NSW Court Referral of Eligible Defendants Into Treatment (CREDIT) Pilot Program: An Evaluation

• NCJ Number: 239032
• Author(s): Lily Trimboli
• Date Published: February 2012
• Length: 24 pages
• Sale Source: New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: Australia
• Note: Crime and Justice Bulletin, No. 159, February 2012

Annotation

This document describes the New South Wale's pilot program, Court Referral of Eligible Defendants into Treatment (CREDIT), and its key operating characteristics.

Abstract

Results show that over the 2-year pilot period, CREDIT received 710 referrals, conducted 637 assessments and had 451 participants. Most defendants referred for treatment had their referral accepted. Almost all participants interviewed were "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with both the support they received from CREDIT staff and with their own progress on the program; 95.9 percent reported that their life had changed for the better by being on the program. Stakeholders' opinions of the pilot program were positive. Findings suggest that the CREDIT program is strongly supported by stakeholders and participants. Recommendations include an extension of the program, an enhancement of relevant services, programs and transport options in the catchment areas, and clarification of the relationship between CREDIT and other court-based programs. Data were collected from CREDIT databases and analyzed, along with interviews from 122 program participants and 54 Stakeholders. Tables, figure, notes, and references