Alternatives to mass incarceration in Delaware. AI can solve everyone's problems.

By: Justin Williams- Owner of Taino Studios

Over the years I've come in contact with a lot of people, given my short amount of time of being alive. My name is Justin, I am a bookseller, artist, and photographer working in the Historic District of Downtown Dover Delaware. Anyway, it's safe to say that I've encountered many intellectuals and just as many fools in my lines of work. None of which are more intelligent than the artificial intelligence I used to solve the multitude of problems surrounding mass incarceration. The interesting thing is though, for those who have crossed paths with me, I could rarely tell the difference in who had a criminal record past the initial stage of discernment. I do not like name dropping and legally, that would probably be a bad idea. I would like to share a story about an individual who came into the bookstore hypothetically named " Travis. "

Travis was born into a broken household where there was no stability and happened to be born into an environment where there were little to no role models that looked like him, making it more likely that he would emulate the values and beliefs of the media which consumed the idea of what he deem as normal behavior. His actions were based on the premise of what he thought to be true. He had un-diagnosed ADD as well as an emotional disturbance and was passed along by grade-school teachers that pretended to be unaware of his struggle. Now, he lacks life fundamentals such as critical thinking and time management. Church bored him and felt too rigid and staged, since he knew the pastor was double dipping into the offerings. His environment, his community was failing him.

One day, Travis was in the car with his friend. He was unknowingly riding in a vehicle with drugs in the truck, wrapped in brown paper, that his friend had to sell in order to provide for his grandmother's hospital bill, due to her declining health. His mother worked multiple jobs and was in University, which consumed her time once she had finished her work. His father was not in the picture, burdening him with the responsibility of taking not only care of his grandmother, but also providing for his younger siblings as well.

Anyhow, while on a recreational trip to the store, the two were pulled over by a police officer and the car was searched. Travis remained cool and collected until the officer had asked him to step out of the car. There was no probable cause, the car did not smell of any illegal substances, Travis then became irritated and let loose several witty retorts to the officers prudent demands.

More officers arrived at the scene where things escalated. Travis and his friend were forcibly removed from the vehicle and the car was searched. The trunk of the car was opened. Selfishly but selflessly, Travis was to blame for the drugs in the car that were found. He thought that he had hope in court, but his friend was able to afford an attorney while Travis was left with an incompetent public defender who was late to meetings and was not fully engaged or present during their time before trial. He was helpless and his mother had already given up on him.

Just two weeks before, Travis began taking his coursework seriously and enrolled in courses in the fall at his local technical school in order to be a mechanical engineer. He took the SAT and scored highly with flying colors with little to no study. A teacher of his also contacted him and proposed for Travis to be his personal assistant. But the email was never opened.

Travis was wrongfully sentenced to five years in prison for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, his life was now on an alternate path, just for getting in the car, at the wrong place at the wrong time. This is the story of many black people living in America, the insular land of the free. Can you think of Travis as someone you know? A young soul with much potential that unfortunately was dealt a bad hand of cards with the improper support systems set in place to teach him or her how to play the game.

Mass incarceration has been a persistent issue in the United States for decades, with the state of Delaware being no exception. According to recent data, Delaware has one of the highest incarceration rates in the country, with over 8,000 individuals currently behind bars. The high rate of incarceration has been criticized for its disproportionate impact on communities of color and its failure to effectively reduce crime and improve public safety.

However, there are alternatives to mass incarceration that have been proven to be more effective in reducing crime, improving public safety, and promoting rehabilitation and reentry. In this blog post, we will explore some of the alternatives to mass incarceration that have been implemented in the state of Delaware and their effectiveness.

Drug Courts

In Delaware, drug courts have been established in each of the three counties and have been credited with reducing recidivism and improving public safety. The program provides individuals with access to substance abuse treatment, behavioral health services, and support for employment and housing.

Participants in the drug court program are also required to regularly appear in court to report on their progress, ensuring accountability and reducing the likelihood of relapse. An alternative approach to reducing mass incarceration that can complement the use of drug courts is to invest in and expand alternatives to incarceration, such as diversion programs, community-based treatment, and restorative justice practices. These programs aim to address the root causes of drug addiction and related criminal behavior, such as poverty, trauma, and lack of access to healthcare and education.

Diversion programs are designed to keep people out of the criminal justice system altogether, by offering them access to treatment and support services instead of jail time. These programs can be particularly effective for low-level drug offenses and nonviolent offenses, as they can help address the underlying issues that lead to criminal behavior.

Community-based treatment programs, including outpatient treatment, medication-assisted treatment, and intensive case management, can be effective in reducing drug use and recidivism rates for individuals with substance use disorders. These programs provide people with access to treatment, support, and resources in their own communities, which can help them overcome addiction and avoid involvement in the criminal justice system.

Restorative justice practices, focus on repairing the harm caused by criminal behavior and promoting healing and accountability for all parties involved, including victims, offenders, and communities. These practices can be particularly effective for drug-related offenses, as they prioritize rehabilitation and reintegration into society over punishment.

By investing in these alternative approaches to reducing mass incarceration, we can reduce the reliance on punitive measures like drug courts, and instead focus on addressing the underlying issues that lead to drug addiction and related criminal behavior. This can help reduce the number of people in the criminal justice system, promote public safety, and support the well-being of individuals, families, and communities.

Community-Based Alternatives

In Delaware, community-based alternatives include programs such as community service, electronic monitoring, and house arrest. These programs allow individuals to remain in the community, participate in treatment and support services, and maintain employment and family connections.

Community-based mental health services: Many people in the criminal justice system have mental health issues that go untreated, and may end up in jail or prison as a result. By investing in community-based mental health services, we can help people access the treatment and support they need to address their mental health challenges, which can help prevent them from becoming involved in the criminal justice system.

Substance abuse treatment programs: Substance abuse is another common issue that contributes to involvement in the criminal justice system. By investing in substance abuse treatment programs that are accessible and affordable to everyone in the community, we can help people overcome addiction and avoid the criminal justice system altogether.

Job training and employment programs: Lack of access to employment and job training opportunities is a major contributing factor to involvement in the criminal justice system. By investing in job training and employment programs that are targeted toward people who have been involved in the criminal justice system, we can help them gain the skills and experience they need to succeed in the workforce and avoid future involvement in the criminal justice system.

Youth development programs: Investing in youth development programs that provide young people with safe and supportive spaces to learn, grow, and connect with their communities can help prevent them from becoming involved in the criminal justice system. These programs can include after-school programs, mentorship programs, and youth-led initiatives that empower young people to become leaders in their communities.

By investing in community-based alternatives like these, we can reduce the number of people who are incarcerated and help people access the resources they need to thrive in their communities. This approach can also help promote public safety by addressing the underlying issues that lead to involvement in the criminal justice system, and by providing people with the support they need to avoid criminal behavior in the first place.

Restorative Justice

In Delaware, restorative justice programs are available to both juveniles and adults and aim to bring together the victim and the offender to discuss the harm caused and find a mutually agreed upon resolution. Restorative justice has been shown to reduce recidivism, improve public safety, and promote rehabilitation and reentry.

Here are some practical examples of how restorative justice can be used to reduce mass incarceration:

Victim-offender mediation: Restorative justice practices often include victim-offender mediation, which brings together the victim of a crime and the person who committed the crime to have a facilitated dialogue. This can help the victim to get answers to their questions, express their feelings, and seek closure, while also providing the offender with an opportunity to take responsibility for their actions and make amends.

Community-based justice panels: Restorative justice can also be used to address low-level offenses and disputes that would otherwise be handled in court. Community-based justice panels, which are often made up of volunteers from the local community, can help resolve conflicts and reach agreements that are tailored to the needs of the individuals involved, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all punishment.

Restorative justice circles: Restorative justice circles bring together people who have been affected by a crime or conflict, including victims, offenders, and community members, to engage in a facilitated dialogue. This can help people to share their experiences, build empathy and understanding, and work together to find solutions that prioritize healing and rehabilitation rather than punishment.

Diversion programs: Restorative justice can also be used as an alternative to traditional court processes for people who have been charged with low-level offenses. Diversion programs can help connect people with the support and resources they need to address the underlying issues that led to their involvement in the criminal justice system, such as addiction or mental health issues, rather than simply punishing them.

We can help reduce mass incarceration by addressing the root causes of crime, promoting healing and accountability for all parties involved, and prioritizing rehabilitation and reintegration into society over punishment. This approach can help reduce the number of people in the criminal justice system, promote public safety, and support the well-being of individuals, families, and communities.

Expungement

In Delaware, individuals with a criminal record can petition the court to have their record expunged if they have completed their sentence and have remained crime-free for a specified period of time. Expungement can help individuals who have served their time to reintegrate into society, access employment and housing opportunities, and reduce the negative consequences of having a criminal record.

Expungement of criminal records is a practical alternative approach to reducing mass incarceration, as it can help people with criminal records to overcome the barriers to employment, housing, education, and other opportunities that they may face due to their past involvement in the criminal justice system.

Here are some ways that expungement can be used to reduce mass incarceration:

Automatic expungement: One approach to expungement is to make it automatic for certain types of offenses, such as low-level drug offenses or misdemeanors. This can help people avoid the stigma and collateral consequences of a criminal record, which can make it difficult to find employment, housing, or access other opportunities. By making expungement automatic, people who have already paid their debt to society can move on with their lives and become productive members of their communities.

Expedited expungement: Another approach to expungement is to expedite the process for people who have completed their sentences and have demonstrated a commitment to rehabilitation. This can help people to get their records expunged more quickly, which can reduce the time they spend dealing with the collateral consequences of a criminal record.

Retroactive expungement: Retroactive expungement involves going back and expunging the criminal records of people who were convicted of offenses that are no longer considered criminal, such as marijuana offenses in states that have legalized marijuana. This can help to right past wrongs and reduce the number of people who are incarcerated for offenses that are no longer considered criminal.

Partial expungement: Partial expungement involves expunging only certain parts of a person's criminal record, such as arrest records or records for offenses that are no longer considered criminal. This can help to reduce the stigma and collateral consequences of a criminal record while still allowing employers or others to see the relevant parts of a person's criminal history.

By using expungement as an alternative approach to reducing mass incarceration, we can help people with criminal records to overcome the barriers to employment, housing, education, and other opportunities that they may face due to their past involvement in the criminal justice system. This can help to reduce recidivism, promote public safety, and support the well-being of individuals, families, and communities.

In conclusion, mass incarceration has been shown to be ineffective in reducing crime and improving public safety. Alternatives to mass incarceration such as drug courts, community-based alternatives, restorative justice, and expungement, offer more effective and humane solutions that prioritize rehabilitation and reentry. Implementing these alternatives in Delaware will not only improve public safety, but also reduce the negative impact of incarceration on communities of color and promote fairness and justice in the criminal justice system.

By the way, If you've been incarcerated and you're reading this and are struggling to find employment. Don't give up. There's two kinds of people in this world. People that seek employment and people that make employment. Unfortunately but also fortunately it may be in your best interest to adopt the latter. My word to you, get the cheapest computer you can find ( a $100 Chromebook from target ), make a good playlist, sit at a local cafe, set long term and short term goals, journal/plan your day, find a niche, find a product, and go to work relentlessly for a year like failure isn't an option. While you've got that going, research your local contractors and reach out and ask for work. If you can't find the right words to say, you can use chat gpt and it will generate the perfect email for you. There is guaranteed work there, just be honest about your background. It's only up from rock bottom.

Peace