A renewed commitment to reentry, rehabilitation, and public safety

POSTED ON: JULY 10, 2025 – 10:42AM

Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger has announced the release of the 2024 Annual Report for the Essex County Sheriff’s Department (ECSD), offering a transparent and data-driven look at how the department’s initiatives continue to improve public safety by preparing incarcerated individuals for successful reintegration into their communities.

“This report reflects our steadfast commitment to going beyond care, custody, and control,” said Sheriff Coppinger. “We focus on why people come into our custody and more importantly, how we can support their successful return to the community through comprehensive education, treatment, vocational training, and case management. Our work strengthens individuals, families, and neighborhoods across Essex County.”

The full report provides detailed information about the Department’s facilities, programs, expenditures, and performance metrics. This is Sheriff Coppinger’s seventh annual report.

 

Some key highlights from the 2024 Annual Report:

  • Supporting Transitions and Re-Entry (STAR): The award-winning STAR Program celebrated robust growth, serving 436 individuals throughout 2024, nearly doubling its average daily census compared to 2023. STAR expanded its partnerships, offering new vocational programs such as  IT and cybersecurity.
  • Education Behind the Walls: ECSD strengthened partnerships with Northern Essex Community College and Merrimack College, providing Adult Basic Education, HiSET, ESOL, and college-credit courses. Notably, NECC tripled educational participation at the Essex County Pre-Release and Re-Entry Center (ECPRC) in 2024 and piloted a new digital learning platform (Essential Education) that logged nearly 350 extra study hours by inmates.
  • Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Program: ECSD’s nationally-recognized MOUD Program became a fully-licensed Opioid Treatment Program (OTP), expanding services to pre-release facilities and introducing the new buprenorphine injectable medication Brixadi. In 2024, 65,279 MOUD doses were administered, with 149 individuals successfully transitioned into residential or sober living programs upon release.

 

A look at ECSD by the numbers:

  • ECSD served  824,000 residents across 34 communities.
  • 3,947 individuals processed and 4,056 individuals released  from custody in 2024.
  • Average daily population of 967 inmates  at ECSD facilities.
  • One-year recidivism rate: 20.3% — a critical measure of re-entry success.
  • 22,791 in-person inmate visits and 50,656 video visits, maintaining important family connections.
  • 436 justice-involved individuals supported by the STAR Program  to promote successful reintegration.
  • 65,279 doses provided by the MOUD Program  for opioid use treatment, making ECSD a national model in corrections-based addiction care.
  • 35,155 pounds of produce grown and donated  by the ECPRC farm to schools and nonprofits — an all-time high.
  • 1,325 K-9 deployments and 1,571 comfort dog deployments, providing security and wellness services throughout the county.
  • 1,045,725 meals served  to individuals in custody.

 

“This report is more than numbers. It tells the story of a dedicated team of professionals committed to making a difference, improving lives, and keeping Essex County safe,” Sheriff Coppinger said. “We invite the public to read the report and learn more about the transformative work being done every day.”

Find our recent annual reports here.