staff

Dr. Kristy Martire & Ms. Sarah Larney

Aims

To conduct three research studies relating to the MERIT program, participant characteristics, and health/criminal justice outcomes.

Design and Method

Analysis of existing datasets was undertaken in order to explore three issues identified by the Crime Prevention Division and the MERIT steering committee: 1) Aboriginal participation in MERIT; 2) Women and the MERIT program; 3) Principal drug of concern and MERIT/RAD outcomes. Overall program activity data was analysed for approximately 10, 500 individuals referred to MERIT between August 2004 and June 2008. In addition, referral, service provision, health outcomes and criminal justice data was analysed for various subsets of this total population. Statistical comparisons were made both between groups of interest (i.e., by gender, Indigenous status and principal drug type), as well as pre- and post-MERIT participation.

Progress

Two research bulletins have been published by the Crime Prevention Division to date:
Martire, K. A., & Larney, S. (2009) Women and the MERIT program. Crime Prevention Issues, No. 5. Sydney: Crime Prevention Division.
Martire, K. A., & Larney, S. (2009) Aboriginal participation in MERIT. Crime Prevention Issues, No. 6. Sydney: Crime Prevention Division.
The third bulletin (Principal drug of concern: An analysis of MERIT and RAD client characteristics and outcomes) is currently in-press.

Funding

Crime Prevention Division, NSW Attorney Generals Department