State of Delaware Archives: on Crime
Chris Coons:
Domestic terrorism should be a federal crime
Q: Domestic terrorism is not technically a federal crime. Should this be a federal crime?COONS: Yes, and I am encouraged that already a hundred individuals have been arrested and charged with both state and federal offenses.
Look, we narrowly avoided what could have been an even more tragic night. This wasn't just a disruptive riot. This was an attempted coup, the most significant in the history of our republic.
Source: CBS Meet the Press on 2020 Delaware Senate race
Jan 10, 2021
Colin Bonini:
Apply "hate crime" to police and firefighters
Original Synopsis: This Act would add an additional criminal penalty if the offense committed was due to the victim being a law-enforcement officer, a volunteer firefighter,
a full-time firefighter, emergency medical technician, paramedic, fire police officer, fire marshal, correctional officer, a sheriff, a deputy sheriff, public transit operator, a code enforcement constable or a code enforcement officer.
Existing Act defines hate crime as applying only to sexual orientation or gender identity.
Legislative outcome:Bonini was Primary Sponsor for SB 263; bill died in Committee without a vote.
Source: Delaware legislative voting records: SB 263
Jun 7, 2016
Jack Markell:
Increase services for prisoners to reduce recidivism
Through the Justice Reinvestment Initiative, we've given courts risk assessment tools to help determine whether a defendant can remain in the community while awaiting trial.
And we have supported community-based supervision programs as effective alternatives to incarceration for lower-risk offenders.
More than 95% of offenders will eventually leave prison. That's why we have begun to implement a more just and cost-effective
criminal justice system that provides treatment and job training to prepare inmates to contribute to our state when released.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Delaware legislature
Jan 21, 2016
Jack Markell:
Make it easier for felons to vote
Right now, a person with a felony conviction can vote as soon as his or her probation is complete, but only if he or she has paid all fines and fees. People should pay up, but their ability to participate in democracy should
not depend on their ability to pay. Let's join the more than 40 other states that have no financial bar to exercising the most American of rights, the right to vote.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Delaware legislature
Jan 21, 2016
James DeMartino:
No death penalty, because pro-life
Q: Delaware's Supreme Court ruled the state's death penalty law unconstitutional, but the Legislature could change the law to reinstate it. Would you support a bill to do that? Why or why not?
DeMartino: No. I am Pro-Life.
Source: Wilmington News Journal on 2020 Delaware Senate race
Aug 20, 2018
James DeMartino:
Support our police ; restore law and order
Q: In priority order, what three areas of legislation do you propose to author or sponsor if elected?A:
- Restore Law and Order. We must enforce our laws to protect our citizen's lives and property, a main function of government. I will support
our police and their funding requirements. Our constitutional rights must be protected and anarchy in the streets must be prevented.
- Economic growth and job creation. Restore our economy as soon as possible and further reduce unemployment below
2019 levels. This will be achieved by further reduction of government regulations on small businesses.
- Healthcare must be truly affordable for individuals and small businesses. We need insurance companies to provide effective coverage and
competitive pricing. Government bureaucracy cannot control healthcare, medical decisions must be made by medical professionals. Individuals should be able to select the coverage they need and know what they are paying for with itemized bills.
Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2020 Delaware Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
Jane Timken:
I will always "Back the Blue," not defund the police
We cannot listen to the lefts' radical calls for defunding or abolishing the police. Republicans support common-sense solutions to police reform such as more training, better equipment like bodycams, and enhanced transparency--none of which would be
possible without proper funding. While we should always root out bad apples and hold those accountable who break the law or misuse force, we cannot paint police officers with a broad and destructive brush. I will always "Back the Blue."
Source: Delaware Gazette on 2022 Ohio Senate race
May 5, 2021
Jessica Scarane:
End mass incarceration in favor of rehabilitation
Restore the right to vote for all currently and formerly incarcerated people End the school-to-prison pipelineLegalize marijuana, expunge the records of people convicted of federal marijuana crimes, and decriminalize all drugs
Decriminalize sex work & fully repeal SESTA/FOSTA
Source: 2020 Delaware Senate campaign website JessForDelaware.com
Nov 30, 2019
John Carney:
Rehabilitating offenders is key to safer communities
Like everyone, John wants to make sure we are keeping dangerous criminals off our streets. But he also knows that rehabilitating offenders and helping them become employed and productive members of society are the keys to safer communities. Even more
important is preventing our young people from turning to a life of crime in the first place. As governor, he will work to:- Target our resources on high-risk offenders, so police are keeping a closer eye on those individuals with a history of
serious and violent crimes.
- End the school-to-prison pipeline by giving young people employment and educational options that keep them off the streets.
- Provide better access to mental health care and drug and alcohol rehabilitation.
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Allocate police resources with the needs of the community in mind.
- Improve education and training programs to prepare inmates for reentry into society.
- Work with law enforcement to develop trust within the communities they serve.
Source: 2016 Delaware Gubernatorial campaign website, JohnCarney.org
Sep 9, 2016
John Carney:
Help ex-offenders back into community
I signed an Executive Order to help ex-offenders more successfully reenter their communities. We're creating individualized plans for each inmate. The goal is to give them the drug treatment, education, and job skills they need to survive on the outside.
Bottom line is really quite simple: over 90 percent of inmates will eventually leave prison. We need to make sure they're better off when they leave prison than when they got there in the first place.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to Delaware legislature
Jan 17, 2019
John Carney:
Inmates should leave prison better than when they entered
Last year, I signed an Executive Order to help ex-offenders more successfully reenter their communities. This year, all inmates sentenced to more than a year in custody get individualized plans as soon as they enter prison.
The plans focus on drug treatment, education, and job skills. It's in everyone's interest that these individuals leave prison better off than when they entered.
Source: 2020 Delaware State of the State address
Jan 23, 2020
John Carney:
Gangs should accept help or be prepared to go to prison
Carney said Wilmington crime is coming from a small number of gang-affiliated groups in poor neighborhoods across the city. "We give them a choice.
You either take the choice and assistance with us and our social services, or we're going to bring down the law hard on you and send you to prison for a long time," he said.
On the subject of crime, [opponent Julianne] Murray said racial justice and law enforcement can operate together and a partnership is needed.
Bad cops need to be removed to create confidence between law enforcement agencies and the communities served, she said.
Source: Cape Gazette on 2020 Delaware Gubernatorial race
Oct 17, 2020
John Carney:
We banned chokeholds, now body cameras for every officer
Last year we banned choke holds. This year, we will support a plan to get body cameras for every police officer in the state.
There is so much more work to be done, but we have made important progress this year.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Delaware legislature
Jan 26, 2021
Julianne Murray:
Remove bad cops to create confidence in law enforcement
On the subject of crime, Murray said racial justice and law enforcement can operate together and a partnership is needed.
Bad cops need to be removed to create confidence between law enforcement agencies and the communities served, she said.
Carney said Wilmington crime is coming from a small number of gang-affiliated groups in poor neighborhoods across the city. "We give them a choice.
You either take the choice and assistance with us and our social services, or we're going to bring down the law hard on you and send you to prison for a long time," he said.
Source: Cape Gazette on 2020 Delaware Gubernatorial race
Oct 17, 2020
Lisa Blunt Rochester:
Systemic problems in judicial system affect people of color
Public Safety: "At the end of the day, making sure our families are safe is the most important job we can do."--Lisa Blunt RochesterI still remember the day that I jumped into my car, in my pajamas, when my son called and told me he had been pulled
over. For far too many mothers like me, our strong need and desire to have the safest streets possible is complicated by the reality that, unfortunately, systemic problems exist within our judicial system that disproportionately affect people of color.
In Congress, Lisa will be a champion for protecting our communities by:- Promoting economic equality and creating satisfying job options.
- Working to close the educational achievement gap as a critical part of
finding a holistic approach to crime prevention.
- Furthering her work to bring police and communities together to figure out how best to protect our neighborhoods.
Source: 2016 Delaware House campaign website LisaBluntRochester.com
Nov 8, 2016
John Carney:
Expand group intervention program to reduce gun violence
Protecting our state also means making sure Delaware families feel safe in their homes and communities. We're working with leaders in Wilmington and Dover to expand our Group Violence Intervention Program--to reduce gun violence.
Our collective efforts have shown good results. Statewide, shootings are down nearly 30 percent since last year. There's a lot more work to do, for sure. Gun violence anywhere is unacceptable--and we need everyone to make this a priority.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Delaware legislature
Jan 19, 2023
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023