SUFFOLK SHERIFF, NORTHWELL ANNOUNCE FIRST EVER IN-CUSTODY GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION COURSE

SUFFOLK SHERIFF, NORTHWELL ANNOUNCE FIRST EVER IN-CUSTODY GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION COURSE

Yaphank Jail to Pilot Public Health Curriculum Aimed at Curbing Gun Violence

(YAPHANK, NY) On Tuesday, June 2, Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. and the Northwell Health Center for Gun Violence Prevention, joined by community advocates and violence prevention partners, announced the launch of the first-ever gun violence prevention course within a jail or prison in the United States. The announcement comes during Gun Violence Awareness Month, which brings attention to the more than 300 people impacted by gun violence in the United States every day.

“Project Safe and Sound” was created through a collaboration between the Northwell Health Center for Gun Violence Prevention and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office with the mission of reducing gun-related violence throughout Suffolk County through education, intervention, and community engagement.

“We are very excited to launch this innovative program with Northwell Health. Every single day we see a headline involving improper use of firearms, whether it is a violent assault, an accidental shooting, a domestic incident, or a suicide. Enough is enough.  We are committed to doing our part to educate those in our custody to help prevent future crimes and future victims in our communities. I thank all the partners involved for their tremendous work on this program and we look forward to continuing to grow,” said Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. 

“Public health education is a central pillar of gun violence prevention efforts,” said Dr. Chethan Sathya, Director of Northwell Heath’s Center for Gun Violence Prevention. “We are proud to help start this one-of-a-kind program that empowers justice-impacted individuals with the tools and resources necessary to meet their long-term health and safety goals. We hope this serves as an example that can be replicated across the country, demonstrating that a public health approach to gun violence includes meeting people where they are and supporting pathways to break cycles of violence.”

This first-of-its-kind course will cover topics including public health approaches to gun violence prevention, risk and protective factors, community impact and healing, violence intervention strategies, career development, resilience, and goal setting focused on personal growth and community empowerment. The seven-module program will run for one month as a pilot program in early fall for a group of sentenced incarcerated individuals at the Yaphank Correctional Facility. Participation in the program is voluntary and participants who successfully complete the curriculum will receive a certificate of completion. 

Jayson Williams, a former NBA All-Star who was incarcerated for a gun-related offense, will serve as one of the featured presenters alongside public health professionals, violence intervention specialists, survivor advocates, faith leaders, and community organizations. Additional presenters and partners include Northwell Health’s Street Medicine and Talent Acquisition teams, NYS SNUG Outreach of Wyandanch, Lighthouse Prison Ministries, Life After Loss A.N.D.R.E., Wheelchairs Against Guns, and other individuals directly impacted by gun violence who will share their lived experiences.

The curriculum was developed using a public health framework and will address the root causes and long-term impacts of gun violence through education, mentorship, self-reflection, and community-based intervention strategies. Sessions will also focus on resiliency, emotional healing, employment readiness, and building positive support systems following incarceration.

Moving forward, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office will explore long-term opportunities to expand the frequency and reach of the program, as well as pursue the development of an Institutional Review Board (IRB) study to evaluate the program’s long-term impact. 

This work reflects a broader partnership with the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office and Northwell’s Institute for Community Health & Wellness, which has worked on many programs to support safer reentry, improve health outcomes, and strengthen the vitality of our communities.

 For more information, please visit www.suffolksheriff.com or contact the Public Information Office at SheriffPIO@SuffolkCountyny.gov.