The Office of Planning, Research, and Reentry in the Office of the Commissioner is responsible for the following functions
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Oversee research, data analysis, and analytics
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Manage accreditation and compliance (ACA, PREA)
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Develop and manage agency-level policies
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Provide project management on Commissioner's initiatives that span multiple Bureaus or Divisions
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Assist in developing strategic plans
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Oversee rehabilitation planning expansion and program gap analysis process
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Improve prisoner reentry process and monitor key reentry readiness activities of Bureaus
Executive Order 27, expanded the DOC Planning and Research Unit into the Office of Planning, Research, and Reentry.
The Executive Order listed the immediate tasks of the Reentry Office:
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Oversee the implementation and maintenance of the DCRC initiatives from prison to community corrections
centers to probation and parole to the community;
DOC has hired a Director of Reentry and a Reentry Program Coordinator to oversee and implement
the Department's reentry initiatives. The Office of Planning, Research, and Reentry maintains
a high level of involvement in all the DCRC Subcommittees. The DOC will be expanding the Correctional
Counselor Treatment Team at Level IV and Level V facilities over a two-year period.
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Work collaboratively with the DCRC and the Bureau of Prisons and Bureau of Healthcare,
Substance Abuse, and Mental Health Services on adherence to evidence-based practices,
including incorporation of cognitive behavioral therapy programs, case management services,
education, drug treatment assessment, and employment readiness training;
The Correctional Program Coordinator in the Planning, Research, and Reentry Unit is
working closely with the DCRC Education and Employment Committees as well as the Bureau
of Prisons to improve and expand education and employment readiness training.
The Unit will provide steering, monitoring, and support for the new functions of
the additional Correctional Counselors to ensure adherence to evidence-based
practices and implementation of CBT programs.
DOC has substantially expanded the availability of cognitive behavioral therapy programming
available to inmates and probationers. In 2019, cognitive behavioral therapy groups administered
by Gateway were implemented at each Level V prison statewide, with multiple cohorts available to
serve as many inmates as possible. The same programming is available in select Level
IV facilities as well.
DOC's existing case management program for probationers, administered by the Delaware Center
for Justice, has been expanded to support probationers' efforts to obtain housing, employment,
and other needs. DCJ also administers cognitive behavioral therapy groups for probationers
using the Decisions for Change curriculum.
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Assess offenders' likelihood of recidivism through the use of risk and need assessments
to target services for those at the moderate to high risk for reoffending in order to
prioritize services in the most cost-effective manner;
Use of empirical risk assessment tools administered on inmates and probationers
(LSI-R and RNR Tools) is ongoing and has been incorporated into DOC Policy 3.12 Reentry Planning.
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Streamline, coordinate, and leverage reentry assets with state agencies (including the
Courts, DHSS, DOL, DOE, and DSHA) and with community stakeholders (including victim services
agencies, employers, non-profit organizations, faith-based organizations,
local reentry coalitions, mentoring organizations, and ex-offender peer support groups);
DOC continues to collaborate with State Agency stakeholders and community groups to expand
services and partnerships. DOC continues to strengthen its community engagement with the
reentry community through coordination with Partners in Reentry Coalition of Delaware (PIRCOD),
execution of a number of community engagement events, and support of other organizations' reentry events.
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Work with DOE specialists to administer a DOE-approved educational assessment tool
to all inmates during DOC's reclassification process in order to develop a plan for
their educational needs throughout incarceration; and
Vocational and educational assessments are being administered in every institution to qualifying inmates.
