Mothers in Prison
 Position Statement on Offender Reentry
 Creating Effective Offender Re-entry Programs
 Community Corrections As A Safe Alternative to Incarceration
 Needs of Incarcerated Mothers and Their Children
 Opposition to the Death Penalty
 Abolition of all Mandatory Drug Sentencing Laws in Delaware
 Restoration of Voting Rights for Ex-Offenders

Position Statement on Offender Reentry

Introduction:
Statistics reveal that more than 95% of all incarcerated offenders will eventually return to the community. Many offenders are ill prepared for a successful transition to the community, in terms of their education, vocational training, physical or mental health, and family or community support systems. Additionally, the effect of many of our state laws and policies makes it difficult for offenders to successfully reenter their communities. Offenders may be excluded from housing because of criminal convictions. Offenders may also have difficulty obtaining Medicaid and medical assistance eligibility, securing medication, accessing treatment, entering certain occupations, gaining job training and employment assistance. Offenders who are parents may face additional reentry problems, including child custody and/or prosecution for nonpayment of child support. Additionally, offenders who are students are no longer eligible for many student loans. Statistics indicate that Delaware's rate of incarceration has increased 76% over 10 years, with returns to prison of probation violators contributing significantly to this increase. The aforementioned conditions contribute to the high numbers of returns to prison for violations of probation or parole and commission of new crimes.

Position Statement:
The costs of the cycle of incarceration and reentry are increasingly high from both public safety and fiscal perspectives. Successful reentry of incarcerated offenders reduces the likelihood of further criminal behavior and, therefore, offers public safety and economic advantages to the public, the offender and the criminal justice system. Effective reentry management, therefore, would reduce the need for prison expansion and increase the resources for prevention, education, and treatment as well as serve the well being of the community. In order to develop, support, and provide linkages to programs that provide for successful offender reentry, public, private and non-profit agencies and communities should advocate for:

• Review of existing laws and regulations that may inhibit the successful¹ reentry of offenders;
• Statutory authority and adequate funding for needed programs and services;
• A prison system that includes not only an objective prison classification (i.e., placement of offender at appropriate security level consistent with offender risk and treatment needs) system that starts at the point of entry into the system to allow maximum time for planning and is committed to identifying offender risks and needs (i.e., education levels; medical and mental health problems, vocational needs) but also sufficient coordinated programs to therapeutically address the identified risks and needs;
• A comprehensive prison pre-release planning program that includes assisting the offender in obtaining proper state identification, such as driver's license; information and assistance to obtain housing, Medicaid, medical and substance abuse treatment and other health and psychological services; employment readiness training; rehabilitative services; and reuniting of families;
• A comprehensive community correctional and court system that offers a full range of options for offenders transitioning to the community, these to include: Community residential facilities; Reentry Courts; Probation, parole, community service, and restitution programs;
• Private, public and non-profit partnerships which work with the community as the center of the offender's life; and
• Mobilization and coordination of constituencies addressing citizens, victims, offenders and community concerns; and
• On-going evaluation of the efficiency, effectiveness and accountability of offender evaluation, classification/treatment, and reentry programs, consistent with recognized professional standards.

As these actions get underway, Delaware will begin to experience the benefits of effective reentry management, which means we will reduce the need for prison expansion and increase resources for prevention, education and treatment to better preserve the well being and safety of the community.

¹ For example, pursuant to Title 11 Del. C. 65, the Department of Correction is prohibited by law from classifying certain classes of sex offenders and those serving a minimum mandatory sentence for selling drugs and escape after conviction and escape 2nd to work release. Class A felons are precluded until the last 6 months of their sentence. Also, 11 Del C 4204 (k) allows the court to direct, under certain provisions, that a sentence be served "without benefit of any form of early release, good time furlough, work release, supervised custody or any other form of reduction or diminution of sentence."

Approved 11/14/02
Delaware Center for Justice
Board of Directors

 Back to top