Dover – Today, Commissioner Robert Coupe commended Karl Hines, Deputy Commissioner of the Delaware Department of Correction, for his 33-year career of dedicated public service to the State of Delaware, as Hines retires from government service this week.
“Karl’s tireless dedication to his work has helped make our families and our communities safer, and has helped thousands of Delaware offenders return to the community with the ability to lead more productive lives,” Commissioner Coupe said. “He has led by example through his humble demeanor, strong work ethic, and able leadership and leaves the Department of Correction in a stronger position to fulfill its mission. It has been my honor to work with him and I wish him a long and enjoyable retirement.”
Hines began his Department career in 1981 as a Correctional Counselor. He was promoted to Probation & Parole Officer in 1985, and was subsequently promoted Supervisor, Manager, and then Regional Manager within the Division of Probation and Parole before being named Deputy Bureau Chief of Community Correction in 2008. A year later he was promoted to Chief of Community Correction, and he served in that position until Commissioner Coupe appointed him Deputy Commissioner in April, 2013.
As Regional Manager of Probation and Parole, Deputy Commissioner Hines helped implement the Department’s automated offender tracking system and he oversaw construction of the State’s largest Probation and Parole Office, a facilitate on Cherry Lane in New Castle that houses more than 150 probation officers who together supervise more than 6,000 community-based offenders. As Deputy Bureau Chief, and later as Bureau Chief of Community Correction, Hines led 350 staff statewide who are responsible for supervising more than 16,000 community-based offenders. As Deputy Commissioner, he has helped lead the State’s implementation of I-ADAPT, a innovative effort to marshal the collective efforts of state agencies to work with incarcerated offenders who are nearing their release in order to assist them in their reentry to society, and he has helped spearhead the Department’s ongoing multi-year effort to secure accreditation by the American Correctional Association.
Deputy Commissioner Hines has received numerous awards and commendations for his performance and leadership by the Department, including commendations for exemplary service on eight occasions, as well as the Correctional Supervisor of the Year Award (1997), Special Forces Award for Safe Streets (1998), Department Supervisor of the Year Award (2007), and he has been recognized for perfect attendance for the past 18 years.