The Hampton Sheriff Office STAR Center Initiative
The HSO STAR Center Initiative in Hampton, Virginia is a high impact regional collaboration that strengthens the transition from incarceration to productive citizenship. By integrating partners such as the HNNCSB, the Hampton Roads Workforce Council, VPCC, Norfolk State University, and several faith-based organizations including Second Half Ministry, the program addresses the full spectrum of needs faced by justice involved individuals. Its foundation is the Ready, Set, Go model1, which begins engagement 60 to 90 days before release and provides a warm handoff into community services. This proactive structure contributed to a 70 percent conversion rate in early 2026, with 211 of 303 engaged individuals moving directly into stabilization activities that reduce the social determinants linked to opioid relapse.
The program’s impact is reflected in the resilience of its participants. One participant successfully navigated the high risk first days of reentry by accessing wrap-around support that secured immediate housing, food, and Medicaid enrollment while connecting him to employment assistance. Another participant reached a major professional milestone by completing medical training to become a Certified Phlebotomist and securing stable housing through Section 8. These outcomes demonstrate how the STAR Initiative closes critical gaps in care, particularly during the vulnerable period immediately following release when overdose risk is highest.
By ensuring access to healthcare, mental health and substance use referrals, employment pathways, and community support, the program stabilizes individuals at the moment they need it most. Despite the challenges of coordinating across multiple localities and managing a rapidly growing participant volume, the STAR Initiative continues to serve as a leader in evidence-based reentry. Its strength lies in deep community partnerships, credible messengers, and a commitment to fostering productive citizenship. Although HSO STAR is not funded by the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority, the program remains a valuable resource for other Virginia localities seeking to implement effective opioid abatement and reentry strategies, and an outline for the community spotlight has been attached for further refinement.
1 United States Department of Human and Health Services Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood, Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation. Ready, Set…Go! Toolkit. United States Department Human and Health Services Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation; [cited 2026]. Available from: https://acf.gov/sites/default/files/documents/opre/1.2-program-flow-template.pdf