SUFFOLK COUNTY            SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Gang Resistance & Education (GREAT) Program

The Suffolk County Sheriff's Office recognized the need for a proactive approach in gang prevention here in Suffolk County. ​

The G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education and Training) program is an evidence-based curriculum offered in many states throughout the nation. The classroom curriculum is taught by Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Deputy Sheriffs and Correction Officers who received specialized training to present to elementary and middle school students.

Prevention as its primary objective, the program aims to prevent bullying, youth crime, violence, drug use, and gang involvement while promoting a positive relationship among law enforcement, families, and our youth. G.R.E.A.T. lessons focus on life skills designed to help students avoid using delinquent behavior and violence to solve problems, and further helps them make positive choices in life.