WILMINGTON, Del. (September 12, 2014) – The Delaware Criminal Justice Council is pleased to announce that the agency is currently completing the installation and preparing for the beginning of a new system that will allow CJC staff and sub grantees the ability to apply for and manage grants from anywhere via the internet.

The new Egrants System has been in the process of being developed for the past 2 years and is now available for use. Interested agencies may begin the process to register as an approved Egrants user. Registered individuals may create their own personalized Username and Password.

The Egrants system will allow users, once online, to find new funding solicitations, complete applications, submit quarterly progress reports, request reimbursements and report on performance measures. The new system will not only eliminate the need for paper documents but will save time in the preparation and submission of essential reports.

CJC staff are preparing for the Federal Fiscal Year 2014 grants to be the first to be included in the Egrants system and are offering upcoming user training at the below statewide sites. Sub grantees that have programs that are approved or are expecting to be approved with FY 14 funds are strongly encouraged to attend the trainings to avoid delays in the award process.

Trainings will be offered in 3 different locations:

Wednesday, September 24, 2014 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Delaware Technical and Community College, Jack F. Owens Campus
21179 College Drive
Georgetown, Delaware
Thursday, September 25, 2014 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Dover Police Department Public Assembly Room
400 S. Queen St.
Dover, Delaware
Wednesday, October 1, 2014 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Delaware State Police Troop #2, Conference Room
100 Lagrange Ave.
Newark, Delaware

Please register for training at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/EgrantRegistration

For more information on the Egrants registration process, visit: http://cjc.delaware.gov/Egrants.shtml

WILMINGTON, Del.– Lieutenant Governor Matthew Denn, Chairman, is pleased to announce that the Delaware Criminal Justice Council has unanimously confirmed the appointment of Christian L. Kervick as Executive Director. Mr. Kervick, who had been serving as Acting Executive Director was already leading the statewide criminal justice planning agency after former Director Drewry N. Fennell took a position as policy advisor to Governor Jack Markell in March 2014.

The Delaware Criminal Justice Council  is an independent agency committed to leading the criminal justice system through a collaborative approach that calls upon the experience and creativity of the Council, all components of the criminal justice system and the community. As the State Administering Agency, the Criminal Justice Council plans, implements and administers more than $30 million of state and federal criminal justice dollars.

In announcing the appointment, Lt. Governor Denn stated “Chris Kervick has worked for the CJC for over 16 years, including two stints as Acting Executive Director. During that time, he has gained the confidence and trust of the CJC members, the federal government, and the organizations with whom we work because of his integrity and work ethic. He has been a great steward of the federal grant dollars that the CJC is trusted with. The board members were thrilled to have the opportunity to select him unanimously as Executive Director”

During his career with the Criminal Justice Council, Mr. Kervick has served as Deputy Director under the two previous Executive Directors as well as Acting Executive Director. Among his many roles at the Council he has also served as Director of Programming and Juvenile Justice Specialist. Mr. Kervick is also a member of the Board of Directors of the National Criminal Justice Association and has chaired the Northeast Region of the NCJA for the past three years giving Delaware a voice at the national level of criminal justice policy development.

CJC board Vice Chair, the Honorable Chandlee Johnson Kuhn, Chief Judge of the Family Court, had this to say about Kervick’s appointment: “as the Juvenile Justice Specialist Chris was recognized at the National level with the Coalition for Juvenile Justice 2010 Tony Gobar Outstanding National Juvenile Justice Specialist award. Chris’ experience and passion for the criminal justice system in Delaware is unparalleled. I look forward to working with him and his team in addressing the serious problems facing our communities, especially in the area of juvenile violence prevention.”

On his appointment, Mr. Kervick says: “The criminal justice system is currently facing several complex issues. I am honored to serve as Executive Director of the Criminal Justice Council and look forward to working with our Council to implement effective programs that will improve our system, provide appropriate services to our neighbors in need and to increase the overall safety of the citizen’s in our state”.

Mr. Kervick holds a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA.

82% of non-profit funding dedicated to re-entry services; up from 46% in 2007

WILMINGTON, Del. – Today, Lieutenant Governor Matt Denn, Chair of the Criminal Justice Council, and Chris Kervick, Executive Director of the Criminal Justice Council, announced the 2014 Byrne Grant recipients at a press conference at the Rick VanStory Resource Center in Wilmington.

This year’s Byrne Grants were awarded to seven non-profits agencies – representing all three counties – that specialized in the CJC’s priority areas of Re-entry and Recidivism Reduction for Adults and Juveniles, Juvenile Prevention and Intervention, and Reducing Homicide and Violent Crime. The total of all awards is $501,079.76 and 82% of funding is dedicated to re-entry services, up from 46% in 2007. The increase in re-entry funding reflects a decision by the CJC to concentrate its limited federal grant resources in this important area.

Lt. Governor Denn said, “These groups have proven track records of providing quality services that continue to make a difference in our communities. I am impressed with their plans to expand these much-needed programs in our state.”

“The Byrne Justice Assistance Grant is the cornerstone federal assistance program for the Criminal Justice Council,” said Executive Director Chris Kervick. “It allows the flexibility required to support local programs as they provide much needed services to the people who need them most. The Criminal Justice Council congratulates this year’s grant recipients and we look forward to working with the agencies to make each program successful.”

Rick VanStory Resource Center CEO Allen Conover said today, “We would like to thank the Delaware Criminal Justice Council for the opportunity to enhance our ability to provide essential services to individuals involved with the criminal justice system that are mentally ill and/or that suffer from substance abuse. We look forward to utilizing our collective experiences to assist others.”

Here is a list of recipients, the award amount, and short description of what the funding will be used for:

Boys & Girls Clubs at Oak Orchard/Riverdale: Stop It Before It Starts Prevention Program $50,930.00
Facilitating 2 curriculums: “Positive Action” on bullying, substance abuse, and suicide for 8 to 13 year-olds; and “Courage to Speak” on drug abuse prevention for parents. Grant will fund program facilitators, counselor, and educational equipment.

Courageous Hearts Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Learning Center Equine Assisted Learning: Power Tools for Living Program $39,690.00
Providing therapeutic equine activities for at-risk youth. The program teaches youths to interact with and care for horses, and offers mental health counseling. Grant will cover salary for the director, bookkeeper, equine specialists, & therapist, as well as facility rental.

Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing, Inc.: Re-entry Opportunity and Recidivism Prevention $97,900.00
Provide shelter, job placement, case management, and counseling to former inmates.

The Hospitality School, Inc.: Culinary Arts & Restaurant Training Reducing Recidivism $69,933.00
Provide culinary training for hard-to-employ individuals, specially focusing on ex-offenders. This free, 14-week program also teaches soft skills & financial literacy, and includes an internship.

Rick VanStory Resource Centers: Case Management for Mental Health Offenders $115,711.76
Provide case management, mental health counseling, and substance abuse treatment to homeless former inmates. Program will operate in all counties.

Victims’ Voices Heard: Victim Impact: Listen and Learn / Stand Down: Courage to Change $60,000.00
Implement two programs that involve group sessions at correctional institutions; one focuses on victim impact awareness and the other on setting and working toward re-entry goals.

The Way Home, Inc.: Expanding Way Home Case Management Services $66,915.00
Add to the agency’s case management staff to serve inmates who are re-entering the community. Case manager will assist with employment, education, and basic needs.

Background: The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program (42 U.S.C. 3751(a)) is the primary provider of federal criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. JAG funds support all components of the criminal justice system from multijurisdictional drug and gang task forces to crime prevention and domestic violence programs, courts, corrections, treatment, and justice information sharing initiatives. JAG funded projects may address crime through the provision of services directly to individuals and/or communities and by improving the effectiveness and efficiency of criminal justice systems, processes, and procedures.

Event pictures can be found here.

WILMINGTON, Del., Lieutenant Governor Matt Denn and the Criminal Justice Council will announce this year’s recipients of the Byrne Grants awards. He will be joined by Acting Director of the CJC, Chris Kervick.

All 2014 Byrne Grant recipients:
Boys & Girls Clubs at Oak Orchard/Riverdale
Courageous Hearts Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Learning Center
Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing, Inc.
The Hospitality School, Inc.
Rick VanStory Resource Centers
Victims’ Voices Heard
The Way Home, Inc.

This year’s Byrne Grants were awarded to 7 non-profits, representing all 3 counties, that specialized in the CJC’s priority areas of Re-entry and Recidivism Reduction for Adults and Juveniles, Juvenile Prevention and Intervention, and Reducing Homicide and Violent Crime, with approximately 80% of the funding being directed to re-entry programs.

Background: The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program (42 U.S.C. 3751(a)) is the primary provider of federal criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. JAG funds support all components of the criminal justice system from multijurisdictional drug and gang task forces to crime prevention and domestic violence programs, courts, corrections, treatment, and justice information sharing initiatives. JAG funded projects may address crime through the provision of services directly to individuals and/or communities and by improving the effectiveness and efficiency of criminal justice systems, processes, and procedures.

Announcement of the 2014 Byrne Grant recipients
Tour of the Rick VanStory Resource Center

Wednesday, May 28, 2014, 11:00 a.m.

Rick VanStory Resource Centers
500 W. 2nd Street
Wilmington, DE 19801

Dover- Each year, the Criminal Justice Council (CJC), chaired by Lieutenant Governor Matt Denn, holds public hearings in each county. Your input is needed and is vital to developing strategies to improve the criminal justice process in Delaware.

The Criminal Justice Council’s  public hearing is an hour and a half of open dialogue.

The Council will hold the hearing in Kent County this Tuesday, October 8, 2013.  This public hearing  will be held in the Dover Police Department’s Assembly Room (400 S. Queen Street, Dover, DE 19904). The hearing will begin at 6:30PM.

The Delaware Criminal Justice Council is an independent body committed to leading the criminal justice system through a collaborative approach that calls upon the experience and creativity of the Council, all components of the criminal justice system, and the community. The Council continually strives for an effetive system which is fair, efficient and accountable.

The public is also invited to submit written comments.

Please contact Valarie Tickle for more information (302)-577-8713.

The dates of the 2013 public hearings are:

• October 3, 2013: Cornerstone Baptist Church (6:30PM-8:00PM) Wilmington, DE 19802
• Tuesday, October 8, 2013: Dover Police Department’s Assemby Room (6:30PM-8:00PM) 400 S. Queen St., Dover, DE 19904
• Thursday, October 10, 2013: Cranston Heights Fire Company (7:00PM-8:30PM)
• Thursday, October 24, 2013: The Stockley Center- All Star Gymnasium (6:30PM-8:00PM)