Sheriff's Transition and Reentry Team (S.T.A.R.T.)

The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office offers justice-involved people re-entry plans at the start of incarceration, providing them with individualized connections and opportunities to prepare them for their return to the community.

• Agency: Suffolk County Sheriff's Office
   
• Location: Long Island, N.Y.
   
• Department size: Large (> 50 Officers)
   
• Practice started: February 2020
   
• Active

Re-entering society after a period of incarceration can present significant challenges, including lack of job opportunities, difficulty accessing mental health services, and challenges obtaining essential personal identification or necessary documentation. Formerly incarcerated people are often expected to face these challenges without vital resources, which can lead to higher rates of reincarceration.

The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office recognized the need to address these primary re-entry hurdles to reduce risk factors contributing to re-offense and re-incarceration. Addressing a person’s needs from the beginning of incarceration through release is related to higher degrees of success when those individuals re-enter society.

Program Description

The Sheriff's Transition and Reentry Team (START) Resource Center opened in 2020 at the Yaphank Correctional Facility in Suffolk County on Long Island. START offers a range of referrals, and re-entry and transitional services to ensure that incarcerated individuals can access ongoing support services from intake, throughout confinement, and after release to reduce recidivism. The START Resource Center serves people incarcerated in Suffolk County jails, individuals returning to the county after serving a prison sentence, and Suffolk County residents who were previously incarcerated elsewhere by identifying their specific re-entry needs and providing individualized referral services. Participation is voluntary, and eligible participants can opt in or out as needed. Eligible individuals also can contact START staff from a facility telephone for free.

Yaphank and Riverhead are the primary correctional facilities that operate START services and are staffed by correctional counselors and community correction officers. START staff interview the incarcerated individual on their first day at these facilities to offer assistance. If the individual accepts, correctional counselors interview the participant to identify their needs, best understand their goals, and find suitable resources to refer the participant to while incarcerated and after release. This information is used to create Individual Re-entry Plans for each participant. Plans are personalized to consider unique re-entry goals, desired timelines, and resources for participants and their families. These services also are available upon request for Suffolk County residents who have already been released from a correctional facility.

Incarcerated individuals awaiting discharge play an active role in their re-entry process with START. Staff invite participants to voice their primary concerns, identify specific needs, and ask any questions about referrals and services. Screening packets also assist in identifying an individual’s in-custody and post-incarceration needs and serve as the foundation for an Individual Re-entry Plan. These plans vary based on needs. Once community re-entry needs have been determined and an individual is released, correctional counselors assist by connecting participants to their appropriate resources.

Referral resources principally focus on mental health services and healthcare, medically assisted substance use treatment, education, stable housing, and steady employment. Other services include assistance obtaining new or renewed personal identification, finding transportation, supporting family reunification, providing resume assistance, clothing, and personal hygiene products, and building financial literacy. Participants also receive referrals to government support agencies where appropriate.

When an individual is referred to a service provider, START uses a “warm hand-off” method to transition participants to treatment after release from incarceration. This warm hand-off involves personal interaction between the individual and provider, rather than simply giving participants contact information of partner organizations and relying on independent contact. Warm hand-offs allow individuals the opportunity to explain their needs in their own words and provide personal autonomy without gaps in assistance.

The center offers participants items such as food, personal hygiene products, and clothing from its pantry. The Resource Center offers additional follow-up care upon request, based on a participant’s needs. Participants can continue to call or visit the START Resource Center without an appointment after their release. Once an individual is released, many choose to continue services, though they are under no obligation to do so.

Program data show increasing levels of participation over time. Intakes increased 71 percent from 2021 to 2024, with visits to the Resource Center increasing 36 percent. Increases in figures from 2022 to 2023 can be attributed to multiple factors. Changes to staff allocation allowed for further reach within the eligible population. The program seemingly gained a positive reputation among those incarcerated and lead to further increased participation in recent years.

Funding

The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office administers the START program using existing agency funds. Program partners also donate clothing, food, and professional services. The program does not accept monetary donations.

Relevant Partnerships

Many partners offer assistance through donations, providing various resources and referrals, and helping program participants obtain employment after their incarceration. Partners include Adult Career & Continuing Education Services Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCESVR), Amazon, Axis Church, Breaking Barriers, Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk County (OEC), EAC Network (Empower. Assist. Care.), Eastern Suffolk Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), ECLI-VIBES Empowerment Collaborative of Long Island, Family Service League, RiseWell, Island Fabrication, Island Harvest, Modern Italian Bakery, Nassau-Suffolk Law Services, New Hour for Women and Children of Long Island, New York Cancer and Blood Specialists, Pax Christi Hospitality Center of Port Jefferson Station, Phoenix House, Salvation Army USA, Seafield Center, Sound Justice Initiative, Stop and Shop, Suffolk County Department of Labor, Suffolk County Department of Social Services, the United Way of Long Island, and Winter Brothers Waste Systems. More information about START partners and service providers can be found on the START Center website.

Supportive Research

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration guide for the Best Practices for Successful Re-entry from Criminal Justice Settings for People Living with Mental Health Conditions and/or Substance Use Disorders examines interventions that support people living with mental health conditions and/or substance use and re-entering the community from incarceration. Evidence indicates that the earlier interventions begin, the better the outcomes are for participants. This guide also identifies criminogenic risk and need factors that START addresses, such as family difficulties, finding housing, substance use, and obtaining continuous services.

Additionally, the Sequential Intercept Model contains information about supporting transition back to the community. Tailored focus on individualized transition planning, referrals, access to assistance upon release, and warm hand-offs from corrections to providers make for a more positive and successful re-entry experience.

Critical Success Factors

• Maintain a professional level of trust between participants and staff. This is crucial for achieving active participation and cooperation. Remember that trust is built over time and with previous interactions.
   
• Ensure easy, open access to the Resource Center without the need for appointment, approval, or payment. This is critical to participant success and helps participants independently seek out assistance.

Lessons Learned

• Staff should not be discouraged if someone does not continue program services. Make it clear to participants that services continue to be available should they need to pause or end their participation for any reason.
   
• Build and sustain a strong network of service providers. This is key to successful program implementation and providing the best referrals for those in need.

Print this profile

Published 01/2025