The aim of MERIT is to treat adult offenders that have admitted illicit drug use problems, with the view to reducing drug related crime. Unlike the Drug Court, MERIT is a voluntary pre-plea scheme. Its multidisciplinary approach to treatment is administered by health professionals, following a request by an offender or a referral from police, the legal profession, another agency, or the court. MERIT presently operates only in local courts. The benefits of the MERIT program include offering an offender the chance to address an underlying drug problem; favorably impacting on the outcome of the offender’s impending court case; and offering the criminal justice system and society a potential reduction in drug related crime. As of May 31, 2003, the program was operating within 16 of the New South Wales’ 17 area Health Services. By June 2003, MERIT will be available in 50 local courts. Eligibility to the program is based on the offender’s characteristics and alleged offenses. It is also subject to the availability of treatment places. The topics considered during assessment include use of illicit and licit drugs, drug related health problems, motivation for change, community protection issues, and treatment interventions. If accepted into the program, the treatment plan formally commences at the time of acceptance. Once on the program, the defendant is subject to the guidance of the MERIT team. As a core element of MERIT, magistrates have an important role to play in the process and are encouraged to provide a comprehensive level of supervision. Defendants will be subject to breach of bail action if there is continued noncompliance with any of the bail conditions or if they commit a further offense. The standard treatment plan is an intensive intervention that operates over a minimum of 12 weeks. The following treatments are available: detoxification, pharmacotherapies, urinalysis, residential rehabilitation, community outpatient services, and case management. A program evaluation shows that, of the initial 43 graduates, only 6 had come to police notice after 6 to 9 months. 5 tables, 24 endnotes, appendix