Criminal Justice Reform covers a lot of issues.
In the
context of Non-Partisan Delaware’s goals for the next two years, including the
upcoming 2022 elections and through the next session of the General Assembly
until the 2024 elections, Criminal Justice Reform includes several
specific items relevant to ongoing controversies in the General Assembly that
are likely to continue to be debated through the 2023-2024 legislative
session. These items include, but are not limited to:
- Police Oversight/Accountability:
- Civilian Review
- Body Cams
- Qualified Immunity
- Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights (LEOBOR)
- Overcriminalization/Overcharging:
- Cannabis Legalization
- Resist Gun Control Restrictions
- Bail/Sentencing/Pardons & Expungements Reform
- Privacy:
- Delaware DHS Data Collection and Retention Practices
- “Right to Privacy” Constitutional Amendment
- Protection of Medical/Reproductive Privacy and Rights
At Non-Partisan Delaware, we consider the rights of individuals to be paramount. A criminal justice system that is enforcing the mandates of politicians at the whim of special interests is not a criminal justice system committed to protecting the rights of Delaware residents.
Faith and trust in law enforcement is weakened when we fail to hold police agencies accountable for abuses of their authority, by favoring the “Thin Blue Line” code of silence, and by offering Law Enforcement Officials (LEOs) protections not available to any other individual or even other State workers. Qualified Immunity protects LEOs not only from criminal prosecution, but also from losing their jobs due to demonstrable misconduct. Delaware has some of the best Law Enforcement Officers in the nation, and those should not be tainted by the few who dishonor themselves and the badges they wear by insulating them from accountability when they cross the line.
A criminal justice system that tries to do too much does nothing well. A criminal justice system with monetary incentives from federal agencies to “collect bodies” in disenfranchised communities for victimless infractions is not a criminal justice system that does a very good job solving crimes that involve the abuse of those residents’ rights or the destruction of their property. To “Serve and Protect” often runs contrary to a mission enforcing arbitrary laws and unconstitutional mandates. We would end cannabis prohibition, stop layering new gun restrictions on top of the existing ones criminals already flaunt, and create a criminal justice system focused on rehabilitation and restitution rather than punishing poverty with an open gateway to a lifetime of probation violations and incarcerations for procedural violations and late payment of fines.
At Non-Partisan Delaware, we consider the rights of individuals to be paramount. A criminal justice system that is enforcing the mandates of politicians at the whim of special interests is not a criminal justice system committed to protecting the rights of Delaware residents.
Faith and trust in law enforcement is weakened when we fail to hold police agencies accountable for abuses of their authority, by favoring the “Thin Blue Line” code of silence, and by offering Law Enforcement Officials (LEOs) protections not available to any other individual or even other State workers. Qualified Immunity protects LEOs not only from criminal prosecution, but also from losing their jobs due to demonstrable misconduct. Delaware has some of the best Law Enforcement Officers in the nation, and those should not be tainted by the few who dishonor themselves and the badges they wear by insulating them from accountability when they cross the line.
A criminal justice system that tries to do too much does nothing well. A criminal justice system with monetary incentives from federal agencies to “collect bodies” in disenfranchised communities for victimless infractions is not a criminal justice system that does a very good job solving crimes that involve the abuse of those residents’ rights or the destruction of their property. To “Serve and Protect” often runs contrary to a mission enforcing arbitrary laws and unconstitutional mandates. We would end cannabis prohibition, stop layering new gun restrictions on top of the existing ones criminals already flaunt, and create a criminal justice system focused on rehabilitation and restitution rather than punishing poverty with an open gateway to a lifetime of probation violations and incarcerations for procedural violations and late payment of fines.
Privacy is also an important Criminal Justice Reform issue. With so many of the laws currently on the books being enforced against victimless crimes, it is critically important that our existing 4th and 5th Amendment protections, as well as the parallel protections in the Delaware Constitution, are respected and expanded. Digital data collection processes and other kinds of surveillance not imagined when these protections were written must be out of reach of potential abuse with clear delineations of the circumstances that permit law enforcement to access and retain our private information. Gathering evidence of specific criminal wrongdoing cannot excuse fishing expeditions and dragnets where investigators are more voyeuristically spying on us than prosecuting criminals for their offenses.
We believe that prioritizing these issues will lead to an improvement in the lives of Delaware residents as their rights are more respected and they can have more confidence and trust that if they are victimized, law enforcement will fairly and justly investigate and prosecute the suspects without prejudicially seeking out conflict with peaceful people or already persecuted communities.
Non-Partisan Delaware takes a different approach to Criminal Justice Reform than entrenched political parties. We recognize that a majority of Delaware’s residents can agree that reform is broadly necessary while at the same time disagreeing over specific aspects of the reforms needed. We will make common cause with voters and politicians about the issues in which we agree, and take an opposing position where we differ, without demonizing our friends and colleagues or demanding straight party-line adherence to a particular formula. That said, however, we stand in utter opposition to those determined to deny that our system is broken, and move to throttle open public debate on any of these topics.
Endorsements:
The following candidates contesting the 2022 Election have endorsed our strategy for addressing Criminal Justice Reform during the 2023-2024 legislative session:
- Joseph DiPasquale, Non-Partisan, RD41 (Sussex)
- William McVay, Non-Partisan, RD34 (Kent)
- Mark Parks, Non-Partisan, RD5 (New Castle)
- Sonja Mehaffey, Non-Partisan, SD21 (Sussex)
- Gwendolyn Jones, Non-Partisan, SD6 (Sussex)
- Rob Sebastiano, Democratic, SD14 (Kent)
- John Machurek, Non-Partisan, Sheriff (New Castle)
- Aarika Nelson, Non-Partisan, Sheriff (Kent)
- James Brittingham, Non-Partisan, Sheriff (Sussex)
- David Rogers, Non-Partisan, US House
We are happy to accept the support of any and all candidates, regardless of their party affiliations. If you would like to add your name to this list, please contact info@NonPartisan.org and we will add your details.
