Delaware News

Delaware Day of Action with REFORM Alliance Highlights Reentry Supports, System Change

Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long | News | Office of the Lieutenant Governor | Date Posted: Friday, May 31, 2024


Delaware Day of Action in Wilmington.
WILMINGTON, Del. — Community and state leaders highlighted the need for robust reentry supports to help returning citizens thrive during the first Delaware Day of Action, a special convening for criminal justice advocates and policymakers.   
 
Hosted by Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long, Senator Darius Brown and Representative Melissa Minor-Brown in partnership with REFORM Alliance, the Delaware Day of Action brought together organizations, community leaders, and advocates to discuss systemic change efforts in the First State and how to turn hope into action. Wallace “Wallo267” Peeples, REFORM’s Chief Marketing Officer, was a featured guest, sharing his personal story of redemption and how he is making a difference one connection at a time. Wallo grew up in Philadelphia where he cycled in and out of the juvenile justice system before being sentenced to serve 20 years in prison. Upon his release, he built a social media platform that reaches tens of millions of people with inspiration, humor, and hard-earned lessons that inspire people across the world to step into their greatness and discover their purpose. 
  
REFORM Alliance, a national organization focused on transforming probation and parole systems and creating sustainable pathways to work and wellbeing, added their national perspective to panel discussions and networking opportunities. REFORM has successfully advocated for systemic changes in neighboring Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia in addition to other states across the country.     
“For our justice-impacted Delawareans, the cards are often stacked against them. I can say anecdotally that 80% of the people who come before me at the Board of Pardons have experienced trauma or adverse childhood experiences. Without the proper wraparound services, community support, and government policies in place, coming home can be a one-way trip back to court or worse,” said Lt. Governor Hall-Long, chair of the Board of Pardons. In that role, she has worked to streamline the commutation and pardons process and advocate for trauma-informed approaches in the justice system.   
 
“That’s why we need convenings like the Delaware Day of Action. Today, we heard from Delawareans with lived experience, community leaders, experts in our legal system and corrections and public safety sector. These experiences matter and make our state stronger. I want to thank Senator Brown, House Majority Leader Minor-Brown, Rep. Cooke, the Behavioral Health Consortium, and Wallo267 and the REFORM Alliance for working toward a justice system that is fair and just for all regardless of Zip code, background, and experience.”   
 
The call-to-action for the day was Get Engaged. Panel discussions highlighted Delaware’s expungement process and legislative progress, comprehensive reentry supports, efforts to address recidivism, and culturally proficient interventions like H.E.A.T (Habilitation Empowerment Accountability Therapy).    
 
“When you get brilliant minds from all walks of life in the same room—formerly incarcerated individuals, law enforcement professionals, lawmakers, and advocates—that’s when the most amazing solutions can happen. You can’t teach what you don’t know; you can’t lead where you don’t go. At REFORM, we’ve seen firsthand that ensuring people with lived experience have not just a seat at the table but lead the charge alongside those in power to make change is how transformation takes shape. When you really listen to communities and build partnerships across diverse perspectives, that’s the true power of today’s Day of Action,” said Wallace “Wallo267” Peeples, Chief Marketing Officer, REFORM Alliance.  
 
Added Erin Haney, Deputy Chief Advocacy Officer, REFORM Alliance:  
“There is incredible momentum for the inspiring justice reform already building here in Delaware. Not only do we have the opportunity to learn about and highlight hard-won victories that are touching thousands of lives – but we are charting a course for further change. A true ‘reimagining’ of the justice system that safely reduces incarceration and supervision, invests in communities over prisons, and replaces cycles of crime and recidivism with hope and opportunity. We’re grateful to the many leaders standing up for meaningful justice reform in Delaware, and especially Lt. Governor Hall-Long and her team, Senator Darius Brown, and Representative Melissa Minor-Brown for their partnership and collaboration.”  
  
Through the leadership of Senator Brown and Rep. Minor-Brown, during the past few years Delaware has led on restorative justice legislation that has reformed the expungement process, banned deceptive interrogation techniques, and addressed barriers to employment, among other initiatives.    
“Our criminal justice system needs work. No one can deny that. Over the past few years, we have passed numerous bills to try to create a more just system here in Delaware, but we can’t do it alone,” said House Majority Leader Melissa Minor-Brown. “The Delaware Day of Action offered myself and my colleagues in the General Assembly the opportunity to hear from so many different voices on the topic of restorative justice. I am certain this will prove to be invaluable in our work to make sure our criminal justice system doesn’t do more harm than good.”   
 
Senator Brown, a co-host of the Day of Action event, has been described by the Wilmington News Journal as a champion of criminal justice reform and racial equity. The founding chair of the Delaware Legislative Black Caucus, Senator Brown passed legislation that is now helping to remove barriers to education, employment and housing for more than 290,000 Delawareans. He also served as a prime sponsor of bills that enacted the first major reforms to Delaware’s Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights in a generation, established new training standards for Delaware law enforcement officers, mandated the use of body-worn cameras, outlawed choke holds, provided legal protections for hair styles historically associated with race, and added an equal rights amendment to the Delaware Constitution, among many other initiatives.   
   
“The REFORM Alliance has been a strong partner in my work to deliver restorative justice and economic opportunities to Delawareans who have earned a second chance,” Senator Darius Brown said.   
   
“That support continued with today’s Day of Action event, which brought together community members, advocacy organizations and elected officials to discuss how we can work together to break down barriers to second chances and get people leaving prison the support they need to turn their lives around,” he said. “I am grateful to REFORM Alliance, Lt. Governor Bethany Hall Long and House Majority Leader Melissa Minor-Brown for joining me for this latest step forward in our work to improve public systems and help eliminate disparate impacts felt by Black and Brown Delawareans who are served by those systems.”   
   
ABOUT REFORM Alliance   
   
REFORM is committed to transforming probation and parole throughout the United States by changing laws, systems, and culture.  The organization is working to replace America’s criminal justice system with a restorative approach that is fair, accountable, and invested in rehabilitation. Our goal is for people to reenter society with dignity, create meaningful pathways to work, and equip them with the tools to succeed, all while making families and communities safer and stronger.      
   
The nonprofit organization was founded in the wake of the #FreeMeek movement.  REFORM Board Members include award-winning recording artist Meek Mill; Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin; Arnold Ventures co-founder Laura Arnold; entrepreneur and business mogul Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter; Kraft Group CEO and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft; Galaxy Digital CEO and founder Michael E. Novogratz; Vista Equity Partners founder, chairman, CEO Robert F. Smith; Brooklyn Nets co-owner and philanthropic investor Clara Wu Tsai.  Veteran criminal justice advocate Robert Rooks leads the organization as CEO.   
   
To date, REFORM has worked to pass 18 bipartisan bills in 11 states, which have created new pathways for more than 800,000 people to exit the system.    
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Delaware Day of Action with REFORM Alliance Highlights Reentry Supports, System Change

Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long | News | Office of the Lieutenant Governor | Date Posted: Friday, May 31, 2024


Delaware Day of Action in Wilmington.
WILMINGTON, Del. — Community and state leaders highlighted the need for robust reentry supports to help returning citizens thrive during the first Delaware Day of Action, a special convening for criminal justice advocates and policymakers.   
 
Hosted by Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long, Senator Darius Brown and Representative Melissa Minor-Brown in partnership with REFORM Alliance, the Delaware Day of Action brought together organizations, community leaders, and advocates to discuss systemic change efforts in the First State and how to turn hope into action. Wallace “Wallo267” Peeples, REFORM’s Chief Marketing Officer, was a featured guest, sharing his personal story of redemption and how he is making a difference one connection at a time. Wallo grew up in Philadelphia where he cycled in and out of the juvenile justice system before being sentenced to serve 20 years in prison. Upon his release, he built a social media platform that reaches tens of millions of people with inspiration, humor, and hard-earned lessons that inspire people across the world to step into their greatness and discover their purpose. 
  
REFORM Alliance, a national organization focused on transforming probation and parole systems and creating sustainable pathways to work and wellbeing, added their national perspective to panel discussions and networking opportunities. REFORM has successfully advocated for systemic changes in neighboring Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia in addition to other states across the country.     
“For our justice-impacted Delawareans, the cards are often stacked against them. I can say anecdotally that 80% of the people who come before me at the Board of Pardons have experienced trauma or adverse childhood experiences. Without the proper wraparound services, community support, and government policies in place, coming home can be a one-way trip back to court or worse,” said Lt. Governor Hall-Long, chair of the Board of Pardons. In that role, she has worked to streamline the commutation and pardons process and advocate for trauma-informed approaches in the justice system.   
 
“That’s why we need convenings like the Delaware Day of Action. Today, we heard from Delawareans with lived experience, community leaders, experts in our legal system and corrections and public safety sector. These experiences matter and make our state stronger. I want to thank Senator Brown, House Majority Leader Minor-Brown, Rep. Cooke, the Behavioral Health Consortium, and Wallo267 and the REFORM Alliance for working toward a justice system that is fair and just for all regardless of Zip code, background, and experience.”   
 
The call-to-action for the day was Get Engaged. Panel discussions highlighted Delaware’s expungement process and legislative progress, comprehensive reentry supports, efforts to address recidivism, and culturally proficient interventions like H.E.A.T (Habilitation Empowerment Accountability Therapy).    
 
“When you get brilliant minds from all walks of life in the same room—formerly incarcerated individuals, law enforcement professionals, lawmakers, and advocates—that’s when the most amazing solutions can happen. You can’t teach what you don’t know; you can’t lead where you don’t go. At REFORM, we’ve seen firsthand that ensuring people with lived experience have not just a seat at the table but lead the charge alongside those in power to make change is how transformation takes shape. When you really listen to communities and build partnerships across diverse perspectives, that’s the true power of today’s Day of Action,” said Wallace “Wallo267” Peeples, Chief Marketing Officer, REFORM Alliance.  
 
Added Erin Haney, Deputy Chief Advocacy Officer, REFORM Alliance:  
“There is incredible momentum for the inspiring justice reform already building here in Delaware. Not only do we have the opportunity to learn about and highlight hard-won victories that are touching thousands of lives – but we are charting a course for further change. A true ‘reimagining’ of the justice system that safely reduces incarceration and supervision, invests in communities over prisons, and replaces cycles of crime and recidivism with hope and opportunity. We’re grateful to the many leaders standing up for meaningful justice reform in Delaware, and especially Lt. Governor Hall-Long and her team, Senator Darius Brown, and Representative Melissa Minor-Brown for their partnership and collaboration.”  
  
Through the leadership of Senator Brown and Rep. Minor-Brown, during the past few years Delaware has led on restorative justice legislation that has reformed the expungement process, banned deceptive interrogation techniques, and addressed barriers to employment, among other initiatives.    
“Our criminal justice system needs work. No one can deny that. Over the past few years, we have passed numerous bills to try to create a more just system here in Delaware, but we can’t do it alone,” said House Majority Leader Melissa Minor-Brown. “The Delaware Day of Action offered myself and my colleagues in the General Assembly the opportunity to hear from so many different voices on the topic of restorative justice. I am certain this will prove to be invaluable in our work to make sure our criminal justice system doesn’t do more harm than good.”   
 
Senator Brown, a co-host of the Day of Action event, has been described by the Wilmington News Journal as a champion of criminal justice reform and racial equity. The founding chair of the Delaware Legislative Black Caucus, Senator Brown passed legislation that is now helping to remove barriers to education, employment and housing for more than 290,000 Delawareans. He also served as a prime sponsor of bills that enacted the first major reforms to Delaware’s Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights in a generation, established new training standards for Delaware law enforcement officers, mandated the use of body-worn cameras, outlawed choke holds, provided legal protections for hair styles historically associated with race, and added an equal rights amendment to the Delaware Constitution, among many other initiatives.   
   
“The REFORM Alliance has been a strong partner in my work to deliver restorative justice and economic opportunities to Delawareans who have earned a second chance,” Senator Darius Brown said.   
   
“That support continued with today’s Day of Action event, which brought together community members, advocacy organizations and elected officials to discuss how we can work together to break down barriers to second chances and get people leaving prison the support they need to turn their lives around,” he said. “I am grateful to REFORM Alliance, Lt. Governor Bethany Hall Long and House Majority Leader Melissa Minor-Brown for joining me for this latest step forward in our work to improve public systems and help eliminate disparate impacts felt by Black and Brown Delawareans who are served by those systems.”   
   
ABOUT REFORM Alliance   
   
REFORM is committed to transforming probation and parole throughout the United States by changing laws, systems, and culture.  The organization is working to replace America’s criminal justice system with a restorative approach that is fair, accountable, and invested in rehabilitation. Our goal is for people to reenter society with dignity, create meaningful pathways to work, and equip them with the tools to succeed, all while making families and communities safer and stronger.      
   
The nonprofit organization was founded in the wake of the #FreeMeek movement.  REFORM Board Members include award-winning recording artist Meek Mill; Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin; Arnold Ventures co-founder Laura Arnold; entrepreneur and business mogul Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter; Kraft Group CEO and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft; Galaxy Digital CEO and founder Michael E. Novogratz; Vista Equity Partners founder, chairman, CEO Robert F. Smith; Brooklyn Nets co-owner and philanthropic investor Clara Wu Tsai.  Veteran criminal justice advocate Robert Rooks leads the organization as CEO.   
   
To date, REFORM has worked to pass 18 bipartisan bills in 11 states, which have created new pathways for more than 800,000 people to exit the system.    
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Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.