Individuals reentering the community after incarceration will be able to receive library cards through a new partnership between the Suffolk Sheriff’s Office and the county’s public libraries as part of the Reentry Education and Access to Discovery (R.E.A.D.) Program, Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. announced.
The program is designed to support successful community reentry by connecting individuals with educational, employment, and technological resources available through local libraries. Participants who have a definite release date will be able to register while incarcerated and receive a library card upon release.
“Eighty-five percent of the men and women incarcerated in our jails return back to our communities, so it is vital to give them the tools to succeed. I thank the Suffolk Cooperative Library System for partnering with us to expand access to Suffolk’s libraries and the important resources they provide,” said Suffolk Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr.
“The Public Libraries of Suffolk County are proud to participate in the Sheriff’s R.E.A.D. Program. Accessibility for all is one of the central values of public libraries, and their programs and services are a natural fit for those looking to successfully re-enter their communities,” said Kevin Verbesey, Executive Director of the Suffolk Cooperative Library System (SCLS).
“As the Central Library for Suffolk County, the Patchogue-Medford Library is proud to participate in Sheriff Toulon’s R.E.A.D. program. Public libraries have always been places where people can find information, support, and a path forward, and we believe strongly in being a resource for those returning to our communities,” said Danielle Paisley, Director of the Patchogue-Medford Library.
The Sheriff’s Transition and Reentry Team (START) will maintain a database of eligible participants and distribute the physical cards upon release. The standard plastic cards will provide 90 days of access to Suffolk County libraries, with no indication of prior incarceration.
Suffolk County libraries offer many resources that may benefit individuals reentering the community, including access to computers, internet, printing, educational materials, job search assistance, and other support services.
The START Resource Center assists formerly incarcerated individuals and their families with connections to reentry support, including mental health and substance abuse services, help obtaining documentation and employment, and assistance with food and clothing. Since the program launched in 2020, participants have had a recidivism rate nearly half of the New York State average.
The Suffolk Cooperative Library System supports 56 public libraries serving more than 1.5 million residents across Suffolk County, providing shared resources, training, and collaborative services that strengthen library programs and community access to information.