Learn more about the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Police Reform and Reinvention Act created by Dr. Errol D. Toulon, Jr. Police Reform & Reinvention Report The Sheriff's Office Reform and Reinvention Report Submitted to the Suffolk County Legislature on March 1, 2021. “The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office is, and will continue to be, an agency driven to achieve excellence not by legislative mandate, but instead by its own standards and its obligation to the People of Suffolk County, New York.” - Sheriff Toulon Download the Report Send us Feeback Report Highlights On February 23, 2021, the Sheriff’s Office released its Interim Reform and Reinvention Report pursuant to New York State Executive Order 203. On March 1, the report was finalized and sent to the Suffolk County Legislature for the March 2, 2021 General Meeting. Read RESOLUTION NO -2021, ADOPTING THE SUFFOLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE REFORM AND REINVENTION REPORT (SHERIFF). Deputy Presiding Officer Robert Calarco has called for additional public hearings. See the Press Release for information and dates. The Reform and Reinvention Report report requires approval from the Suffolk County Legislature and must be sent to the Governor’s Office no later than April 1, 2021. Even though the process has advanced to the next stage, the public is encouraged and welcome to continue to submit comments, questions, and suggestions to Suffolk_Sheriff@suffolkcountyny.gov . The Sheriff’s Office followed State guidance by developing its evaluation and report in phases while collaborating with community stakeholders. In September, the Office began facilitating conversations with members of its newly formed Community Advisory Board (CAB) to gain a better understanding of the public’s understanding of the role of the Sheriff’s Office. The Office held six of these sessions between September and January, which included Sheriff’s Office presentations followed by discussion. In February, the Office hosted four additional community meetings and asked for feedback on a series of proposed reforms in the seven areas of “Reforming and Reinventing Correctional Services,” “Reforming and Reinventing Police Service,” “Community Engagement,” “Recruitment, Diversification, and Retention,” “Sheriff’s Office Training,” “Officer Wellness,” and “Internal Affairs.” The Sheriff’s Office is a reform-minded agency that has engaged with community partners in the non-profit, government, and educational sectors in substantive and collaborative ways over many years. The Office has five task forces comprised of community members, including the Sheriff’s Reentry Task Force with over 80 members, the Interfaith Council, the Community Advisory Board, the Deconstructing Task Force, and a small Student Advisory Board. Participants meet regularly with the County Sheriff and his staff and have played an integral role in shaping programs and policies for many years. Sheriff Toulon viewed the Reform and Reinvention process as a valuable opportunity to reflect on the progress the Office has made in recent years, understand public concerns, and plan for the future. It was also an opportunity to educate the public about the role of the Sheriff’s Office. “With so many police agencies operating in Suffolk, the general public doesn’t fully understand how we affect their lives and the services we provide,” said Sheriff Toulon. The first section of the 78-page report describes the responsibilities of the Sheriff’s Office, its history, and how elected officeholders, Sheriff’s Office appointees, and long-time civil servants help shape policies. The report then discusses recent improvements in the 7 subject areas, noted deficiencies, goals, and recommendations, and public input. Highlights of some of the proposed reforms include: START Resource Center staff frequently confront issues with locating safe housing for homeless individuals. It is recommended that community and government stakeholders work together to create workable solutions. The Sheriff’s Office has discussed the possibility of rehabilitating county-owned property for transitional housing and will work towards this goal in 2021. Inmates with severe mental illness have more intensive needs and more frequently recidivate upon release. The Sheriff’s Office plans to focus on this issue by creating a working group in 2021 to address the continuum of support required to protect public safety and connect human services with this high-risk population. During the Public Sessions, it was recommended that the Sheriff’s Office review its policies and procedures regarding the classification of transgender individuals in custody at the Suffolk County Correctional facility. It was further recommended that the Sheriff’s Office adopt policies and procedures that are more responsive to the needs of gender-expansive communities. In 2021, the Sheriff’s Office will examine relevant policies and practices, New York State Commission of Corrections’ regulations, and national best practices for the purpose of crafting a policy directive on Transgender, Intersex, Gender Non-Binary, and Gender, Nonconforming People in Custody. The Sheriff’s Office will create an internal Review Board tasked with evaluating each use of force report generated. The goal of the board will be to ensure that proper procedures and guidelines are followed and to learn from each incident. If needed, the Board could establish recommendations for new methods for handling similar incidents. This platform to potentially prevent future injury to our officers and defendants/inmates could be expanded to include other high liability incidents such as motor vehicle crashes. The Sheriff’s Office will implement a training program for Deputy Sheriffs to increase their understanding and awareness of the impact of trauma. The training will help them utilize trauma-informed practices in their interactions with children and adults. Deputy Sheriffs are charged with executing Family Court orders to remove children from their homes for reasons such as abuse and neglect. In addition to implementing trauma-informed training for Deputy Sheriffs, the Sheriff’s Office will work with community partners to develop a care package of items the officers could give to the children to ease the transition. The Sheriff’s Office will facilitate coordination between the START Resource Center and Deputy Sheriffs assigned to the courts. Deputy Sheriffs frequently encounter at-risk and vulnerable individuals. The START Resource Center could be an avenue to connect these individuals with human services. The Sheriff’s Office plans to create a section of the website in 2021 devoted to Police Division statistics on arrests and traffic stops. During the Public Sessions, a question was raised about the Sheriff’s Office’s ability to track racial and ethnic data during traffic stops. The Office is currently updating technology to ensure that race and ethnicity data will be captured. Furthermore, the Sheriff’s Office intends to conduct ongoing analysis of data captured regarding traffic stops and arrests to ensure all sworn members of the Sheriff’s Office are utilizing best practices to eliminate any potential bias and to protect public safety. During the Public Sessions, it was recommended that the Sheriff’s Office improve its data tracking relative to Deputy Sheriff’s use of language access services. In 2021, the Office will begin to post quarterly language access assistance utilization data on its website. During the Public Sessions, it was recommended that the Sheriff’s Office develop protocols and appropriate training to best handle traffic stops and other encounters with people who may have developmental disabilities, autism, or other conditions that may affect an individual’s ability to communicate effectively during police interaction. The Sheriff’s Office intends to create a program for its staff in 2021. During the Public Sessions, the ability of Deputies to use discretion when deciding to make an arrest or give a warning was discussed. Deputies also have the discretion to direct a person to mental health services rather than arrest the person. It was recommended that the Sheriff’s Office track how often Deputies use this discretion and publish the data. The Sheriff’s Office intends to continue to build its mentoring program with local school districts. It will expand its involvement with My Brother’s Keeper and seek out other mentoring opportunities in schools and community groups. The Sheriff’s Office will work with community partners, including the Community Advisory Board, to form a working group focused on developing a more diverse workforce. The Sheriff’s Office will revise its mission statement in 2021 to include the goal of developing a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities it serves. In 2021, the Sheriff’s Office will seek out and implement trauma-informed training for its sworn members and customer service training for all professionals who engage frequently with the public. The Sheriff’s Office will implement a specialized training program for Deputy Sheriffs to increase their understanding and awareness of the impact of trauma. The training will help them utilize trauma-informed practices in their interactions with children and adults. In corrections, special needs inmates include any individuals in custody with mental, emotional, or developmental disabilities, disorders, or impairments. Presently, training regarding special needs inmates is presented once in the academy. The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office will be expanding upon this curriculum in 2021 so that all sworn staff will receive on-going special needs inmate training. The Sheriff’s Office will implement Realistic De-Escalation training in 2021 for all sworn staff. This form of training exposes staff to real-life situations they may encounter on the job and gives them first-hand experience on how to handle these scenarios. This useful and informative training will assist sworn officers in managing conflicts and help them develop problem solving tools to de-escalate situations they encounter. The Academy Bureau is scheduled to have four qualified de-escalation instructors by January of 2021. De-escalation training will then be used within the Professional Communication block of annual training. The Academy Bureau is working to facilitate the creation of peer support groups within the Sheriff’s Office. These groups will work closely with Chaplains and mental health professionals to provide support to Sheriff’s Office personnel in need. The Academy Bureau is in the process of developing/ implementing a PEER team which will be a first for the Sheriff’s Office. The team’s primary focus will be supporting fellow officers in times of crisis, promoting mental health, and helping to prevent behaviors that may lead to illness, injury, or death of members. During the Public Sessions it was recommended that Academy recruits and sworn personnel receive annual training in LGBTQ cultural diversity. The Sheriff’s Office intends to adopt a relevant training program. The Sheriff’s Office also plans to review cultural competency training curricula and provide this training to all staff. In 2021, the Sheriff’s Office will implement officer wellness "check-ins" with supervisory staff. These check-ins will be conducted regularly to ensure that Deputy Sheriffs and Correction Officers under their commands are taking care of their overall well-being, and effectively managing and coping with stress. All staff at the Sheriff’s Office will be encouraged to be alert to "red flags" with a coworker, or immediately following a Use of Force incident, sick time abuse, or other issues. Staff will then be offered assistance and referred for counseling or treatment. The Sheriff’s Office will launch an internal education campaign to alert staff about the higher rates of depression among law enforcement and the signs and symptoms of depression. Resources will be made available on the Office intranet and on signage in employee areas. The Sheriff’s Office is already using a variety of methods associated with Early Intervention Systems (EIS) that engage supervisors in detecting and remedying problematic behavior that occurs under their command before there are issues that can lead to more serious consequences. The Sheriff’s Office will be exploring database programs used to assist in tracking performance and complaints that occur over the course of an officer’s career. Often, incidents do not occur in quick succession, and personnel and management change over the years. EIS database systems lessen the reliance on institutional knowledge about incidents and provide a means to analyze individual trends over the course of time. In 2021, the Sheriff’s Office plans to utilize the Employee Mentorship Program in another arena – as a non-punitive measure for officers with minor disciplinary sanctions and/or issues. By addressing these behaviors early on, the need for more formal disciplinary measures, as well as the consequences to which these behaviors may lead, will be mitigated before they ever become a major problem for the individual and for the agency. The process to file a complaint with Internal Affairs is on the Sheriff’s Office website but during a Public Session it was recommended that the Office review the website to ensure the public understands the process to file a complaint with Internal Affairs and post a flow chart that provides information on how complaints are handled. The Sheriff’s Office intends to follow through on these suggestions. Community & Legislative Presentation Watch the Meeting Este documento en español. Preguntas? Email: Suffolk_Sheriff@suffolkcountyny.gov Public Information Session #1 Public Information Session #2 Public Information Session #3 Recommended Reading Materials on Police Reform Executive Order 203 NYS Police Reform Guidebook Briefing on the Sheriff’s Office and the Reform and Reinvention Process Pursuant to the directives of NYS Executive Order 203 and following the subsequent guidance provided by the New York State Governor’s Office, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office is conducting a comprehensive review of its corrections and police divisions’ policies and procedures, community engagement, recruitment and diversity, employee training and well-being, and Internal Affairs operations. Preparation Materials for Public Session The Sheriff’s Office is comprised of a Corrections Division, a Police Division, and an Operations Division. The Corrections Division has 813 Correction Officers who staff two county correctional facilities housing minimum, medium, and maximum-security inmates. The Police Division includes the Enforcement Bureau, Headquarters Bureau, District Court Bureau, Family Court Bureau, Criminal Investigations Bureau, a Special Operations Bureau, and the Pistol License Bureau. These bureaus provide transportation and security of inmates outside the county jails, general law enforcement services to the public, civil actions, and support to other law enforcement agencies. The Operations Division of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office includes Employee Benefits, the Communications Bureau, Quartermaster Bureau, Grants Bureau, Accounting Bureau, Personnel Investigations Bureau, Personnel/Payroll, Fleet Management, and Research and Development. These Bureaus work together to ensure the Sheriff’s Office continues to run efficiently. The Sheriff’s Office Corrections and Police divisions are both recognized as Accredited Agencies in New York State. This designation involves a lengthy, rigorous process to meet and exceed high standards. The Office must continually sustain this level of professionalism to maintain its accreditation status. The Sheriff’s Office is at the forefront of best practices in many areas of operations and has earned national attention for its innovative work in correctional rehabilitation, school-based programming, and intervention services for victims of human trafficking. In 2018, Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. partnered with the Sandy Hook Promise Foundation to educate young people about the warning signs of a peer in distress, how to intervene, and the concepts of inclusivity. He also launched a task force called Deconstructing the Prison Pipeline to drive policy discussions and implement solutions to prevent youth from entering the justice system. The County Sheriff simultaneously expanded correctional rehabilitation programing and launched the START Resource Center on the grounds of the Yaphank Jail to provide case-management services and reduce recidivism. Working with Stony Brook University’s School of Social Welfare, the Sheriff recruited master’s level Social Work students to participate in an innovative Family Reunification Program which focuses on supportive services for the children of county inmates. He has also advocated for improvements in human services, access to safe housing, and mental health treatment – as well as trauma-informed practices throughout the justice system. In June 2020, in response to growing social unrest and calls for police reform, the County Sheriff announced the formation of a Community Advisory Board and recruited participants via social media and in the local press. All ninety-four people that applied were accepted on the Board, which comprises a diverse group of residents from across Suffolk County. The Board meets monthly to view presentations, discuss topics of interest and concerns, and make recommendations. The Sheriff’s Reform and Reinvention process is focused on the following areas: Reforming and Reinventing Correctional Services Reforming and Reinventing Police Services Community Engagement Recruitment, Diversification, and Retention Sheriff’s Office Training Officer Wellness Internal Affairs The Office is seeking comments, ideas, and suggestions on some of its proposed reforms and will be meeting with community groups and the general public during four sessions in the month of February. The following information is designed to help prompt discussion about reforming policies and practices at the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office. While the Office is focused on specific areas, and suggested reforms are welcome. Part 1. Reforming and Reinventing Correctional Services The Sheriff’s Office places emphasis on correctional rehabilitative programming. Various in-custody programs provide gender-responsive group and individual counseling, parenting classes, and educational and vocational training for both male and female inmates. Other programs provide essential services to elderly inmates, veteran inmates, human trafficking victims, and those with substance abuse issues. The reduction in county inmates due to New York’s Bail Elimination Act led to a simultaneous decline in the number of individuals participating in the jail’s rehabilitation and reentry programs. This, in conjunction with the COVID-19 pandemic, prompted the administration to find creative methods of providing services to county inmates, as well as justice-involved individuals living in our communities. This work is now coordinated through the START Resource Center by a new team of Correctional Counselors and Community Correction Officers who conduct intake assessments on all county inmates and provide ongoing case-management during incarceration and after release. The Sheriff’s Office also recently began a pilot project with SUNY Stony Brook’s School of Social Welfare to provide services to family units and the children of those in custody. In 2021, the Sheriff’s Office will seek to expand the reach of the START Resource Center by developing satellite offices in other parts of Suffolk County. Planning has commenced to offer more services to individuals released from court, and to reduce barriers to employment, safe housing, mental health treatment, and other common issues. Correction Officers will also receive additional training in working with people with mental illness, de-escalation techniques, crisis intervention, and trauma-informed practices. The Sheriff’s Office will also expand services for children of those in custody. Discussion Materials: About the START Resource Center Proposed Reform: Expansion of Services for the Children of those Incarcerated https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/53721/2000256-Children-of-Incarcerated-Parents-Framework-Document.pdf Proposed Reform: Using Trauma-Informed Practices in a Correctional Setting https://bja.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh186/files/Publications/NRCJIW-UsingTraumaInformedPractices.pdf https://traumainformedoregon.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Corrections-Trauma-Informed-Care-infographic.pdf Additional Information on Trauma in Correctional Settings Trauma-Informed and Evidence-Based Practices and Programs to Address Trauma in Correctional Settings Part 2. Reforming and Reinventing Police Services The Police Division is staffed by 240 Deputy Sheriffs that provide critical services for the courts, serve warrants and summonses, make arrests, transport inmates, investigate crimes, and patrol roads and waterways. Recently the Sheriff’s Office began training its deputies in Fair and Impartial Policing, a form of implicit bias training. The Office’s Use of Force policy was revised to ban chokeholds and carotid holds. Body and in-car cameras were distributed to deputies and language assistance services are now available when interacting with people who have limited English proficiency. Future plans include an internal review board to evaluate each use of force incident. Customer Service training will be rolled out to professional staff in the Enforcement Bureau who field frequent phone calls from the public who are facing eviction. Trauma informed training will be implemented for deputies who are charged with executing Family Court orders to remove children from their homes. The Sheriff’s Office also intends to improve data collection relative to arrests and traffic stops and make that data available on the Sheriff’s Office website. Discussion Materials: Proposed Reform: Using Trauma Informed Care Practices to Safeguard Children following Arrest or Removal from Guardians https://bja.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh186/files/Publications/IACP-SafeguardingChildren.pdf Proposed Reform: Training in Trauma Informed Practices https://bha.health.maryland.gov/Documents/Trauma-Informed%20Policing%20-%20Betsy%20Wexler.pdf https://www.samhsa.gov/gains-center/trauma-training-criminal-justice-professionals Proposed Reform: Exploring Co-Responder Models for Individuals in Behavioral Crisis and with Developmental Disabilities RESPONDING TO INDIVIDUALS IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS VIA CO-RESPONDER MODELS The Police-Mental Health Collaboration Toolkit https://bja.ojp.gov/program/pmhc Part 3. Community Engagement The Sheriff’s Office regularly participates in formal and informal community gatherings and events. The Office hosts an annual Open House and Family Day and participates in National Night Out to create more opportunities for positive public interactions. In the last few years, the Sheriff’s Office has become actively engaged in mentoring initiatives though My Brother’s Keeper. In 2021, the Office will conduct another mentoring pilot project with the Central Islip School District. Community engagement is also facilitated through the Office’s many task forces and boards, including the Interfaith Council, the Reentry Task Force, the Deconstructing the Prison Pipeline Task Force, the Student Advisory Board, and the Community Advisory Board. Through these initiatives, the Sheriff’s Office regularly engages with hundreds of individuals, non-profit groups, and educators. Discussion Materials: Proposed Reform: The Sheriff’s Office is proposing an expansion of its mentoring initiatives. http://www.nysed.gov/mbk https://leb.fbi.gov/articles/featured-articles/cops-mentoring-kids-an-investment-in-crime-reduction Additional: The Sheriff’s Office intends to expand its Deconstructing the Prison Pipeline Initiative https://315a35fb-4cd2-4c10-ad2f-caceddce343b.usrfiles.com/ugd/315a35_22d112c0e8944c359455cf2539d4a95f.pdf Part 4. Recruitment and Diversification The underrepresentation of Black and Hispanic employees at the Sheriff’s Office is a longstanding issue that is also a challenge throughout Suffolk County government. Suffolk County recently appointed its first ever Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, a new role created by the County Executive to promote diversity and inclusion in the Suffolk County workforce. Nearly all Sheriff’s Office employees are civil servants, and therefore are not exempt from civil service hiring practices, such as testing and established lists based on scoring. The Sheriff’s Office Director of Personnel has been tasked with collaborating with the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer to improve hiring and recruitment practices and increase diversity in its sworn and professional ranks. Some recent initiatives undertaken by the Sheriff’s Office to aid in diversification include targeted recruitment efforts in local communities, coordinated outreach efforts with non-profits and churches, and social media campaigns. These initiatives had positive results and will continue as new civil service tests are scheduled. Future plans include teaming up with members of the Community Advisory Board to help with recruitment, targeted marketing campaigns, social media outreach, and identifying and reducing barriers to attracting more ethnically and racially diverse candidates. In 2021, the Sheriff’s Office plans to revise its formal Mission Statement to include “developing a more diverse workforce.” Discussion Materials: Proposed Reform: The Sheriff’s Office will set goals to diversity its sworn and professional workforce. https://www.justice.gov/crt/case-document/file/900761/download https://www.policechiefmagazine.org/creating-a-multicultural-law-enforcement-agency/ Part 5. Training Previous to the current administration, in-service training amounted to less than one day per year. Sheriff Toulon increased in-service training to three days per year for all sworn staff, created the Academy’s first training course catalogue, and implemented mandatory training for all new supervisors. The recent additions to the in-service training program include mental health first aid training, fair and impartial policing, and crisis intervention training. These curricula include realistic and challenging training scenarios to strengthen learning objectives. A new mentoring program supports new employees while learning on-the-job and helps to reinforce the ethical foundation of the professional culture at the Sheriff’s Office. The Office also plans to implement trauma-informed training for its sworn members and customer service training for all professionals who engage frequently with the public. (See corrections and police sections for trainings). Part 6. Officer Wellness Decision making and judgment can be affected by an officer’s mental state. Proper mental, physical, and emotional well-being are essential for an officer to be effective in the community. Recently, the Sheriff’s Office began an employee wellness program to encourage employees to prioritize mental and physical fitness. The Sheriff’s Office Chaplaincy Program provides chaplains from various religious denominations to officers in need. In addition, employee unions have helped connect law enforcement mental health providers with officers in need of psychological and emotional support. Starting in 2021, the Sheriff’s Office will begin officer wellness check-ins utilizing supervisory staff. These check-ins will alert supervisors to red flags indicative of a larger problem. New training at the Academy will focus on officer mental wellness education. Discussion Materials: Proposed Reform: Improve Overall Wellness for Sheriff’s Office Employees https://cops.usdoj.gov/RIC/Publications/cops-w0862-pub.pdf Part 7. Transparency and Accountability – Internal Affairs Sheriff Toulon and the Executive Staff work to hold all staff accountable for their conduct and to properly and investigate each and every allegation of misconduct. A progressive disciplinary system for all founded violations of agency policies and procedures is in place. The Sheriff’s Office investigates all complaints, whether anonymous or otherwise. Recently Sheriff Toulon established the Quality Assurance and Integrity Unit to evaluate complaint cases for the purpose of decreasing opportunities for re-offense. The Sheriff’s Office already uses various Early Intervention Systems that engage supervisors in detecting and remedying problematic behavior. A database program is being explored to assist in tracking performance and complaints over an officer’s entire career. The Employee Mentorship Program will also be utilized as a non-punitive measure for officers with minor disciplinary issues, avoiding the need for a formal disciplinary process. Discussion Materials: Proposed Reform: Review Employee Intervention Systems; both behavioral interventions and software systems http://www.datasciencepublicpolicy.org/projects/public-safety/eis-overview/ https://www.policefoundation.org/publication/best-practices-in-early-intervention-system-implementation-and-use-in-law-enforcement-agencies/ Part 8. Other Recommendations and Open Discussion

Learn more about the Freedom of Information Law and how to obtain a FOIL Request with the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office. FOIL Requests The Freedom of Information Law (“FOIL”), set forth in Article 6 of the Public Officers Law (§§84-90), is designed to ensure public access to government records. Under FOIL, an agency must make records available for public inspection and copying, except to the extent that records or portions thereof fall within one or more grounds for denial. INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANT: Please complete the form below by completing section 1 online. Upon completion, print the form, sign it, and submit the form to the Suffolk County Sheriff's Freedom of Information Officer at the following address: Attn: Freedom of Information Officer Suffolk County Sheriff's Office 100 Center Dr. Riverhead, NY 11901 PLEASE NOTE: The Suffolk County Sheriff's Office can generally provide incarceration records for men and women who were incarcerated at one of the Suffolk County Correctional Facilities only. If you are looking for police reports, accident reports, or 911 transcripts, please contact the Suffolk County Police Department at (631) 862-6000. FOIL Request Form

Want to request our Community Relations Unit to come to your next school event? Fill out our request form to get started. Program Request Form To request any of our programs, please fill out the form below. Our Community Relations Unit will contact you within 24-72 hours to confirm receipt of your request and to review the details and to the best of our ability, schedule your event. Please note: Although we will do our best, filling out this form is not a guarantee that we can accommodate your request. For more information or to get in contact with our Community Relations Unit, please contact them by phone at (631) 852-5611 , (631) 852-5636 , or by email at megan.adamo@suffolkcountyny.gov PROGRAM REQUEST FORM Programs Requested (select up to 3 that apply for this event) * Obbligatorio Car Seat Safety Checks CRASE (Citizen Response to Active Shooter Events) College Internship Program Information GREAT (Gang Resistance Education and Training) K-9 Demonstration McGruff Anti-Bullying Program (Grades 1-2) Operation Safe Child ID Cards Sandy Hook Promise Say Something (Grades 6-12) Sandy Hook Promise Start With Hello (Grades K-5) Medical ID Cards STOPPED Drunk Buggies (students must be 15 years or older) Pet ID Cards Shed the Meds (Drug Take Back Program) Stop the Bleed Training Yellow Dot Program Substance Abuse Awareness Presentation (for students) Substance Abuse Awareness (for school administrators/nurses) Test Vaping Awareness Presentation (for students grades 6 or older) Building Vulnerability Assessments At-Risk Youth Jail Tours Social Media/ Human Trafficking Presentation Blue Envelope Program Special Request / Other Submit Thank you for requesting one of our presentations. Someone will get back to you within 48 hour business hours. If you need immediate assistance, please contact our Community Relations Unit at (631) 852-5611

Learn more about the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Language Line directives and get access to certain forms and downloads in your native language. Language Line English Visitors Guide SCSO Language Line Directive Project Lifesaver Adult Enrollment Application Project Lifesaver Child Enrollment Application Project Lifesaver Application Instructions Spanish Visitors Guide SCSO Language Line Directive Project Lifesaver Adult Enrollment Application Project Lifesaver Child Enrollment Application Project Lifesaver Application Instructions Chinese Visitors Guide SCSO Language Line Directive Project Lifesaver Adult Enrollment Application Project Lifesaver Child Enrollment Application Project Lifesaver Application Instructions Portuguese Visitors Guide SCSO Language Line Directive Project Lifesaver Adult Enrollment Application Project Lifesaver Child Enrollment Application Project Lifesaver Application Instructions Haitian Creole Visitors Guide SCSO Language Line Directive Project Lifesaver Adult Enrollment Application Project Lifesaver Child Enrollment Application Project Lifesaver Application Instructions Italian Visitors Guide SCSO Language Line Directive Project Lifesaver Adult Enrollment Application Project Lifesaver Child Enrollment Application Project Lifesaver Application Instructions Polish Visitors Guide SCSO Language Line Directive Project Lifesaver Adult Enrollment Application Project Lifesaver Child Enrollment Application Project Lifesaver Application Instructions

Learn more about how to send digital photos to a loved incarcerated at one of the Suffolk County Correctional Facilities here. LIAM Safe Send Photos and Letters from Anywhere! The Suffolk County Sheriff's Office has partnered with LIAM Safe to make sending photos and letters to an inmate in the Suffolk County Correctional Facility a breeze! THEN: You take some photos, have them printed at your local pharmacy, pick them up and pay for them, pack them up in an envelope, head to the Post Office, pay postage, and wait for a few days to see if your loved one has received the photos. NOW: You take a photo, click this link or go to SuffolkCountyNY.Liamsafe.com, select the photo, pay and send. Your photo prints out at the correctional facility and is delivered to your loved one THAT DAY! No trips to the Post Office, postage, or packages lost in the mail! LETTERS: Visit SuffolkCountyNY.LiamSafe.com and compose your letter. Make the payment and click send- it's that easy! No more going to the post office or delays in the mail. The letter gets delivered to your loved one THAT DAY! Cost: $1.19 per photo; letters: $0.60 per page. All rules regarding photos in the Correctional Facility apply. Inmates are limited to 15 photos. All extra photos will be placed in the inmate's property. All photos sent to the Correctional Facility are subject to review. No photos pornographic in nature will be delivered to an inmate.

Learn more about the various services the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office offers. FAMILY AND RE-ENTRY RESOURCES This page provides essential resources for individuals re-entering the community after incarceration, as well as their families. Whether you're preparing for re-entry or have already transitioned, you’ll find valuable information on programs, support services, and opportunities to aid in building a stable, fulfilling future. For help or questions, please contact: PreventionandReentry@SuffolkCountyNY.gov . EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS AND CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES MORE HOUSING SUPPORT & FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE MORE PARENTING & CHILDCARE SUPPORT MORE EMPLOYMENT & RE-ENTRY SUPPORT MORE EDUCATION & SCHOLARSHIPS MORE MENTAL HEALTH, WELLNESS & SUBSTANCE USE SUPPORT MORE TRANSPORTATION & COMMUNICATION ASSISTANCE MORE LEGAL AID & ADVOCACY MORE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEX TRAFFICKING RESOURCES MORE FAITH-BASED REENTRY RESOURCES MORE UPCOMING EVENTS MORE Printable Resources

Learn more about the various divisions at the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office here. DIVISIONS CORRECTIONS DIVISION MORE POLICE DIVISION MORE OPERATIONS DIVISION MORE

Learn more about the history of the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office dating back to 1683. Suffolk County Sheriff's Office History The origin of the Sheriff is traceable to the Office of the Sheriff and Constable of early English history. On Long Island, from 1664 to 1683, ridings were used to establish boundaries within the Shire. The East riding comprised the territory now occupied by Suffolk County. The West riding consisted of Kings County and Newtown (Queens). The remainder of Long Island belonged to the North riding. Collectively, the three ridings were called Yorkshire. The Governor appointed a “High Sheriff” for Yorkshire with a Deputy from each riding. In 1683, the ridings were abolished and the East riding became Suffolk County. The High Sheriff was no longer necessary being that each County would now have its own Sheriff. Suffolk County’s first Sheriff was Josiah Hobart in 1683. After the American Revolution, the practice of the Governor appointing a Sheriff continued and was incorporated into the first Constitution adopted in New York in 1777. At the Constitutional Convention in 1821, the appointed Office of the Sheriff was made elective. That year, Abraham Gardiner became Suffolk County’s first elected Sheriff. Today, the Sheriff of Suffolk County is elected to the term of four years. On January 1, 2018, Dr. Errol D. Toulon, Jr. became the 67th Sheriff of Suffolk County and the County`s first African American Sheriff in Suffolk County history. Please scroll through a pictorial history of the the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office. History of the Suffolk County Jail Facilities The first Suffolk County Jail was erected in 1727 on the north side of Main Street in Riverhead at the site of former Perkins store. A bronze plaque placed there by the Suffolk County Historical Society marks the site. This jail was severely damaged during the Revolutionary War and had to be rebuilt in 1784. Continuous enlargements and improvements were made throughout the next 75 years until a new site on Griffing Avenue was purchased and a court house and jail built of brick and stone was erected in 1855. This jail was a separate two story octagonal stone building located at the rear of the court house. The cells were also arranged in an octagon, each cell going back almost to a point with the floor resembling the shape of a piece of pie. It was enlarged in 1881, adding a third floor to this unusually shaped building. In 1911, a new jail was built after the state deemed the octagon jail "unsanitary, overcrowded, and a breeding place for immorality - a relic of the dark ages, a disgrace and a stigma upon the county." The massive stone blocks used in the old octagon jail can be found around the flag pole at the current Riverhead Correctional Facility, comprising a monument to fallen officers and deputies. The 1911 jail was designed to hold 136 inmates but quickly grew to over 200 inmates with overflow housed in the Nassau County Jail at $4.50 per inmate per day. Once again, age and overcrowding turned the 1911 building into a substandard jail falling short of the minimum standards set by the State Corrections Department. In 1961, the Yaphank Penal Farm Building (Honor Farm) was opened. The main reason for erecting this facility was to relieve the overcrowding at the County Jail in Riverhead. However, by locating this building in close proximity to the County Farm, the county saved the time and expense of transporting the inmate farm workers to and from the Riverhead Jail on a daily basis. Work on the Suffolk County Farm was performed almost exclusively by the inmates. This provided the men with a healthy environment and a sense of self-respect. Moreover, the farm provided about 80% of all food consumed at the Suffolk County Jail, the Children's Shelter, the County Infirmary, and the Honor Farm Annex itself. The 1965 inspection of the Suffolk County Jail, conducted by the State Commission of Correction, pointed out the need for construction of a new jail with enlarged and modern facilities. Groundbreaking for the new jail took place on March 15, 1966. Three years later, on January 24, 1969, the state certified the cells for occupancy. However, due to lack of adequate staff, the new jail was not operational until August 28, 1969, when the 190 inmates from the 1911 jail were transferred to the new modern jail. In an effort to boost the morale of the department, in 1977 Sheriff Finnerty requested that the name of the Suffolk County Jail be changed. Therefore, by an act of the Suffolk County Legislature, the jail was renamed the Suffolk County Correctional Facility, while the Honor Farm was renamed the Suffolk County Minimum Security Correctional Facility. In 1980, due to ongoing overcrowding, a 200 bed addition was approved for the Minimum Security Facility in Yaphank. Overcrowding continued, however, despite this addition, and a 300 additional cells were added to the Riverhead Correctional facility creating a Medium Security addition. In 2013, a major addition was added to the Correctional Facility in Yaphank including six pods consisting of 60 cells each. A modern medical unit, medical housing unit, visiting area, and booking and processing unit were also added. This changed the facility from the Suffolk County Minimum Security Correctional Facility to the Yaphank Correctional Facility. Both the Yaphank and the Riverhead Correctional Facilities could now house inmates of all three security classifications. Suffolk County Sheriffs Throughout History 1. Josiah Hobart 1683-1701 2. John Mulford 1701-1702 3. Hugh Gray 1702-1710 4. John Brush 1710-1718 5. Daniel Youngs 1718-1723 6. Samuel Dayton 1723-1728 7. William Sell 1728-1730 8. Joseph Smith 1730-1731 9. David Corrie 1731-1734 10. Jacob Conklin 1734-1740 11. Thomas Higbe 1740-1774 12. James Muirson 1774-1785 13. Thomas Wickes 1785-1787 1791-1799 14. Silas Halsey 1787-1791 15. Phineas Carll 1799-1803 16. Josiah Reeve 1803-1807 1808-1810 1811-1812 1813-1814 1815-1819 17. Phineas Smith 1807-1808 18. Benjamin Brewster 1810-1811 1812-1813 19. Nathaniel Conklin 1814-1815 20. Samuel Carll 1819-1821 21. Abraham Gardiner 1821-1826 1829-1832 22. Samuel Smith 1826-1829 23. Richard Smith 1832-1835 24. Silas Horton 1835-1838 25. Samuel Miller 1838-1841 26. David Brush 1841-1844 27. Henry Penny 1844-1847 28. David Rose 1847-1850 29. John Clark 1850-1855 30. Samuel Phillips 1855-1856 31. George Carman 1856-1859 32. Stephen Wilson 1859-1862 33. Daniel Osborn 1862-1868 34. George Smith 1868-1871 35. J. Henry Perkins 1871-1874 36. Egbert Lewis 1874-1877 37. George Cooper 1877-1878 38. Robert Petty 1878-1883 1888-1891 39. Selah Brewster 1883-1886 40. Henry Halsey 1886-1888 41. A.M. Darling 1891-1897 42. Benjamin Wood 1897-1900 43. J. Sheridan Wells 1900-1903 44. Henry Preston 1903-1906 45. John Wells 1906-1909 46. Charles Platt 1909-1912 47. Melville Brush 1912-1913 48. D. Henry Brown 1913-1914 49. Charles O'Dell 1914-1917 50. Amza Biggs 1917-1920 1923-1926 51. John Kelly 1920-1923 52. Burton Howe 1926-1929 53. Ellis Taylor 1929-1932 54. Joseph Warta 1932-1935 55. William McCollom 1935-1938 1942-1957 56. Jacob Dreyer 1938-1941 57. John Levy 1941-1942 58. Charles Dominy 1957-1962 59. Frank Gross 1962-1970 60. Philip Corso 1970-1976 61. Donald Dilworth 1976-1977 62. John Finnerty 1977-1986 63. Eugene Dooley 1986-1990 63. Patrick Mahoney 1990-2002 65. Alfred C. Tisch 2002-2006 66. Vincent F. DeMarco 2006-2018 67. Dr. Errol D. Toulon, Jr. 2018- Current

Learn more about the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office New Hire Demographics. New Hire Demographics Police Division March 29, 2021 April 13, 2021 October 25, 2021 October 11, 2023 December 9, 2024 August 18, 2025 January 18, 2022 Corrections Division March 03, 2021 October 25, 2021 November 29, 2021 May 16, 2022 November 13, 2023 May 13, 2024 October 29, 2024 September 01, 2025 April 17, 2023

Aimed for youth ages 14-20, the Explorers Program offers youth an introduction into a career in the criminal justice system. Explorers Program Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Explorers Program The SCSO Explorers Program offers young men and women an introduction into law enforcement or a related career field in the criminal j ustice system. Aimed for youth ages 14-20, our Explorers are taught the importance of higher education, self-discipline, and respect for diversity and human dignity through training, involvement in community service projects, and other Exploring events. To learn more about our Explorers Program or to apply to become an SCSO Explorer, please email Sergeant Patrice Silvestri at patrice.silvestri @suffolkcountyny.gov. Application Car Stop Scenerios Riproduci Video

Learn more about the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Use of Force Policy. Use of Force Policy Law enforcement officers around the country and in New York State are authorized to use reasonable and legitimate force in specific circumstances. Federal constitution and state statutory standards dictate when and how much force can be used. The attached directive is founded in these standards but is not intended to be an exhaustive recitation of state and/or federal legal framework governing use of force. The attached policy is not intended to endorse or prohibit any particular tactic, technique, or method of employing force. To read the directive in its entirety, please click the link below. If you have any questions or concerns, please email us , and someone from our office will reply to you shortly. Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Use of Force Policy

Learn more about the Corrections Division at the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office. CORRECTIONS DIVISION The Corrections Division of the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office includes the Corrections Administrative Bureau, the Riverhead Correctional Facility, the Yaphank Correctional Facility, and the Special Operations Bureau. The Corrections Division is overseen by the Warden. Correctional Facilities Administrative Bureau Special Operations Human Trafficking Vocational Work Programs Correctional Facilities The Riverhead Correctional Facility has a maximum capacity of 840 inmates. It houses minimum, medium, and maximum security male and female inmates. The facility has linear and podular housing units, a state of the art medical/ dental/ mental health unit, a rehabilitation unit, and a visiting section. The Sheriff's Office Choose Your Path program is housed at the Riverhead Facility. The Yaphank Correctional Facility has a maximum capacity of 976 inmates. It houses minimum, medium, and maximum security male and female inmates. The facility has dormitory and podular housing units, a state of the art medical/ dental/ mental health unit, a medical pod, a rehabilitation unit, and a visiting section. The Sheriff's Addiction Treatment Program (SATP), the Veteran's Pod, the 55+ Pod, and the Choose To Thrive Program for female inmates are all housed at the Yaphank Facility. The Sheriff's Transition and Rehabilitation Team (START) Resource Center can also be found on the grounds of the Yaphank Correctional Facility. Administrative Bureau The Administrative Bureau has two main Sections, the Resource Management Section and the Records and Statistics Section. The Resource Management Section has ten subdivisions. The responsibilities and functions of these units are detailed below. However, in addition to those responsibilities specific to each of these units, the Resource Management Section is charged with acting as a coordinator of all tasks associated with the acquiring, tracking, maintaining, and safeguarding of the Correction Division’s assets, be they staff or inmate related, financial or material. The Resource Management Section ensures that the Division’s acquisitions are completed in the most fiscally prudent and responsible manner possible. These supplemental tasks include, but are not limited to: Each Section of the Correction Division is responsible for developing a budget request that reflects its operational needs for the following year. These budget requests are submitted to the Resource Management Section for compilation and coordination: The Resource Management Section is responsible for establishing, maintaining, and administering a comprehensive set of procedural guidelines for the Division that will ensure the fulfillment of our fiduciary duties related to the safeguarding and expenditure of inmate funds. The Resource Management Section works with the Suffolk County Comptroller to implement recommendations and revised accounting procedures. Coordinate the efforts of all units that have any responsibilities related to the finances and assets of inmates. Ensure that the Correction Division’s actions associated with managing its financial and material assets are consistent with sound business practices and our responsibilities as mandated by the various laws and jurisdictions under which we must operate. The Resource Management Section coordinates and schedules appointments for video conferencing between the Courts, attorneys, and inmates. The Sheriff’s Office works with the Suffolk County Child Support Enforcement Bureau (CSEB) to identify inmates in our custody in arrears on their child support obligations, hold any funds available, and forward to the court upon receipt of an appropriate order. The Resource Management Section’s responsibilities also include the coordination and supervision of the Information Technologies Section. The Asset Management Unit is responsible for coordinating and assembling the yearly operating budgets in preparation for their submittal to the Sheriff’s Office Accounting Section. The Commissary Unit is responsible for distributing items purchased through inmate funds. The Compliance Inspection Unit is responsible for ensuring that the Sheriff’s Office Correctional Facilities comply with all applicable rules and regulations. The Disciplinary Processing Unit investigates allegations of inmate misconduct to determine whether charges of inmate misconduct are substantiated and, if so, to discipline the guilty party by standards set forth to punish misbehavior fairly, impartially, and consistently. The Fire Safety and Inspections Unit is responsible for ensuring compliance with fire and life safety codes that protect the staff and inmates in the correctional facilities. The Grievance Processing Unit is responsible for the practical, fair, and timely resolution of inmate complaints. The Inmate Accounts Unit is responsible for maintaining prisoner-related bank accounts and their corresponding monthly bank reconciliation. The Integrated Systems Unit provides coordination and resolution of technical support issues associated with the correctional facility software and security system, the video conferencing system, and the drone detection system. The primary responsibility of the Operations and Procedures Unit is the production of and guardianship of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Operations and Procedures Guide. The Operations and Procedures Unit is also responsible for updating and maintaining the inmate handbook containing Correctional Facility rules and regulations detailing acceptable behavior and appropriate discipline for life in the facilities. This Unit maintains pertinent information on all chemicals used and stored within the two facilities and maintains and distributes OSHA related equipment. The Records and Statistics Section consists of three subdivisions. The Section performs numerous duties for the Sheriff’s Office, the vast majority of which concern handling and processing court documents relating to the lawful commitment, discharge, and inmates’ movement to courts and outside agencies. The Records Unit processes all admissions and discharges, coordinates all court and transfer movements with both divisions of the Sheriff’s Office, and reviews and interprets all court documents. The Records Unit is the center of inmate information and is involved in compiling, processing, and disseminating this information throughout our office and outside agencies. The Writ Control Unit tracks and prepares paperwork for the take-out and return of any inmate ordered produced in Suffolk County on a Writ of Habeas Corpus and for Suffolk County inmates court-ordered to other jurisdictions in New York State. This Unit also prepares the paperwork associated with processing State-ready inmates The Document Management Unit is responsible for storing and managing all inactive records generated by the Records and Statistics Section. Special Oper ations Bureau The Special Operations Bureau of the Corrections Division includes the Gangs Unit, Internal Security, SERT (Sheriff's Emergency Response Team), Canin e (K9), Human Trafficking Unit, Corrections Analysts, Task Force Personnel, and the Hostage Negotiati ons Team. Correctional Facilities Adminitrative Bureau Special Opertions Bureau