Suffolk County            Sheriff's Office

The Sheriff's Transition and Reentry Team (S.T.A.R.T.) opened its doors in February of 2020 and is currently comprised of five Correction Officers: three are Correctional Counselors and two are Community Correction Officers. Operating Monday through Friday, the services provided and the amount of justice involved individuals who utilize the Resource Center's services continue to increase. The team utilizes the three Correctional Counselors to interview inmates upon incarceration, assessing their needs both while incarcerated and post incarceration, and making the necessary referrals. Needs such as substance abuse treatment, education, job assistance, DSS assistance, identification issues, transportation, food, housing, and clothing are all then addressed and the two Community Correction Officers then work to establish a discharge plan for the individual's successful reentry into the community.

​

Upon discharge from the facility, the justice involved individual visits the Resource Center. All the needs identified by the counselors are addressed by the Resource Center staff and the many service providers. At this time the warm hand-off to the community begins and lines of communication are established for follow up care. The Resource Center continues to remain available post incarceration for follow up assistance in the hopes of continued success. The START team provides a positive benefit to the community by facilitating the successful reentry of justice involved individuals with the hope of reducing recidivism.

​

​