Delaware
I. Delaware Department of Labor
Contact:
Delaware Department of Labor
4425 North Market Street
Wilmington, DE 19802
302-761-8000
302-761-6621 fax
Web Site: www.delawareworks.com/default.shtml
Information about State Department of Labor resources may be of interest to:
• potential employers looking for incentives to hire individuals with criminal histories;
• service providers and individuals with criminal histories who are looking for assistance in finding employment; and
• researchers and policy makers looking at current programs to ascertain what programs are effective and serve their intended purpose.
A. Federal Bonding Program
The Federal Bonding Program provides fidelity bonding insurance coverage to individuals with criminal histories and other high-risk job applicants who are qualified, but fail to get jobs because regular commercial bonding is denied due to their backgrounds.
Contact:
Division of Employment Services
Delaware Department of Labor
4425 N. Market Street, 3rd Floor
Wilmington, DE 19802
302-761-8087
302-761-4689 fax
B. Tax Credits
The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a federal tax credit to reduce the federal tax liability of private for profit employers to be used as an incentive for employers to hire individuals from eight different targeted groups: TANF recipients, veterans, ex-felons, high risk youth, summer youth, Food Stamp recipients, SSI recipients, and vocational rehabilitation referrals.
Contact:
Division of Employment Services
Delaware Department of Labor
4425 North Market Street, 3rd Floor
Wilmington, DE 19809
302-761-8087
302-761-4689 fax
C. Unemployment Insurance Office
Unemployment compensation is a social insurance program designed to provide benefits to most individuals out of work, generally through no fault of their own, for periods between jobs. In order to be eligible for benefits, jobless workers must demonstrate that they have worked, usually measured by amount of wages and/or weeks of work, and must be able and available for work.
The unemployment compensation program is based upon federal law, but administered by states under state law.
The Division of Employment & Training of the Department of Labor maintains an Unemployment Hotline. By utilizing this hotline, a person can obtain information on the location of Unemployment Insurance Offices and how to file claims. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Information is also available through a web site maintained by the Division of Employment and Training.
Contact:
Unemployment Insurance Division
Delaware Department of Labor
4425 North Market Street, 3rd Floor
Wilmington, DE 19809
302-761-8350
302-761-6619 fax
Web Site: www.delaware.gov/agencies/DeptLabor/Employment_Services
II. Criminal Record Repository
This is the agency individuals may contact to obtain a copy of their state rap sheet. The criminal record repository can also tell the individual who else is legally entitled to have access to his or her record.
Individuals with criminal histories need to submit to the Delaware State Police written permission authorizing the release of their criminal history along with a set of fingerprints and a fee of $30 payable to the “Delaware State Police.”
Contact:
State Bureau of Identification
Delaware State Police
P.O. Box 430
Dover, DE 19903
302-739-5872
III. State Attorney General
Employers and service providers may obtain information from the state attorney general regarding occupational bars, the licensing of individuals with criminal records in certain jobs, and whether the state has laws that limit what employers may ask job applicants or protections against employment discrimination based on a criminal record.
Contact:
Office of the Attorney General
Carvel State Office Building
820 North French Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
302-577-8500
Web Site: www.state.de.us/attgen
IV. State Department of Corrections
Prison Industry Program Delaware's prison industry program provides vocational training in auto maintenance, printing/silk screening/picture framing, small appliance repair, and wood shop/upholstery.
Contact:
Delaware Department of Corrections
Administration Building
245 McKee Road,
Dover, DE 19904
Web Site: www.state.de.us/correct/BOCC/BOCC.shtml
Work Release ProgramWork release is part of the Community Correction program. (See Section E.)
Contact:
Pre-Release ProgramThe Delaware Department of Corrections provides a variety of programming, work assignments and classes for inmates. Many inmates work (kitchen, janitor/light maintenance), receive vocational training (computer repair, automobile maintenance & repair, farming, furniture repair, picture framing, print shop), attend classes (education, life skills, AA, NA, anger management), participate in rigorous substance abuse treatment or other classes like Prison Arts. Pre-release services include classes in life skills, resumes/application/interviewing techniques, and parenting. Attendance is mandatory for some offenders, but for the majority of offenders it is optional.
Contact:
Bureau O'Gail Miner, Chief of Community Relations
Delaware Department of Corrections
Administration Building
245 McKee Road
Dover, DE 19904
302-739-5601 ext 221
Community CorrectionsThe Bureau of Community Corrections functions at several different levels. Some offenders assigned to Community Corrections have served little or no time, some are on probation, others are under intensive supervision. Offenders denied parole with no rehearing are released at their good-time release date under the supervision of community corrections. Employment services are available from One Stop Career Centers (see listing under Section VII).
Contact:
Delaware Department of Correction
Bureau of Community Corrections
Administration Building
245 McKee Road
Dover, DE 19904
302-739-5601 ext 250
Web Site: www.state.de.us/correct/Data/BOCC.htm
V.
Delaware Board of ParoleThe Board of Parole consists of five members. Parole was abolished under the Truth-In-Sentencing Act, effective June 1990. Individuals sentenced prior to June 1990 are eligible for parole release.
Contact:
Delaware Board of Parole
Carvel State Building
820 North French Street, 5th Floor
Wilmington, DE 19801
302-577-5233
302-577-3501 fax
Web Site: www.state.de.us/parole/aboutagency.shtml
Contact:
VI. Legal Assistance
Free or low-cost legal resources, both in civil and criminal law, are helpful to individuals with criminal histories in learning about relevant state laws governing the expungement or sealing of criminal histories or addressing other legal issues resulting from having a criminal history.
A. State Public Defender
Contact:
Delaware State Public Defenders Office
Carvel State Office Building
820 North French Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
302-577-5200
Web Site: www.state.de.us/pubdefen/
B. Legal Services
Legal Services of Delaware provides legal assistance in non-criminal matters for low-income people. Their web site also provides links to other volunteer or low-cost legal service providers.
Contact:
Legal Services
100 West 10th Street., Suite 203
Wilmington, DE 119801
302-575-0408
302-575-0478 fax
Web Site: www.lscd.com
C. State Bar Association
Contact:
Delaware State Bar Association
301 North Market Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
302-658-5279
302-658-5212 fax
Web Site: www.dsba.org
VII. Local Service Providers
Community agencies are available to assist individuals with criminal records find employment. This information will inform individuals with criminal records about government agencies and community-based organizations that assist with employment, education or vocational training. Researchers and policy makers may find this information useful in identifying agencies and service providers in order to evaluate the effectiveness of these programs.
One Stop Career CentersThe One Stop Career Centers in Delaware are under the direction of the Delaware Department of Labor's Division of Employment & Training. A highly developed web site, Virtual Career Network, allows users to access most of the information needed to find employment assistance. Resource rooms at local Career Centers offer privacy and are equipped with computers/internet access, resume preparation software, and many other resources. Two different video series are available and cover topics relevant for released offenders. In addition, group and individual activities are also available.
Contact:
Division of Employment & Training Services
Delaware Department of Labor
4425 North Market Street
Wilmington, DE 19802
302-761-8000, Secretary of Labor; 302-761-8129 Director of Employment & Tra
E-Mail: dlabor@state.de.us
Web Site: www.delawareworks.com
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