ABOUT SUFFOLK COUNTY DWI JAIL ALTERNATIVE FACILITY
Suffolk County on Long Island, New York, operates close to 20 facilities that provide treatment for substance abuse as an alternative to general incarceration. Several of the sites function as part of the Special Traffic Options Program for Driving While Intoxicated (STOP-DWI), a comprehensive set of treatment approaches focused on reducing repeat offenses and addiction. Suffolk’s STOP has been in operation since 1986.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
Male and female individuals are referred to a DWI alternative facility at the time of conviction or plea, for a minimum of 30 days and an average of 60 to 75. Participants are referred to the program at the time of conviction or plea and have a history of substance abuse, according to a state website.
Programming involves evaluation, counseling, education, case management. Frequently, the initial treatment will be followed by another corrections department alternative program, such as intensive, community-based treatment during probation.
Aftercare services include referrals for related social services such as housing, education, and employment support along with plans for continuing treatment for a minimum of one year after release.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
There is currently no information provided by the facility regarding its treatment staff beyond references to addiction counselors. However, the sole individual polled by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing indicated respect for the treatment team, rating the staff’s level of training and experience four stars out of five.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
Individuals in the alternative system are housed in separate units from other Suffolk County Jail populations. One of three Yaphank Correctional Facility units is a 54-bed DWI program, which, according to the county’s website, is set primarily in on-site trailers.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
The sole individual polled by Rehabs.com to date concluded that his experience in the alternative facility was worth it because of his ongoing sobriety at the time of his Best-rehabs.com review. He rated the effectiveness of treatment a perfect five stars. Harold, the alum, also rated several aspects of treatment highly, including the quality and consistency of individual and group counseling; he reported attending three to four groups each day. Harold also reported that he received assistance with arranging for aftercare, including sober housing.
His opinions of accommodations were more mixed, with a rating of just two for meals and nutrition and one for the facility’s cleanliness and upkeep, but a four and five for exercise and leisure activities.
Other feedback on the Suffolk County DWI Alternative Facilities is scarce; second-party review sites yielded just two Google reviews. One had no written commentary, just a five-star rating, and the other stated simply, “Too lazy.”[1]
FINANCING
Treatment is supported by alcohol or drug related traffic fines.
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