SUFFOLK SHERIFF UNVEILS REFLECTION GARDEN IN HONOR OF RECOVERY MONTH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 3, 2025

SUFFOLK SHERIFF UNVEILS REFLECTION GARDEN IN HONOR OF RECOVERY MONTH

Correctional Facility Garden aimed to provide comfort, hope, and encouragement for those impacted by addiction

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO OF THE UNVEILING

 (YAPHANK, NY) To kick off National Recovery Month Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. was joined by advocacy groups and families affected by addiction to unveil the brand-new Reflection Garden outside of the Yaphank Correctional Facility on Wednesday, September 3. 

The Reflection Garden is designed to be a place of comfort, peace and encouragement for visitors supporting loved ones in custody, as well as serve as a reminder for individuals leaving the facility to commit to their recovery journey. The garden will also aim to reinforce the need for continued focus on treatment, recovery, and reentry support.

“It is my hope that this  Reflection Garden will impact families and loved ones visiting those incarcerated by giving them a place to gather their thoughts, find peace, and feel supported. I also hope it impacts those leaving our custody and allows them to pause, reflect on their journey, and commit to recovery. The garden will serve as a reminder that addiction touches us all and recovery requires compassion, support and second chances,” said Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr.

National Recovery Month is celebrated in September each year and aims to highlight the challenges of substance use disorder and celebrate the power of recovery. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), an estimated 85% of the incarcerated population either currently has a substance use disorder or was incarcerated for a crime involving drugs or drug use.

As Suffolk County Sheriff, Toulon has seen firsthand how often incarceration is related to addiction and has implemented many unique programs to try to assist with recovery.  This year, the jail’s in-custody recovery program, the Sheriff’s Addiction Treatment Program, was doubled in size and includes innovative programming such as meditation, CrossFit and memoir writing as supplements to traditional counseling. 

“In Suffolk County, many of the crimes we see in our jails are directly tied to drugs or substance use disorder.   I have seen how many incarcerated individuals are affected by addiction and understand the benefit of giving men and women tools to succeed,” said Sheriff Toulon.