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Thank you Armstrong Legal, the lawyers that have helped over the past 3 years but more importantly, thank you to Thomas Allen for the major part you and Mr Buckland played. Cannot thank you enough. Cheers.
- Client
Hi all. I would like to thank Ms Lisa Riley for all her help with my legal issues this past month. It was the most harrowing experience of my life and thanks to her expertise, professionalism and knowledge of the law, I came out almost unscathed. I have no hesitation in recommending Lisa Riley and Armstrong Legal if you need help. The service is amazing and the cost was very minimal for the great outcome. Thank you Lisa for helping me in the most difficult time.
- Client
I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. My whole life I was thrown away, you made me feel like I did mean something. I could not have asked for a better lawyer. Your compassion and love for your job is inspiring. Your upfront and honesty were muchly appreciated, you are a beautiful person. Thank you for not giving up on me and thank you for all the work you put in. I wish you all the best for the future and I will be recommending you to everyone I know. You're amazing!!!!
- Client
I just wanted to thank you for representing me on Monday, I was overjoyed & relieved with the outcome. I don’t think it could have gone any better. All the best, I hope you got to celebrate this one instead after work, you forever made a difference in my life.
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I know I thanked you before we parted company but please allow me to reiterate in writing my sincere deepest thanks for defending me in court today. … Armstrong Legal certainly has a great Lawyer you are a credit to the company and I'm quite sure you will secure a very successful future! … My Kindest Regards and Thanks
- Client
Throughout Angela has been the consummate professional. She maintained a calm, yet strong demeanour remained informative and completely open in her communication and took complete ownership of the situation. We felt confident we finally had an advocate to steer us out of the nightmare we were in, and she did so with great respect and sincerity. I cannot speak more highly of Angela. She has literally rescued our family from what looked very much like a hopeless future.
- Client
Words can’t describe how grateful I am to Trudie Cameron being my solicitor and to Andrew Tiedt presenting my case in the court. They both have been very supportive and amazingly professional and effective. I’ve got an absolutely fantastic outcome I couldn’t even dream about.
- Client
Soon after meeting Andrew I knew he was the solicitor I wanted to handle my matter. He immediately sprang into action which brought me stability and hope during a tumultuous time in my life. Andrew was never afraid to give me straight answers to my tough questions which is a true mark of integrity. He is clearly at ease in the court environment and I believe his calm and measured demeanour went a long way to helping me secure the best result from my day in court. I would certainly recommend you approach Andrew if you need assistance.
- Client
"Andrew Tiedt was very professional and considerate to personal circumstances and gave sound advice that resulted in the best outcome possible. Highly recommended."
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This article was written by Michelle Makela - Legal Practice Director
Michelle has over 15 years experience in the legal industry, working across commercial litigation, criminal law, family law and estate planning. Michelle has been involved in all practice areas of the firm and in her personal practice has had experience in litigation at all levels (state and federal industrial tribunals, the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, the Federal Court, Federal...
The MERIT Program
Magistrates Early Referral into Treatment (MERIT) is a voluntary program in New South Wales that temporarily diverts adults with drug dependencies into supervised drug treatment, giving them a chance to work towards rehabilitation as part of the bail process. This article outlines what is involved in the MERIT program.
What type of treatment is provided in the MERIT program?
MERIT provides treatment that is tailored to an individual’s needs. This includes detoxification, methadone and other pharmacotherapies, residential rehabilitation, individual and group counselling, case management, and welfare support and assistance.
A person accepted into MERIT will discuss the type of treatment that is suitable with the MERIT team.
When is the MERIT program an Option?
MERIT is available to defendants appearing in matters that can be finalised in the Local Court. For a list of Local Courts that offer the MERIT program, please visit the Lawlink MERIT webpage on statewide coverage.
Am I Eligible to Participate in the MERIT program?
The MERIT program targets people with a drug problem who satisfy the following criteria:
- Over the age of 18
- Suitable for release on bail
- Have a demonstrable illicit drug problem (excluding alcohol, except at selected courts)
- Willing to consent to a drug treatment program
- Not involved in current or pending offences related to physical violence or sexual assault, or matters that will be heard in the District Court
- Deemed suitable for drug treatment and have a treatable problem
- Approved to participate in the program by the Magistrate
What is the Process of the MERIT program?
The MERIT process is outlined below.
1. Referral
A person may be referred to the MERIT program before a formal plea is entered. A referral can be made by magistrates, police, the person or their lawyer.
2. Assessment
Court proceedings will be adjourned while the MERIT team assesses whether the person is suited to and would benefit from the program. The assessment is conducted by health teams assigned to participating NSW Local Courts. The assessment focuses on a broad range of areas, such as substance use history, physical health, mental health, and housing, education, training and employment issues.
3. Acceptance
If the person is not assessed as suitable for participation in MERIT, they will return to court and have their matter dealt with in the usual way. If they are assessed as suitable, they will return to the court that referred them and the Magistrate will impose a bail condition that they abide by the reasonable directions of the MERIT team. If they breach this condition or commit a further offence during the MERIT program, the MERIT team may notify the court and they could be excluded from participating in the program.
4. Participation
Participation in a treatment program agreed to by a person and their MERIT Caseworker usually lasts 3 months. During this time, the person will receive the support and guidance of their MERIT Caseworker. While on the program, a person must appear before the Magistrate, usually at 6-week intervals. The MERIT team provides the court with updates of their progress.
5. Completion
Upon the conclusion of the program, a person will return to court and enter a plea if they have not already done so. Magistrates are provided with a comprehensive report regarding the person’s participation in treatment. Where appropriate, the report will make recommendations to assist them in maintaining and continuing their rehabilitation. If they are convicted the Magistrate will take into account their completion of the MERIT program in sentencing.
Failure to Respond to a Treatment Program Will Not Be Dealt With By Punitive Measures
If the person is convicted of offences, any penalty imposed will relate to that offence only, not to any failure to respond to treatment.
Can the MERIT program Reduce My Sentence?
The impact of completing MERIT on a person’s sentence is ultimately at the discretion of the Magistrate.
A study by the NSW Judicial Commission, MERIT: A Survey of Magistrates, revealed strong judicial support for the program:
- 97.1% of magistrates expressed the belief that participation in MERIT reduces the likelihood of further offending.
- When the magistrates were asked about the weight given at sentencing for satisfactory completion of the MERIT treatment program, most magistrates described satisfactory participation in MERIT as: “significant” (35.1%), “a great deal/ weight” (21.6%) or “considerable” (13.5%). Other respondents described the effect on sentence in terms of a “sentence discount” or “a drop back in the penalty.”
This suggests that a person’s completion of MERIT has great potential to reduce their sentence.
If you require legal advice or representation in any legal matter, please contact Armstrong Legal.
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WHERE TO NEXT?
If you suspect that you may be under investigation, or if you have been charged with an offence, it is vital to get competent legal advice as early as possible. Our lawyers are highly specialised in criminal law and will be able to guide you through the process while dealing with the various authorities related to your matter.
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