Dover, DE – The House today passed legislation to help ex-offenders reintegrate into society by eliminating the arbitrary loss of a driver’s license for crimes that have nothing to do with automobiles. By removing an obstacle for ex-offenders to find and hold a job, Senate Bill 217 represents the third bill to address employment discrimination against ex-offenders. The fourth bill in the Governor’s package addressed sentencing reform. Other legislation will prevent public employers from requiring job applicants to reveal if they have a conviction on their initial job application and allow the Department of Correction to offer short-term employment to qualified ex-offenders. All of the bills were proposed in the Governor’s State of the State address.

Sponsored by Sen. Brian Townsend, D-Newark, and Rep. James “J.J.” Johnson, D-New Castle, SB 217 was approved by a 30-10 vote today, passed the Senate in May, and now heads to the Governor’s desk.

“To reach our state’s full potential, we need to give all of our people the opportunity to contribute and that includes ex-offenders who have repaid their debt to society,” said Governor Markell. “This year, we have made substantial progress to remove obstacles to employment for ex-offenders. Our efforts increase the chances that they will become productive members of our communities, while reducing the chance that they will reoffend.”

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June 25, 2014

Third Piece of Governor’s Criminal Justice Reform Package Passes General Assembly

Gives ex-offenders the chance to compete for Department of Correction jobs

Dover, DE – Building on efforts to address employment obstacles for ex-offenders, the Senate today passed legislation to allow the Department of Correction to hire qualified ex-offenders into a short-term job training program and give those who have paid their debt to society a better opportunity to reintegrate into our communities.

Markell highlighted the need for this legislation when he outlined his criminal justice agenda in January’s State of the State address, saying, “If there is one employer in Delaware that should be able to decide whether hiring an ex-offender makes sense, it’s the Department of Correction. But the Department is prohibited from hiring anyone with a felony record, even on a part-time basis.”

“The vast majority of offenders will return to their communities, so we have a responsibility to support our economy and improve public safety by ensuring they have an opportunity to contribute as law-abiding citizens,” said Governor Markell. “One of the best indicators of whether individuals will reoffend is whether they have a job. No employer is better positioned to evaluate their capabilities in the workforce than the Department of Correction, so it’s time we remove the hiring restriction preventing the Department from doing so.”

House Bill 264 enables the Department to offer employment for up to 6 months to ex-offenders who demonstrate exceptional job skills while enrolled in a Level 4 or Level 5 vocational program, notwithstanding any prior felony convictions. The Senate’s 20-0 vote follows unanimous passage by the House earlier this month.

“The Department of Correction approached us about this issue,” said Rep. James “J.J.” Johnson, D-New Castle, the bill’s prime sponsor. “We want people who are imprisoned to gain useful job skills that will allow them to become productive members of society once they are released, but we are blocking them from obtaining a job with the department that helped train them. To me, it makes perfect sense that the Department of Correction would have the best idea of who they should hire. I’m glad to see so many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle support this bill.”

“This is another step in our efforts to help inmates in our correctional facilities get their lives back on track by allowing them to sharpen their job skills as casual-seasonal employees,” said Sen. Bruce Ennis, D-Smyrna, the measure’s lead Senate sponsor. “And because it’s paid for by money earned by our correctional industries, it won’t impose an additional burden on taxpayers.”

The bill represents the third of the Governor’s criminal justice priorities that will become law this year. It follows another measure to address employment discrimination against ex-offenders, House Bill 167, which the Governor signed into law last month, forbids public employers from asking job candidates to check a box on their applications if they have a criminal record.

Markell also proposed, and the General Assembly passed, sentencing reform legislation. House Bill 312 provides judicial discretion by permitting judges to impose concurrent sentences for multiple offenses. Delaware is the only state that currently forces judges, without exception, to impose consecutive sentences.

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Gives ex-offenders the chance to compete for Department of Correction jobs

Dover, DE – Building on efforts to address employment obstacles for ex-offenders, the Senate today passed legislation to allow the Department of Correction to hire qualified ex-offenders into a short-term job training program and give those who have paid their debt to society a better opportunity to reintegrate into our communities.

Markell highlighted the need for this legislation when he outlined his criminal justice agenda in January’s State of the State address, saying, “If there is one employer in Delaware that should be able to decide whether hiring an ex-offender makes sense, it’s the Department of Correction. But the Department is prohibited from hiring anyone with a felony record, even on a part-time basis.”

“The vast majority of offenders will return to their communities, so we have a responsibility to support our economy and improve public safety by ensuring they have an opportunity to contribute as law-abiding citizens,” said Governor Markell. “One of the best indicators of whether individuals will reoffend is whether they have a job. No employer is better positioned to evaluate their capabilities in the workforce than the Department of Correction, so it’s time we remove the hiring restriction preventing the Department from doing so.”

House Bill 264 enables the Department to offer employment for up to 6 months to ex-offenders who demonstrate exceptional job skills while enrolled in a Level 4 or Level 5 vocational program, notwithstanding any prior felony convictions. The Senate’s 20-0 vote follows unanimous passage by the House earlier this month.

“The Department of Correction approached us about this issue,” said Rep. James “J.J.” Johnson, D-New Castle, the bill’s prime sponsor. “We want people who are imprisoned to gain useful job skills that will allow them to become productive members of society once they are released, but we are blocking them from obtaining a job with the department that helped train them. To me, it makes perfect sense that the Department of Correction would have the best idea of who they should hire. I’m glad to see so many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle support this bill.”

“This is another step in our efforts to help inmates in our correctional facilities get their lives back on track by allowing them to sharpen their job skills as casual-seasonal employees,” said Sen. Bruce Ennis, D-Smyrna, the measure’s lead Senate sponsor. “And because it’s paid for by money earned by our correctional industries, it won’t impose an additional burden on taxpayers.”

The bill represents the third of the Governor’s criminal justice priorities that will become law this year. It follows another measure to address employment discrimination against ex-offenders, House Bill 167, which the Governor signed into law last month, forbids public employers from asking job candidates to check a box on their applications if they have a criminal record.

Markell also proposed, and the General Assembly passed, sentencing reform legislation. House Bill 312 provides judicial discretion by permitting judges to impose concurrent sentences for multiple offenses. Delaware is the only state that currently forces judges, without exception, to impose consecutive sentences.

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New division replaces Office of the Chief Medical Examiner

Dover, DE – Following a 35 – 4 vote in the House, Governor Markell signed Senate Bill 241 into law today setting up the Division of Forensic Science to take over the operations previously conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.  The bill, which was approved by the Senate 18 – 2 earlier this month, reorganizes the forensic sciences in a new Division within the Department of Safety and Homeland Security.  The bill also establishes a Forensic Science Commission to provide important oversight and assistance to the office.

“Forensic science is at the core of our work in the criminal justice system,” said Governor Markell.  “This legislation will help us create a structure for forensic science that can support the criminal justice community in a way that is expert, timely, professionally independent, and accountable.  I would like to thank Senator Marshall, Senator Hall-Long, Rep. Barbieri, and Rep. Mitchell for their leadership in helping us take this important step to improving the operations of this important office.”

The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Robert Marshall (D-Wilmington), Sen. Bethany Hall-Long (D- Middletown), Rep. John Mitchell (D-Elsmere) and Rep. Mike Barbieri (D-Newark) will create a new division director to head the forensic science operation. The Forensic Science Commission will include representatives of law enforcement, forensic science experts, a prosecutor, a public defender and heads of the state Health and Homeland Security agencies.

“This is a modernization of a state agency that we’ve come to find is necessary and long overdue,” said Rep. Barbieri, who chairs the House Health and Human Development Committee. “This legislation creates a new framework for the important jobs done by the medical examiner, with a much improved level of oversight and accountability.”

“We place a tremendous amount of trust in the hands of the medical examiner’s office in our criminal justice system, and we need to know that our trust will be repaid in the form of thorough, professional work,” said Rep. Mitchell, chairman of the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee. “The changes being proposed will ensure that we get what we expect from a state crime lab and the individuals appointed to run it.”

The Commission would have oversight of the Division of Forensic Science, including review of its operations, staffing and resource needs, quality assurance, evidence protocols, responsiveness to the criminal justice community, accreditation and audit needs, and maintenance of the professional independence of its expert staff. The Commission would also consider whether additional changes in the structure or the organization of forensic sciences in Delaware would be more efficient or make the office more effective.

“Senate Bill 241 answers the question Delawareans have been asking since this February when the scandal at the Medical Examiner’s Office was revealed: ‘Who is in charge?’” Marshall said. “That answer is the new division and the new director.”

“I think this bill responds to concerns that the division’s independence might be threatened by creating an oversight board to set up procedures and ensures that it can operate without undue influence,” Hall-Long said. “I think the overwhelming support this this measure received in the House and Senate will go a long way to reestablishing public confidence.”

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(Dover, DE) – In his weekly message, Governor Markell encourages Delawareans to be prepared for extreme weather events and highlights ongoing efforts to mitigate the damage caused by natural disasters.

“As extreme weather events become more frequent, our obligation to keep the public safe must include limiting damage to our homes, businesses, and infrastructure,” said Governor Markell. “We can’t stop natural disasters, but by taking preventative steps now, we’ll mitigate the damage, and we’ll keep Delaware moving forward.”

Every week, the Governor’s office releases a new Weekly Message in video, audio, and transcript form. The message is available on:

YouTube: http://youtu.be/1jKbCQiz4BM
Delaware.Gov:  http://governor.delaware.gov/podcast_video.shtml
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Transcript of the Governor’s Weekly Message:  Shoring Up Delaware’s Response to Natural Disasters

Wilmington – The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) has announced an immediate closure of Bridge 1-813 over the Christina River on 1-495.

DelDOT is closing the bridge today because an inspection showed four of the 37 support columns are tilted as much as four percent out of vertical alignment. The bridge is closed as of 6:00 p.m. today.  This will cause a significant impact to the traveling public, and we are coordinating with local, state, and federal partners to provide information as we receive it. Our bridge engineers and consultant are on the scene and are placing tilt sensors to monitor the bridge.

I-495 will be closed northbound at Terminal Avenue and message boards are in place on I-95 and SR 1 and Rt. 13. Local northbound traffic can stay on I-495 to Terminal Avenue. I-495 southbound will be closed at the Pennsylvania State Line.  Southbound traffic will be directed to take I-95 southbound.

DelDOT received a report about an anomaly with a column late Friday. An inspection crew was sent out first thing Monday morning. Additionally, a notification was received from a DelDOT Equipment Operator Monday morning who noticed a shifting of the concrete barrier on the road surface. After reviewing the data and pictures, our bridge engineer recommended closure until further investigation can be done.

Bridge 1-813 over the Christina is a concrete deck on steel beams, built in 1974.  It was last inspected in October 2012, and bridges of this type are inspected every two years. This section of I-495 carries approximately 90,000 vehicles daily.

Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

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