On Friday, November 10, 2023, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Inmate Learning Center
graduated 11 inmates from the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) OSHA-30 Training Program. This program is a 30-hour course developed and administered through USDOL. Certified Instructor Linda Monaco provided hands-on instruction to participants on selected construction safety and health standards. The opportunity to acquire this training is part of the Suffolk County Department of Labor’s (SCDOL) on going career development and skills improvement re-entry program at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility.
Basic didactic instruction included OSHAct, Electrical Safety, Fall Protection, Hazardous Materials (HAZCOM), Personal Protective Equipment, and more. Additional sections covered a variety of construction safety and health concerns. Students must complete all 30 hours of instruction and pass a final quiz to qualify for their USDOL OSHA-30 card. This card is a NYS and NYC requirement for access to work in construction on any public works job.
Sheriff Toulon encourages all inmates to take advantage of the training opportunities offered by the Learning Center. “The Learning Center offers current inmates the opportunity to increase their employability upon their release. Programs like the OSHA-30 Training Program help the formerly incarcerated obtain gainful employment after their term ends, reducing recidivism and a return to criminal behavior in the community.”
The goal of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Learning Center is to provide educational resources to assist
incarcerated individuals in obtaining their high school equivalency diploma, as well as continuing education
classes accessed through the Riverhead Public Library via the Universal Class Program. With over 500 different courses to choose from, inmates take courses in business and entrepreneurship, anger management, addiction and substance abuse, positive parenting techniques, and domestic violence, and much more. All participation in the Learning Center is voluntary and individuals ranging in age from 16-69 are currently enrolled in courses at both correctional facilities. Multiple incarcerated individuals have received reduced sentences by providing proof of their completed Universal Class Certificates to their respective judges.
In 2023, at the Riverhead and Yaphank Facilities, there have been:
- 362 individuals enrolled in continuing education courses through the Universal Class Program via the Riverhead Public Library
- 332 certificates have been issued through the Universal Class Program in a variety of subject areas.
- In conjunction with BOCES, 30 individuals have sat for their GED exam with 27 students passing on their first attempt.
The Department of Labor also regularly holds workshops in the Learning Center to assist incarcerated
individuals in all aspects of obtaining employment, including time management seminars, resume workshops, interviewing techniques, and more.
For more information on these and other programs, please visit www.SuffolkSheriff.com.