Read Suffolk County Sheriff Dr. Errol D. Toulon, Jr.'s Data Driven Justice report. Data Driven Justice Data Driven Justice Community Portrait: A Conversation with Sheriff Errol Toulon, Jr. of Suffolk County, N.Y. This Data-Driven Justice Community Portrait is the fifth in a series highlighting individuals who are championing cross-systems collaboration and data sharing within their jurisdictions to respond to the needs of frequent utilizers of justice, health and human services systems. This interview was edited for brevity. Dr. Errol D. Toulon, Jr. is the Sheriff of Suffolk County , New York on Long Island. He was born and raised in the Bronx in New York City, and his father and brother were both wardens on Rikers Island . As such, Toulon learned about the criminal justice system from a very early age; in 1982 he joined the New York City Department of Correction where he had a 22-year career in uniform serving in various positions in the Emergency Service Unit, Firearms & Tactics Unit and Compliance Unit. He retired as a captain due to health reasons. In 2014, he returned to the Department of Correction as the Deputy Commissioner of Operations overseeing the Intelligence Unit, Training Academy, Applicant Investigations Unit, Emergency Management and Compliance Units. Taking office in January 2018, Sheriff Toulon is the county’s first African American person to be elected to a non-judicial countywide office. He received his bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Monroe College, a master’s degree in Business Administration and a doctorate in Educational Administration from Dowling College. Q: Where do you get your passion for helping people involved in the criminal justice system? When I was a child, my father told me that his job as a warden was about rehabilitating people who were incarcerated; however, he also used the same moniker of “bad guys” that needed to be in jail. When I was a captain on Rikers Island, I would often tour our various facilities, talk to the people in our custody and find out why they became incarcerated and if they experienced substance abuse and/or mental health issues. I believe 85 percent of men and women that come into our facilities are individuals that have mental health and substance abuse issues, or they just made some poor choices. Many come from areas and families that experience multi-generational trauma due to community and family violence. When I became sheriff, I used this experience to affect change in my community. We can assist those men and women with the treatment they need and can connect them with resources in the community to continue care post incarceration. I am extremely passionate about ensuring people continue to receive this level of care while involved with the justice system. Q: What are some of the initiatives you’ve started to help people with mental illness and/or substance use disorders involved in the justice system? Here in Suffolk County, we created The Sheriff's Transition and Reentry Team (START), where we work with the judicial system, The Legal Aid Society and The Criminal Bar Association to offer case management and support to help address the needs of people in our custody and upon release. The START Resource Center is located at our Yaphank Correctional Facility and staffed by correctional officers. In our jails, we start reentry on day one of incarceration. We interview inmates at jail admission and have them complete a packet of information where we assess their needs and life goals. Officers and our partners support people with substance abuse treatment, education, job and resume assistance, social services enrollment, driver's license and identification issues, transportation, food, housing and clothing. We also provide referrals to community-based services upon release. We help people create resumes and conduct job searches and provide business attire for job interviews. We also provide transportation for interviews, as transportation can be a huge barrier in Suffolk County. We have identified employers who are willing to hire a formerly incarcerated individual and work with social services agencies in various communities to connect people to health care and continue treatment. We are trying to address structural barriers to reentry, and the staff has truly built trust among our community members involved in the justice system. In fact, with START, more than 350 people have returned to our resource center or reached out for further assistance who are no longer involved in the justice system. We also have a serious addiction treatment program and are very much involved in the drug court. We continue to talk to judges and defense attorneys on how we can improve. We can always do better, and I push my staff so that our office can mitigate crime before it occurs and reduce our jail population. Lastly, we partnered with Stony Brook University School of Social Welfare on our family reunification project to bring graduate-level interns to the jail to work with inmates and their families to improve relationships while people are incarcerated and when they are released. We know that family involvement can be key to a person’s success once they are no longer in our custody. Q: Who have been some of your most valuable partners in this work? We have worked with many community partners who have helped identify individuals with mental health or substance abuse issues. We created a satellite facility partnering with one of our service providers, Spin the Yard , to assist with transportation and networking with other programs to make sure people are receiving the assistance they need. In addition, since many of our female inmates are victims of human trafficking and have substance use disorders, The Empowerment Collaborative of Long Island is another important community partner, particularly for women and children. We also partner with many local advocacy groups and monitor data to understand where in Suffolk County there are hotspots of people suffering from mental health and substance abuse issues and how to best address it. We also use data analysis in our schools through a program called Deconstructing the Prison Pipeline , which seeks to improve policy and craft initiatives to prevent youth from getting involved in the justice system by helping to identify root causes of youth delinquency. Q: How is your office working with the community to address race equity for people involved in the justice system? First, I am always looking at data to help us understand the problem. As Sheriff, I have made it a priority for our office to use data to identify community members at risk of incarceration. We focus on factors such as demographics and ethnicity, education level and employment type. Do they have children? With these variables, we see where certain trends are occurring and can drill down to the root causes of some of the issues that our residents face before and after incarceration. Since last year (2020), we started a training course for fair and impartial policing not only for our deputy sheriffs and correctional officers, but also professional personnel. We have implemented customer service training for sworn and professional personnel that are interacting with the public. I do not, however, believe that a training course will really allow us to understand our own biases, so we have made it incumbent upon our supervisors to reinforce this training throughout our daily work. Since it is very difficult to change someone’s inherent views in just a couple training sessions, we conduct them regularly to at least recognize these biases and reinforce the need for change. There needs to be a basic understanding of respect from law enforcement to the people in our community and those that are incarcerated. The death of George Floyd was a tragedy, and law enforcement needs to find a balance when interacting with the community between who is an actual threat and who may be experiencing a mental health or substance abuse crisis. Q: What more can Suffolk County do to help people living with mental illness and/or substance use disorders? What is needed not only for Suffolk County, but our nation, is investment in social services. People need help before they interact with law enforcement. By the time someone is incarcerated, the individual has most likely shown many red flags. The pandemic has caused a mental health and substance abuse crisis in this country and with so much trauma and disruption in our society today, the government needs to focus on increasing funding in our communities for social services. This would certainly lead to fewer negative interactions with law enforcement and less incarceration. We may be able to save not only a lot more lives but change people's lives so that families and communities are safer. Q: What inspires you about this work? I'm a two-time cancer survivor, so I probably shouldn't be here. My second battle was with pancreatic cancer and it has made me feel that I'm here for a purpose. I was a deputy commissioner at Rikers Island for 25 years and I didn't have the direct impact that I have now. I have been a resident of Suffolk County now for 31 years and I can see the impact I have on my staff and the individuals that are incarcerated in the community. This is what gives me joy because I can affect real change and help people. It motivates me every day. Q: Do you have any recommendations for other communities or advice for your peers? You can never have enough partners in this, whether it's NACo or law enforcement agencies, community partners or community members. I engage with our community to understand what various populations in Suffolk County are dealing with so I can understand what we need to do and identify potential and changing trends. As a sheriff, it is important to talk to law enforcement agencies and community partners throughout the country to see what they are dealing with and how to best prepare. Finally, humility is crucial. You need to talk to everyone and can never have enough engagement with people. There is much to learn from other people’s experiences. NACo would like to thank Sheriff Errol Toulon for speaking with us about his and Suffolk County’s efforts. He can be reached at Suffolk_Sheriff@suffolkcountyny.gov . This community portrait was created with support from Arnold Ventures as part of Data-Driven Justice , a project that aims to support local jurisdictions in using data to better align resources to respond to people who are frequent utilizers of justice, health and human services systems. This is a reprint from the National Association of Counties, NACo. Read this story on the NACo website.

Learn more about Income Execution and Wage Garnishment enforced by the Civil Enforcement Bureau at the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office. Income Execution | Wage Garnishment An income execution is a type of levy that may be issued against your wages if you fail to resolve your tax debt. It is a legal order that requires you or your employer to pay a portion of your gross wages for taxes you owe from your paycheck/salary. Issued by the NYS Courts, New York State will ask you to voluntarily pay up to 10% of your gross wages each time you're paid. If you don’t make voluntary payments, they will have your employer automatically deduct up to 10% of your gross wages from your paycheck and send it to us. The income execution remains in effect until the outstanding tax liability is satisfied. If you fail to resolve your tax debt, New York State may proceed with collection action by issuing an income execution. They may file a tax warrant before or after we issue the income execution. First, they will send the income execution to the address on file for you (click here to change your address & update your personal information if needed.) Generally, to comply with the income execution, you must: You are required to make the first payment within 20 days of receiving the notice. By law, wage deductions can't exceed ten percent: (10%) of gross income, or twenty five percent (25%) of disposable earnings. You must make payments each time you get paid, whether that's weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, etc. If you don't pay the required amount, your employer must deduct the money from your wages. How to remove an income execution: Pay the bill in full. For more information on income execution and wage garnishments, please visit the New York State Website. For driving directions to the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Civil Enforcement Bureau, click here. New York State Website

Learn more about the Motor Vehicle Levy section of the Civil Enforcement Bureau at the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office. Motor Vehicle Levy A change in law went into effect on January 21, 2011 (see CPLR 5205). The Sheriff must now conduct his levies and sales on motor vehicles to conform to this new law. The new law gives a debtor a $5500.00 exemption above liens and encumbrances on his/her owned vehicle. The Sheriff will have to collect the debtor’s exemption, the lien amount on the vehicle (if there is one) and the expenses paid to levy the vehicle at the time of the Sheriff’s sale. If at the time of sale the bidding does not bring $5500.00 plus the lien amount, the sale is stopped and the vehicle will be returned to the debtor. The plaintiff can bid on the vehicle. The first $5500.00 plus the lien amount must be paid in cash. Any bids you make above this amount can be a credit bid which will reduce the amount of the judgment. Sheriff’s poundage will be paid in advance. Poundage is 5% of the vehicle value, or the execution amount (whichever is less).* This cost may or may not be reimbursed (or adjusted) from the proceeds of the sale. CAUTION: The Sheriff’s seizure and sale of a vehicle may not result in the satisfaction of your judgment. You may also lose the additional levy expenses. The sale may be delayed or stopped by a bankruptcy filing or other legal proceeding. The sale value of the vehicle is affected by mechanical damage, high mileage, age, and the condition of the vehicle inside and out. In order for the Sheriff to levy a debtor’s vehicle for the satisfaction of a money judgment you will have to provide the following information and documentation: Go to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and fill out an MV15 form (download form here. ) You will receive an MV904N from DMV which will show title to the vehicle (who owns it) and if there is a lien on the vehicle. If there is a lienholder listed, we require proof from the lienholder of the balance due on the lien. You will have to contact the lienholder or hire an attorney who can obtain this information. Proof of the value of the vehicle. The proof is an appraisal from a licensed car dealer or an official book value. Forward a certified check or money order, payable to the Sheriff of Suffolk County, in the amount of $1000.00 in advance for expenses related to seizure, towing and storage. We may require additional expenses depending on the size of the vehicle, special towing, or special storage requirements. If the vehicle is not located or seized the advanced expense money will be refunded. *Sheriff’s poundage to be paid per above. For directions to the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Civil Enforcement Bureau, click here. DMV Locations & Appointment Scheduling

Learn more about the Property Execution section of the Civil Enforcement Bureau at the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office. Property Execution A Property Execution is an instrument used by the sheriff to seize assets other than earnings, salary or wages. The type of property targeted will determine the type of Property Execution to be used. How to file a Property Execution: You must obtain a Transcript of the Judgment from the County Clerk's Office. Once your transcript of judgment is filed with the County Clerk, you may request a property execution (Form #199) for the Sheriff's Office to attempt collection of your judgment. T he County Clerk’s fee is $5.00 to issue the Form 199. County Clerks Office 300 Center Drive Riverhead, NY 11901 (631) 852-2000 Keep a copy for your records and make another to file with the Sheriff's Office. When Filing with the Sheriff's Office: Make 7 copies (front and back) of the original Form 199. One copy may be retained for your personal records and 6 copies must be sent to the Sheriff's Office, along with the original document. Forward to the Sheriff: The original Form 199 Six copies (front and back) of Form 199 One copy of the Transcript of Judgment A note with your name and a daytime contact phone number. A certified check, money order or attorney's check made payable to the Sheriff of Suffolk County for the statutory fee of $20.00, plus the mileage fee. If the defendant is no longer at the address shown on the Judgment, you must provide the Sheriff's Office with a current address. Without a correct address, the Sheriff will be unable to collect on the judgment. Mail to: Suffolk Sheriff's Office Civil Bureau 360 Yaphank Avenue -- Suite 1A Yaphank, NY 11980 NOTE: If filing in person, you may make a cash payment. Please see the links below for the mileage chart for fee information as well as to obtain a Sale of Real Property Form. Additional information is available from the County Clerk's Office linked here. Need directions to the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Civil Enforcement Bureau? Click here. Sale of Real Property Form Mileage & Fees Chart Suffolk County Mileage Fees

LIFE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT ASK THE MEN & WOMEN OF THE SUFFOLK COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE First Name Last Name Email Phone Town Thanks for registering! We will see you on Thursday, May 1st. Send Yaphank Correctional Facility 200 Suffolk Ave, Yaphank Thursday, May 1st 6:00-7:00pm

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Press Contact: For all media or press inquiries, please contact the Public Relations Office. Vicki DiStefano Public Information Officer Office: 631-852-3436 Email: victoria.distefano@suffolkcountyny.gov ​ THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN RECENT MEDIA: Press Releases PRESS RELEASES Nessun post pubblicato in questa lingua Quando verranno pubblicati i post, li vedrai qui. Media Clips TV Click on an image to watch the story: PRINT NEWS STORIES Click on an image to read the story: Top of Page Press Contact Information Press Releases TV News Reports Print News Stories