Welcome to the Department of Justice and Attorney General's Crime Prevention Division website. This website provides information on the crime prevention projects, activities and initiatives we're undertaking to reduce crime in NSW.

Latest additions

	This booklet is intended to provide victims of domestic and family violence with comprehensive information about the legal process for domestic violence and a range of support services available in New South Wales. Your Court, Your Safety. A guide to going to court and getting help with domestic violence. (PDF 1.2 MB)
	Your Court, Your Safety Factsheets are also available for download. Factsheets include Domestic violence and your safety, the Law and domestic and family violence, Preparing for court, Your rights as a victim of crime, and Family law, children and domestic violence.
	This bulletin provides an analysis of defendants’ participation in the MERIT program, based on their principal drug of concern (cannabis, alcohol and ‘other illicit’ drugs). Significant differences between these groups of participants were observed in terms of program activity (such as completion rates) and outcomes (including recidivism). Crime Prevention Issues No 7: Principal drug of concern: An analysis of MERIT and RAD client characteristics and outcomes (PDF 1.9 MB)
	This bulletin provides an overview of the MERIT program as at June 2009. Crime Prevention Issues No 8: Magistrates Early Referral Into Treatment: An overview of the MERIT program as at June 2009 (PDF 1.9 MB)

Designing Out Crime Research Centre Opens
The Designing Out Crime Research Centre, funded by the Department of Justice and Attorney General (DJAG), opened its doors recently. The Centre is a first of its kind in New South Wales and DJAG will provide over $1 million each year to the development of crime reduction ideas.

An exhibition showcasing crime prevention through smart innovations ran in early December and included a bin with advanced features that will allow for easier detection of explosives.

The Crime Prevention Division of DJAG and Railcorp worked with UTS final year design students to develop the bin and it’s expected bins will be in operation in the new year.

For more information please visit www.designingoutcrime.com.


Court Referral of Eligible Defendants into Treatment (CREDIT)


On 24 August 2009 a two-year trial of the Court Referral of Eligible Defendants into Treatment (CREDIT) program commenced at Tamworth and Burwood Local Courts.

CREDIT is a key initiative of the NSW Government to reduce re-offending rates. It is a 'cross agency' collaboration with the Crime Prevention Division of the Department of Justice and Attorney General as the lead agency.

The program targets adult defendants at local courts who are motivated to address issues that relate either directly or indirectly to the offending behaviour. Participants are offered facilitated access and support to a broad range of available services providing education or training, treatment, rehabilitation or other social welfare assistance. This includes:

• Accommodation
• Financial counselling
• Counselling for gambling
• Mental health assessment or support
• Suicide counselling
• Domestic violence or sexual assault support
• Drug assessment, treatment or support
• Alcohol misuse and treatment
• Education, training or employment
• Disability services

Preventing crime in NSW
The NSW Government is committed to reducing crime, particularly violent crime. The innovative new Preventing crime website (www.crimeprevention.nsw.gov.au) is the centerpiece of a new State Government framework for tacking crime in NSW. It's a valuable resource for local councils, community members, businesses and crime prevention practitioners working to reduce crime.