New 'Dignity Drive' Helps Inmates Succeed In Life After Incarceration

SOUTHAMPTON, NY – Inmates anticipating new beginnings will be able to step forward with confidence, thanks to a "dignity drive"providing them with the essentials they need to succeed.

On Tuesday, Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming launched this year's START Dignity Drive in Southampton, along with Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon — who has shepherded the START program for years — Southampton Village Mayor Jesse Warren, Kerry Spooner, founder and president of the Sound Justice Initiative, and Serena Martin-Liguori, executive director of New Hour LI.

The Sheriff’s Transition and Re-entry Team, or START, lends supports to individuals during incarceration and post-incarceration with societal re-entry.

Both New Hour and Sound-Justice Initiative are non-profit organizations that work with the START program to provide individuals in incarceration and post-incarceration with direct services to help improve their success.

According to the National Institute of Justice, 75 percent of released inmates are re-incarcerated. New York State spends more than $69,000 per year per incarcerated individual. But prisoners who participate in work-release programs are 17 percent less likely to return to prison than those who don’t, information provided by Toulon and Fleming said.

Reducing the recidivism rate for former prisoners makes communities safer, while lowering the tax burden for law enforcement services, officials added.

This year’s drive aims to provide the START program with personal hygiene products such as soap, shampoo, and conditioner, deodorant, lotion, feminine hygiene products, and new socks. Also collected, with an eye toward education efforts, will be flash drives, notebooks, and computer accessories.

The START Resource Center relies on community organizations to help those incarcerated with re-entry, both educationally and materially, Toulon said.

"This year, we’re again aiming to positively impact the lives of justice-involved individuals and equip the START program with personal care items and educational materials to help individuals find good-paying jobs and reclaim the American Dream, reducing recidivism and saving taxpayer dollars," Fleming said.

Fleming added that the Southampton Inn has pledged their commitment to donate toiletries and other personal care products.

"We hope this will be the start of other businesses and members of the community joining in this collective effort," she said.

Toulon said the START Resource Center has become a nationwide model for reentry and rehabilitation. "Its success is due to the countless organizations and partners who help to support our mission," he said.

“By providing resources to those reentering the community, we not only improve the quality of life for those individuals, but we can also greatly reduce the number who re-offend," Warren said.

He encouraged residents and businesses to participate in the drive by dropping off personal hygiene products to Southampton Village Hall. "Your donation can change someone’s life and better our village," Warren said.

“Together, we are a model for the state, creating hope and healing for incarcerated women and men who will benefit from the resources we continue to offer, and the direct support we give through Project Dignity. People who are stabilized are better able to be safe and productive community members,” said Martin-Liguori of New Hour.

“There’s no question that the START Dignity Drive is urgently needed. In addition to addressing practical needs, the Dignity Drive recognizes the profound differences between the experiences of men and women that lead to court involvement in the first place and the formidable challenges women face post-release," Spooner added.

Donation boxes will be placed inside of Fleming’s district office, located at 71 Hill Street, Suite F-1, in Southampton, as well as at Southampton Village Hall, located at 23 Main Street in Southampton. The collection will run through September 30, when donations will be delivered to the Sheriff’s START program.