Gov. Jack Markell joined advocates, lawmakers and citizens at The HOPE Commission’s Achievement Center in Wilmington Wednesday to sign three pieces of legislation into law aimed at rehabilitating former inmates, while attempting to balance public safety with reducing the state's incarceration and recidivism rates.
Markell deems the laws vital to a more effective criminal justice system. He says the whole of the three laws is greater than the sum of their parts, representing a philosophical change in how to address the challenges faced by the offender population and their communities.
"Our prisons are over capacity and none of this has made us any safer," Markell said. "Instead we've had these stubbornly high rates of recidivism and we see major obstacles that face ex-offenders that try to build a productive life after their sentencings."
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Of the three bills signed into law, Senate Bill 217 repeals the requirement that all drug offenders have their driver’s licenses revoked.
HOPE Commission executive director Charles Madden said removing such barriers helps former inmates become productive members of their families and neighborhoods.
"Trying to find work here is difficult enough, but even more difficult when you don't have a driver’s license," Madden said. "Bus services are not reliable and they do not get you to all the places one might find employment, so that's significant legislation that I think will go a long ways to support the work we're doing here."
Markell also signed Senate Joint Resolution 9, voicing the General Assembly's opposition to federal mandates requiring similar action.
Aditionally, House Bill 264 will allow the Department of Corrections to hire qualifying ex-offenders based on their performance in the DOC's vocational program while imprisoned.
DOC Commissioner Robert Coupe says the new employees could act as role models for those currently serving time and provide an immediate source of income.
“It just changes the whole mindset for the person on the other side of the table," Coupe stated, "because now they say ‘Okay, well that’s actually a reference that I can go back to, because if you’re that good of an employee that they gave you a second chance,’ it reassures them that ‘Yeah, okay, I can invest in this person.’”
Finally, HB312 allows judges to decide on concurrent or consecutive sentencing - which could seriously reduce an inmate’s prison time.
The bills primary sponsor, Rep. Stephanie Bolden (Northeast Wilmington - D), says the law brings Delaware in line with the role of judges in the other 49 states and the federal government
"Our judges are on the bench for a reason," Bolden insisted, "and this bill allows them to do their job more efficiently. And we trust their discretion."
HOPE Commission director of clinical operations, Jim Elder, says the changes brought about by the new laws show the state is getting smart on crime by employing evidence-based strategies that have a proven
track record of success.
"Governor Markell's signings of these legislations signal Delaware's commitment to a growing movement across our nation, a movement that requires courts, corrections and treatment providers to do more of what works and less of what doesn't," he said.
Elder feels the laws reflect the belief that people in the criminal justice system have the potential to change.
"We believe in their capacity to transform from inmate to ex-offender," he said, "provided they are given the opportunity to do so."
