Commissioner Phelps Announces Selection to Lead Re-Entry Programs, Reduce Recidivism

Jim Elder, new Bureau Chief of Community Corrections, oversees re-entry programs at the Wilmington HOPE Commission

DOVER, Del. – Department of Correction Commissioner Perry Phelps on Thursday announced the selection of Jim Elder – the Director of Clinical Services for Re-entry Programming at the Wilmington HOPE Commission – to lead DOC’s efforts to help offenders successfully re-enter their communities, and reduce Delaware’s rate of recidivism.

As DOC’s Bureau Chief of Community Correction, Elder also will oversee mental health and substance abuse treatment programs for individuals under community supervision and in Level 4 correctional facilities.

“We have a responsibility to rehabilitate and treat the offenders who enter our custody,” said Commissioner Phelps. “I trust Jim’s experience and education will improve our current programs while also reducing recidivism in the long term. I look forward to working with him to return the men and women in our custody to the community better prepared to find success.”

The selection of Elder will place a new emphasis inside the agency on re-entry programming and efforts to reduce recidivism. The Bureau of Community Corrections oversees probation and parole, pretrial services, the community work release program and other supervision programs.

“We all have a stake in making sure that offenders successfully re-enter society, and have the opportunity to meaningfully contribute,” said Governor Carney. “It’s also imperative that we do everything we can to reduce our recidivism rate – to make sure that fewer Delawareans who spend time in our correctional system go on to re-offend. That’s a critical part of keeping our prisons safe, and reducing our prison population.”

Selection of a Bureau Chief of Community Correction with experience in re-entry programming was a crucial element of Governor Carney’s plan to reform the Department of Correction, following the Independent Review into the causes of the February 1 incident at James T. Vaughn Correctional Center.

Governor Carney on Wednesday announced the appointment of a Special Assistant at the Department of Correction who will focus on reform of management practices and training, and cultural turnaround – and report publicly on the state’s progress in implementing the Independent Review’s recommendations.

Last week, Governor Carney and the Correctional Officers Association of Delaware announced an agreement to raise salaries for Delaware’s correctional officers – including a 22 percent increase to starting officer pay. The agreement, which includes establishment of a Labor-Management committee to study additional staffing issues, will help the state recruit and retain officers across Delaware’s correctional system.

Governor Carney’s DOC plan also includes:

  • Investing $2 million in new cameras and authorizing 50 additional correctional officer positions at James T. Vaughn Correctional Center;
  • Investing $1.3 million in new equipment and training for correctional officers;
  • Directing the Delaware State Police and the Department of Correction to jointly conduct an after-action review of the February 1 incident;
  • And directing the to-be-created Department of Human Resources to implement a comprehensive staffing plan that eliminates the shortage of correctional officers.

Elder has an extensive clinical background in substance abuse treatment and mental health programming. He is currently the Director of Clinical Services for Re-entry Programming at the Wilmington HOPE Commission.

Elder is a Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health (LPCMH), a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDP), a board Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) in the state of Delaware and a National Certified Counselor (NCC) under authority of the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). He has worked in the correctional treatment field for 20 years in Delaware, across the country and abroad.

He earned a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Maryland College Park and a Master’s Degree in Community Counseling from Wilmington College.

Elder will begin work July 3.

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Related news:
Governor Carney Announces Appointment of Special Assistant at Department of Correction
Governor Carney, COAD Announce Agreement to Raise Correctional Officer Pay
Governor Carney Announces Plan to Address Recommendations of DOC Independent Review
Governor Carney Releases Initial Report of Department of Correction Independent Review


Governor Carney Announces Appointment of Special Assistant at Department of Correction

Claire DeMatteis, former senior counsel to U.S. Senator Joe Biden, will lead implementation of DOC plan

DOVER, Del. – Governor John Carney on Wednesday announced his appointment of Claire DeMatteis – a former senior counsel to then-U.S. Senator Joe Biden – as a temporary Special Assistant to the Governor at the Delaware Department of Correction.

DeMatteis will focus her efforts on reform of management practices and training, cultural turnaround, and implementation of Governor Carney’s plan following the Independent Review into the causes of the February 1 incident at James T. Vaughn Correctional Center. She will work alongside Correction Commissioner Perry Phelps, and report to Governor Carney on implementation of the plan. DeMatteis, a Delaware attorney, also will issue publicly-available reports – at six months and one year after her appointment – that detail the state’s progress in implementing the Independent Review’s recommendations.

“We’re serious about getting this right. Claire is tough, she is independent-minded, and she has the judgement and credibility necessary to work alongside Commissioner Phelps and help us make real change,” said Governor Carney. “Her experience inside and outside of government will serve our state well. She is a skilled lawyer who knows how to execute on a plan, and hold people accountable. I’m confident that Claire is the right person for the job.”

“We owe it to the correctional officers, inmates and citizens of Delaware to get this right and resolve past deficiencies,” said DeMatteis. “We have a clear road map and mandate to make the needed changes.”

DeMatteis will help ensure that Commissioner Phelps can seamlessly continue to lead agency operations, while the two work together to implement reforms that the Governor and Commissioner have prioritized.

“I look forward to working closely with Claire to directly confront many of the issues facing our correctional system,” said Commissioner Phelps. “Her experience in government, and in the private sector, will help us put management practices into place that will make a real difference over the long-term.”

Appointment of a Special Assistant was a crucial element of Governor Carney’s plan to reform the Department of Correction.

Last week, Governor Carney and the Correctional Officers Association of Delaware announced an agreement to raise salaries for Delaware’s correctional officers – including a 22 percent increase to starting officer pay. The agreement, which includes establishment of a Labor-Management committee to study additional staffing issues, will help the state recruit and retain officers across Delaware’s correctional system.

Governor Carney’s DOC plan also includes:

  • Investing $2 million in new cameras and authorizing 50 additional correctional officer positions at James T. Vaughn Correctional Center;
  • Investing $1.3 million in new equipment and training for correctional officers;
  • Appointing a new Bureau Chief of Community Correction with expertise in managing re-entry programs and reducing recidivism;
  • Directing the Delaware State Police and the Department of Correction to jointly conduct an after-action review of the February 1 incident;
  • And directing the to-be-created Department of Human Resources to implement a comprehensive staffing plan that eliminates the shortage of correctional officers.

DeMatteis, who will begin work in July, has a diverse professional background in government, corporate governance and healthcare.

From 2013-2016, DeMatteis worked as general counsel and senior vice president at Affinity Health Plan Inc., where she was responsible for all legal, regulatory and compliance matters for the $1.4 billion corporation. She worked in a similar role as executive vice president, general counsel, and chief privacy officer for Catalina Marketing Corporation, a digital media marketing company.

Previously, DeMatteis spent four years at Stradley, Ronon, Stevens & Young, a Mid-Atlantic law firm with offices in Wilmington. She was partner in charge of the firm’s Delaware office from 2007-2008.

During her decade working as senior counsel for then-Senator Biden, from 1994-2004, DeMatteis served as a member of a senior team on issues involving law enforcement, foreign policy, and constitutional matters. She helped guide campaign strategy, managed constituent communications and drafted legislation.

Most recently, DeMatteis served in a senior role at the Delaware Department of Labor, where she helped navigate resolution to the recent data breach at the department, keeping the media, public and legislators well informed on the state’s response and structural reforms to prevent future breaches.

DeMatteis earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Delaware, and holds a law degree from Widener University Delaware Law School.

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Related news:
Governor Carney, COAD Announce Agreement to Raise Correctional Officer Pay
Governor Carney Announces Plan to Address Recommendations of DOC Independent Review
Governor Carney Releases Initial Report of Department of Correction Independent Review


Governor Carney’s Statement on the Senate GOP Healthcare Bill

DOVER, Del. Governor John Carney released on Tuesday the following statement on the U.S. Senate Republicans’ healthcare plan:

“The Senate Republican healthcare bill would lead to thousands of Delawareans losing their health insurance and cause premiums to rise dramatically for older Delawareans. It would force the state’s Medicaid program to reduce or eliminate coverage for vulnerable populations — like those suffering from addiction. Delawareans who can no longer afford health insurance under the Senate bill will delay needed care, and wind up in emergency rooms. This bill would simply shift healthcare costs onto the most vulnerable among us, and onto state budgets. That is unacceptable.”

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Governor Carney and DNREC Secretary Garvin join first-time campers at Governor’s Campout

LAUREL – Among the participants were young people and their families from the MERIT (Minority Engineering Regional Incentive Training), program, and Caesar Rodney and Laurel school districts. Sussex County legislators and town officials also attended.

“Our goal this weekend is to encourage young people to connect with the outdoors,” said Secretary Garvin. “These outdoor adventures will start a lifetime journey of discovery for young people and their families of all that is available inside and outside our state parks. We hope the amazing experiences they will have will stay with them and become an experience they will not forget, encouraging them to return to reconnect with nature and the outdoors.”

The goal of Delaware’s third annual Governor’s Campout was to safely introduce children and their families to camping, the outdoors and outdoor recreational opportunities, particularly families who have not spent much time in DNREC’s Delaware State Parks. The event was part of Great Outdoors Month, during which participants from across the nation camp out overnight.

The Governors Campout featured numerous activities including setting up tents and campsites, cooking demonstrations over campfires and grills, guided hikes, pontoon tours and kayak trips, and even the traditional camping treat – s’mores over a campfire.

The campout was designed to encourage participants to continue camping and making the outdoors part of their life/family traditions.

Vol. 47, No. 145

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Federal, State, and Local Officials Break Ground Today for the Construction of a New Bridge over the Christina River

Wilmington, Del. — Governor John Carney, U.S. Senator Thomas Carper, Transportation Secretary Jennifer Cohan, DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin, Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki, and a host of other dignitaries and local officials were at a groundbreaking ceremony this afternoon to kick-off the construction of a new multi-modal bridge over the Christina River at the Wilmington Riverfront.

“The construction of the Christina River Bridge will help continue the redevelopment of the Wilmington Riverfront,” said Governor John Carney. “This is the kind of smart, infrastructure investment that will create jobs, and lead to real economic growth in our largest city. The Christina River Bridge will improve access to the attractions that already call the area home and encourage additional development on the south side of the river. Thank you to members of the General Assembly for supporting this investment.”

“Governor Carney and DelDOT are committed to ensuring Wilmington has state-of-the-art infrastructure, and partnering with the city on projects such as the new Christina River Bridge will help us accomplish that goal,” said Secretary of Transportation Jennifer Cohan.

This bridge will open up the east bank of the Riverfront, beginning the next phase of development that will create economic opportunities while also improving access for drivers, bikers and pedestrians,” said U.S. Senator Tom Carper. “Much of the federal portion of this project comes from an earmark. Some think of that as a bad word, but in this case, this isn’t a bridge to nowhere. This is a bridge to economic vitality and transportation improvements, and that is why I am thrilled to be here today to celebrate its groundbreaking.”

U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester said, “The groundbreaking of the Christina River Bridge is a truly important milestone for the City of Wilmington and the Riverfront, and will provide a much needed link across the Christina River. Modernizing infrastructure will not only raise the quality of life for residents and visitors, but it will also help drive economic growth for the state as a whole. I look forward to seeing the vibrancy this brings to our city, and I thank my colleagues for their work to secure the federal dollars that are going into this project.”

“Connecting neighborhoods in Wilmington will make our city stronger and bridge social and economic divisions,” said U.S. Senator Christopher Coons. “This will help people drive, bike and walk across the river, and also will serve as an important reminder that investing in infrastructure is always a good idea. It’s my hope that leadership in Congress and the White House come together to finally invest in the nation’s infrastructure we deserve and to create the jobs we need.”

The location of the bridge lies within a brownfield – a contaminated site that must be remediated to bring the site back to productive use. The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is overseeing the remediation under the state’s Hazardous Substance Cleanup Act, with $2.9 million in funding allocated for the project.

“Under DNREC’s Brownfields Program, the site is currently undergoing remediation to cleanup decades of contamination that has impacted soils and groundwater,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “By cleaning up and redeveloping historic industrial and manufacturing sites like this, we’re providing for economic development, improving the environment, and creating jobs for Delaware.”

“The bridge will be a critical connection between the west side or developed side of the riverfront and the south eastern section of Wilmington, which is one of the City’s last remaining larger areas of undeveloped land,” said Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki. “We need these opportunities for development in Wilmington to ensure our future prosperity. The bridge will also relieve traffic congestion that has increased as the riverfront has grown and become a more popular place to live and enjoy life. Wilmington is grateful to the State for supporting our vision of growth.”

This is a new 470′ multi-modal bridge over the Christina River that will include two (2-12′) travel lanes and shoulders, as well as a 14′ wide bicycle/pedestrian path. The path will connect to the Riverfront walkway as well as other bicycle/pedestrian facilities in the area. The project extends from the area near Frawley Stadium across the Christina River to its east bank in the vicinity of Market Street/Walnut Street split of Business US 13. The project also alleviates traffic congestion and improves circulation near Riverfront attractions. After the completion of construction, this project will also add economic development opportunities for Delaware.

The contractor, Richard E. Pierson Construction of Woodstown, New Jersey was awarded a bid of $28,386,108.35, the lowest of two bids received. This project is anticipated to be complete by Summer 2019.

There will be another separate contract for the roadway approaches to the bridge which will begin in the spring. The roadway approaches will adjoin/connect US 13, I-495, I-95 and streets to complete the network at the Riverfront. The project is scheduled to be finished by Spring 2020.

For further project information, visit DelDOT online at http://www.deldot.gov/information/projects/crb/index.shtml