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home >> what we do >> agenda for action

2009-2011 Agenda for Action

Advancing Reform of the Criminal Justice System

Two key strategies drive SURJ’s 2008-2010 Agenda for Action which, when implemented, will increase public safety and put public resources to better use, while ensuring a more just criminal justice system.

Action steps taken will contribute to:

• Reducing pressure for prison expansion
• Lowering recidivism
• Providing non-violent people with substance abuse treatment rather than incarceration

STRATEGY ONE: REENTRY

SURJ will encourage the State of Delaware to develop a comprehensive approach to reintegrating prison offenders into the community.  This approach should include development of individual reentry plans that address programs and services proven successful in reducing return rates to prison and relief from legal obstacles that impede reintegration.  SURJ will:

• Advocate for a comprehensive offender reentry system by pursuing the following:
• Urge the Department of Correction to develop a policy with respect to geriatric offenders, increasing discretion to release geriatric offenders consistent with public safety.
• Update and ensure distribution of directory of services to inmates pre-release.
• Educate the public and key policymakers about issues of reentry.
• Monitor the effectiveness of the inmate classification system.
• Have representation in the Reentry Subcommittee of the Criminal Justice Council, so as to keep abreast of statewide work on prisoner reentry.

• Provide a leadership role in the effort to bring to Delaware the Delancey Street Program, a nationally recognized residential self-help program that works with ex-offenders, among other populations.

STRATEGY TWO: CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADVOCACY

SURJ will encourage an extensive review of Delaware’s criminal justice policies and laws and advocate for new policies and laws as appropriate.   SURJ will support efforts towards the development and funding of treatment programs for prison and community-based offenders in Delaware that address education, vocational and job training, mental health and substance abuse.  SURJ will:

• Monitor legislation for criminal justice related issues and take relevant positions and develop necessary legislation.
• Support efforts, and draft legislation if necessary, to provide all inmates with state-approved identification at the time of release. 
• Seek repeal of mandatory minimum drug sentencing laws that unduly limit a judge’s discretion to individualize sentences so that the sentence in each case: (1) equitably reflects the gravity of the offense and the degree of culpability of the offender; and (2) includes an assessment of long-term public safety concerns.
• Assess current policies on probation violation, including monitoring the 2003 Probation Reform bill and identifying possible over-use of technical violations which lead to re-incarceration. 

• Continue partnership with DCJ in Visions of Justice public education programs which bring up-to-date information to the public about criminal justice issues that have an impact on our state and nation.

• Create a Juvenile Justice Committee that will develop an agenda and action steps to be completed within a timeframe to determine the current status of reentry planning for this population. 

• Establish a Treatment Committee that will develop an agenda and action steps to be completed within a timeframe to ensure that there is an adequate amount of treatment services available both within the correctional setting and within our communities.

• Attend meetings of the Sentencing Accountability Commission and report back to Board to determine the current thinking on sentencing policy in Delaware.

• Advocate for adoption of generally accepted professional standards in prisons, encouraging the Department of Correction to develop a plan for a phased-in accreditation of all prisons and services, with priority given to health and safety.

Last Updated on September 25, 2008