- Massachusetts Sheriffs' Association
Essex County Sheriff Kevin Coppinger and members of the STAR team presented at the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) conference in Boston this past weekend. This conference brought over 16,000 law enforcement leaders from across the globe to learn, educate, and share best practices.
The Supporting Transition and Reentry Program (STAR) was one of the featured presentations. STAR is a community-based program in Lynn and Lawrence for justice-involved individuals offering programming, counseling, and educational opportunities to help people stay out of jail and on a pathway to success.
The program is a one-stop shop for these individuals in need of services and provides connections to help from over 300 community partners. STAR has helped over 580 individuals since opening in 2023, with over 70 percent enrolled in some form of educational advancement. The office has also secured some form of housing for over 50 percent of the participants. It was named the 2023 Massachusetts Sheriffs Association Program of the Year.
