All biographies were submitted by the panelists and edited for length. None of the biographies have been verified by the Delaware State Senate Majority Caucus.
TUESDAY
Department of Correction Presentation
Deputy Chief Jessica Cline is a 24-year DOC veteran who joined the Department of Correction in 1997 as a Probation and Parole Officer. She was promoted in 2006 to Probation and Parole Supervisor at the Northern New Castle County Probation Office with responsibility over numerous areas, including Reentry Court, the DOC’s offender case management system, probation absconders, Probation and Parole’s participation in the National Criminal Justice Reform Project, policy drafting, and staff training. In this position Jessica began to build DOC’s statewide infrastructure to support reentry. In 2019 she was named the Department’s first Director of Reentry and has played a critical role in implementing Governor Carney’s Executive Order 27 to improve prisoner reentry outcomes through increased services and collaboration across state government and with community-based service providers. In this role Jessica worked closely with the Delaware Correctional Reentry Commission to create the Delaware Recidivism Reduction System Blueprint that guided reentry reforms from 2019 through 2021. In October 2021, Jessica was promoted to Deputy Chief of Planning, Research, and Reentry. In this role she will facilitate the implementation of the new Recidivism Reduction Blueprint launched by Governor Carney in October of 2021 that outlines reentry deliverables for the next three years.
Chief of Community Corrections Terra Taylor joined DOC in 1997 as a Home Confinement support employee and a college intern. In 1999, she became a Probation and Parole Officer, specializing in domestic violence and sex offender supervision. She was promoted to Supervisor in 2011 with responsibility over Electronic Monitoring, Sex Offenders, Intake, the I-ADAPT reentry program, and Interstate Compact. Taylor assumed the role of Operations Administrator at Dover Probation & Parole in 2014 with responsibility over the 24-hour Electronic Monitoring Center, the statewide electronic monitoring budget, and the statewide sex offender program. In 2016, Taylor was named Regional Manager of the Dover Probation & Parole Office, responsible for a team of 80 employees who provide community supervision of offenders, manage programs and administer operations across Kent County. She was elevated to Statewide Probation and Parole Director in 2017 with responsibility for Probation and Parole operations and programs in all three counties, where she focused on new initiatives to improve officer equipment, enhance community outreach and education, and improve communication and employee relations. In 2019, Taylor was promoted to Deputy Chief where she worked with the leadership team to expand the use of evidence based practices at the Level IV facilities. In 2020, Taylor was promoted to Bureau Chief of the Bureau of Community corrections.
Chief Heather Zwickert joined the Department of Correction in 2000 as a Probation and Parole Officer. In 2012, she was promoted to Probation and Parole Supervisor, during which time she supervised the Pretrial Services Unit and served as the Department’s lead representative on the Smart Pretrial Initiative. In 2018, she moved to the Office of the Commissioner to serve as the Department’s Accreditation and Compliance Manager, overseeing compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) and American Correctional Association (ACA) standards. In 2019, she was appointed Deputy Chief of the Planning, Research, and Reentry Unit which has played a critical role in implementing Governor Carney’s Executive Order 27 to improve prisoner reentry outcomes through increased services and collaboration across state government and with community-based service providers. In 2021, she was appointed Chief of the Planning, Research, and Reentry Unit.
Chief of Community Corrections Terra Taylor joined DOC in 1997 as a Home Confinement support employee and a college intern. In 1999, she became a Probation and Parole Officer, specializing in domestic violence and sex offender supervision. She was promoted to Supervisor in 2011 with responsibility over Electronic Monitoring, Sex Offenders, Intake, the I-ADAPT reentry program, and Interstate Compact. Taylor assumed the role of Operations Administrator at Dover Probation & Parole in 2014 with responsibility over the 24-hour Electronic Monitoring Center, the statewide electronic monitoring budget, and the statewide sex offender program. In 2016, Taylor was named Regional Manager of the Dover Probation & Parole Office, responsible for a team of 80 employees who provide community supervision of offenders, manage programs and administer operations across Kent County. She was elevated to Statewide Probation and Parole Director in 2017 with responsibility for Probation and Parole operations and programs in all three counties, where she focused on new initiatives to improve officer equipment, enhance community outreach and education, and improve communication and employee relations. In 2019, Taylor was promoted to Deputy Chief where she worked with the leadership team to expand the use of evidence based practices at the Level IV facilities. In 2020, Taylor was promoted to Bureau Chief of the Bureau of Community corrections.
Chief Heather Zwickert joined the Department of Correction in 2000 as a Probation and Parole Officer. In 2012, she was promoted to Probation and Parole Supervisor, during which time she supervised the Pretrial Services Unit and served as the Department’s lead representative on the Smart Pretrial Initiative. In 2018, she moved to the Office of the Commissioner to serve as the Department’s Accreditation and Compliance Manager, overseeing compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) and American Correctional Association (ACA) standards. In 2019, she was appointed Deputy Chief of the Planning, Research, and Reentry Unit which has played a critical role in implementing Governor Carney’s Executive Order 27 to improve prisoner reentry outcomes through increased services and collaboration across state government and with community-based service providers. In 2021, she was appointed Chief of the Planning, Research, and Reentry Unit.
Physical & Mental Wellness
Dr. Ezeh Awele has been DOC Medical Director since July 2018. Prior to coming to DOC she served as the State Medical Director and Chief of Infectious Diseases for the Delaware Division of Public health and an attending physician at Christiana Care health services. Since coming to DOC, Dr. Maduka has focused on leading several inter-agency collaborative initiatives with DPH and DSAMH to expand services to the incarcerated population, including a women’s health initiative, expanded Medication Assisted Treatment across all correctional facilities, federal approval as an Opioid Treatment Program, infection prevention and control within all facilities (including but not limited to COVID, Influenza and Tuberculosis mitigation) and antimicrobial efforts to improve patient safety, reducing adverse effects and preventing development of multidrug resistant bacteria. Dr Maduka completed residency training in Internal Medicine at Albert Einstein Medical Center and in infectious diseases at the Mayo Clinic. She is board certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases. She obtained her medical degree from the University of Ibadan, holds a Master of Public Health degree from Harvard University and a PhD in Disaster Science and Management from the University of Delaware where her doctoral research focused on the impacts of pandemics on vulnerable populations.
Vanessa Bennifield has served for the past six years as the Behavioral Health Treatment Services Director for the Department of Correction Bureau of Healthcare, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services. In this position Vanessa is primarily responsible for ensuring service delivery by DOC’s contract mental healthcare providers to individuals under DOC supervision, including screening and assessment, therapeutic interventions, and discharge and re-entry planning. In addition, Vanessa works alongside community stakeholders to develop programs that meet the needs of the dynamic population within Delaware’s correctional system.
Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long is widely recognized as a leader who uses her skill and expertise in governance to bring people together, collaborate with her fellow legislators, build consensus, and find common-sense solutions to issues and problems facing Delaware families and communities. Bethany has led the fight to make Delaware stronger and healthier as Lieutenant Governor. As the leading voice behind the creation of the Behavioral Health Consortium and as Chair, she has convened parents, teachers, law enforcement, healthcare professionals, lawmakers, and community members who have been affected by mental health and addiction. Her efforts have helped bring substantive and effective change in stemming the opioid crisis and creating a behavioral health system that works for everyone in Delaware. Under Bethany’s guidance, and through her boots-to-the-ground approach, Delaware was one of only four states in the country where the percentage of drug-overdose deaths decreased in 2021. As a nurse, health scientist, and University professor, Bethany understands the connection between physical and emotional wellness, which led her to launch the Lt. Governor’s Challenge 2.0 in 2018. From the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Bethany has directed Delaware’s battle against the virus, and promoted the work of our healthcare workers. On the frontline herself, Bethany has personally administered over four thousand COVID-19 vaccines to Delawareans statewide. Bethany has served as the Chair of the Board of Pardons since she took office in 2017. During her tenure at the board, she has worked tirelessly to help reduce the wait time to go before the Board and has taken measures to ensure that we remove barriers to help ensure Delawareans can receive a second chance. Bethany has been a member of the UD Nursing Faculty now for almost thirty years. She also holds a distinguished record at the University of Delaware (UD). She was the first nursing faculty at UD to receive the University-wide excellence in teaching award and is currently a Professor of Nursing and Joint Faculty in Urban Affairs. Her research and community service record with at-risk groups such as pregnant teens, diabetics, the homeless, and the mentally ill, makes her a nationally recognized health scientist. From 2002-2017, Bethany served as a member of Delaware’s legislature, first as a Representative and then as a Senator. She served as the Chair of the Health and Social Services committee where her efforts were aimed at improving health outcomes among Delawareans by combating addiction, focusing on a stronger mental health system, fighting cancer, and health inequities in our state. She also served as a member of the capital budget Bond Committee where Bethany focused on building Delaware’s infrastructure, modernizing our schools, ensuring proper support is available for reentry to our community, and protecting our environment and open space. Currently, Bethany is serving as the National Chair of the Democratic Lieutenant Governor’s Association for a second term. Bethany has continued to be a leader in the nation by recently serving as the Chair of the National Lieutenant Governor’s Association from 2019 to 2021. Bethany was sworn in for the second time as Delaware’s 26th Lieutenant Governor on January 19th, 2021. She has always been and will continue to be a strong voice for all of Delaware.
Michael Records is currently the Bureau Chief of the Bureau of Healthcare, Substance Abuse, and Mental Health. He has worked for the Delaware Department of Correction (DDOC) for 30 years. He holds a Certified Correctional Manager (CCM) credential through the American Correctional Association. He began his career with the DDOC as a Probation Officer in 1991, and has served in various capacities within the DDOC, including: Probation Supervisor, Social Service Administrator, Planning Manager, Deputy Chief of Community Corrections, and Deputy Chief of the Bureau of Healthcare, Substance Abuse, and Mental Health. During his time with the Department, Mike has worked in program development and management, offender reentry, accreditation and compliance, policy development, and grant management. Mike is a graduate of the University of Delaware, and Wilmington University, and serves as an adjunct instructor for Wilmington University as well as Delaware Technical and Community College.
Tiffany Reed serves as the Forensic Specialist Unit (FSU) Supervisor for the Office of Defense Services, where she oversees 15 Master’s-level Forensic Social Specialists statewide, provides ongoing training and assistance to FSU staff, participates in meetings with community partners, serves as a liaison with the Delaware Division Substance Abuse and Mental Health, and reviews attorney referrals to FSU. In addition to her supervisory duties, Tiffany also performs the following duties: obtains relevant biopsychosocial background information on a clients; connects client with treatment services; develops client-specific plans for conditional pre-trial release; drafts mitigation reports for case reviews, sentencing and/or VOP hearings; recommends alternatives to incarceration when appropriate; and assists attorneys in the hiring, communication and presentation of expert witnesses to provide clinical evaluations and/or testimony. Prior to being promoted to FSU Supervisor, Tiffany worked as a Forensic Social Specialist with the Office of Defense Services for 10 years (six working with juvenile defendants in Family Court, specifically Mental Health Court and Not Competent clients, and four years working with adult defendants in New Castle County Superior Court). Tiffany obtained her Master of Public Administration degree with a concentration in health policy from the University of Delaware in January 2010. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Delaware in 2006.
Meredith Seitz currently serves as the Chief Policy Advisor for the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families (DSCYF). In this role, she works with the Governor’s policy team and external stakeholders to gain favorable policy outcomes for the Department’s clients and employees. Her responsibilities also include advising Department leadership on legislative strategy and internal policies. During her tenure at DSCYF, she has successfully pursued legislation to expand adoption, created a tuition waiver for youth who have aged out of foster care, as well as enabling legislation for the “Take Care Delaware” program which provides a trauma-informed response for children and youth in schools. After graduating from college in 2009 with a B.A. in Political Science and History from the University of Vermont, Meredith returned home to pursue a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Delaware. While working on her MPA, she worked as a Research Assistant at the Institute for Public Administration and helped create and lead the School of Public Policy and Administration’s first undergraduate winter session program in Washington, DC. After graduating in 2012, Meredith worked as the Finance Director for the State Democratic Party before accepting a position as a Legislative Aide with the Delaware House of Representatives Democratic Caucus in 2014. In that role, she assisted the Chair of the Joint Finance Committee and the Chair of the Joint Capital Improvement Committee on legislative and constituent issues. In March 2017, she was promoted to the position of Policy Analyst where she worked on legislative initiatives and special research projects for caucus members. She served in that role until coming to DSCYF in July 2018. Outside of work, Meredith enjoys volunteering as a mentor at the Clarence Fraim Boys & Girls Club. Meredith lives in Hockessin with her husband and two children.
Daron “Timeless Thomas” Swann is a certified ACLU Smart Justice Ambassador. A Wilmington native, he worked closely with inner city youth for the Wilmington Department of Parks and Recreation before serving nine years in prison. After his release, he earned a divinity degree and became an ordained minister in the Universal Life Church. He also majored in Behavioral Health and Human Services at the Community College of Philadelphia. An infinite ball of entrepreneurial spirit and community outreach energy, he branded the marketing, promotion and production business Timeless Thomas Co. Timeless published the book, “101 Things You Should Know About Jail” in 2019. Today, he continues to minister to elderly residents at ProMedica ManorCare and has become one of the biggest personalities on 95.3FM. He also hosts a weekly high-energy podcast called “Back to Greatest.”
National Speaker on Juvenile Justice
Anne Teigen is an attorney and associate director in the criminal justice program at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). She assists state legislatures on criminal justice policy issues and manages the juvenile justice, young adults, human trafficking, criminal records and firearms policy portfolios. She has authored and written articles and state legislative reports and presented information on trends in human trafficking, juvenile justice, fines and fees, legislation promoting youth mental health, and detention alternatives. As an associate director she anticipates emerging issues, interprets policy developments, initiates research and provides legislatures with expert testimony on a wide array of criminal justice related policy areas. Prior to arriving at NCSL in 2006, Teigen worked as an intern for two years at the Kansas State Legislature and as an assistant attorney at Douglas County Legal Aid. She received her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Colorado State University and her Juris Doctor from the University of Kansas School Of Law. She is admitted to practice law in the state of Colorado.
Youth in the Juvenile Justice System
Darryl Chambers is the Executive Director of the Center For Structural Equity (CFSE), a community-driven intervention and prevention program designed to empower youth and their communities to address issues of structural. violence and to promote the social determinants of health. Previously, Darryl was a member of the Wilmington HOPE Commission’s Street Outreach Program, a community focused reentry program. He also served as the Co-Program Director on the Wilmington Street Participatory Action Research Project, an initiative in which members of the targeted research population served as researchers. In 2014, Governor Jack Markell appointed Mr. Chambers to serve on the Wilmington Public Safety Strategies Commission, which examined public safety strategies within the city. In 2016, Darryl served as the Co-Chair of the CDC Community Advisory Council, a committee commissioned by the Delaware Department of Health and Human Services to focus on the deceleration of youth violence and promotion of positive youth development. In the same year, Mr. Chambers was the recipient of the University of Delaware’s 2016 Ratledge Family Award for his outstanding community service and contributions to the well- being of the people within the state of Delaware. In 2017, Delaware’s Governor appointed Mr. Chambers as the Chair of the Council of Corrections, which provides advisory capacity to the Commissioner of Correction on matters related to the development and progress of the Delaware correctional system. Lastly, Mr. Chambers consults, on a project funded by the RAND Corporation with the Center for Court Innovation. It’s a multi-method, five-city analysis of the social and cultural roots of urban youth firearm violence in Baltimore, Detroit, Wilmington, New Orleans, and New York City. Mr. Chambers currently holds a Master's degree in Criminology from the University of Delaware, and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of California of Davis. Mr. Chambers is currently employed as a Senior Research Associate at the University of Delaware’s Center for Drug and Health Studies.
Barbie Fischer is the Restorative Services Director at the Delaware Center for Justice (DCJ). A restorative justice practitioner for over 20 year, Ms. Fischer has assisted in the success of innovative and strategic programming aimed at healing communities, reducing involvement in the legal system, and restoring those returning home. At the Delaware Center for Justice, she manages the restorative based diversion programs for both youth and adults focused on victim offender conferencing/mediation. During her term at DCJ she has been able to expand this program to allow for more Delawareans to access it. She also works with the youth re-entry team to implement and manage the restorative conferencing involved in that, which provides space for the youth and their families to heal the harm incarceration has caused and to collectively plan for a positive future. Her work in this field began with her development of reintegration programs for former child soldiers that have been utilized in northern Uganda and in Sri Lanka. Grateful to the teachings she has learned overseas, she then turned her attention stateside where she has run and expanded victim offender conferencing pre adjudication, spearheaded restorative justice practices for veterans returning home, has developed restorative re-entry programs for incarcerated people, focusing on bringing support to the incarcerated person, the victim, and their families during the release process, which has led to her being a member of the Pennsylvania Reentry Counsel created by Governor Tom Wolf. If that wasn’t enough to keep her busy, she is also a part of the Restorative Cities Movement in the mid-Atlantic region of the USA and a facilitator for the Annie E Casey Foundation’s Reimagining Juvenile Justice, a professional development initiative working with youth involved in the juvenile justice system and their families and aims to develop the capacity of professionals to support, divert and redirect youth to appropriate and fair justice options, including those requiring a high degree of cross-system collaboration and coordination.
Dr. Taryn Fletcher is a transformational leader, author, and culturally responsive teaching expert, who thrives in the intersection of education, entrepreneurship, and activism. After her tenure serving as deputy superintendent of Camden City Schools, she now helps forward-thinking leaders to design schools that challenge dated systems. Her purpose is to cultivate the next generation of diverse leaders and thinkers who can respond to the multicultural needs of our future, society, and global market. Dr. Fletcher is also the founder and CEO of Truly POC INC, a company that helps leaders design high-quality, community-focused, culturally responsive schools.
Lauren Mahler serves as an Assistant Public Defender. She supervises ODS’s statewide Juvenile Defense Unit and is Assistant Supervisor for ODS’s Family Court Unit. She has been an attorney with the ODS since 2018 and previously worked as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Diane Clarke Streett of the Superior Court of Delaware and as a shareholder at McAndrews Law Offices, where she focused her practice on representing children with disabilities in special education law cases. Lauren is a Delaware native and received her undergraduate degree from Loyola University Maryland. She graduated from Delaware Law School in 2010.
Lisa Minutola serves as the Chief of Legal Services for the Delaware Office of Defense Services. She has been in this role since 2009. Lisa is responsible for the agency's strategic planning, policy initiatives, and legislative agenda. She supervises and monitors the agency’s delivery of legal services and staff productivity. In addition, she is the Chief Defender’s representative on multiple boards and committees related to criminal and juvenile justice. Lisa has been awarded the Delaware Center for Justice's SURJ Award for her efforts in criminal justice reform and the Delaware State Bar Association's Service to Children Award. In 2018, she was appointed as the co-director of the Gault Center's Northeast Regional and serves on its advisory board. She has a bachelor's degree from the University of Delaware and a J.D. from the George Mason University School of Law.
Dr. Terrance Newton possesses more than 17 years experience in education. In addition to eight years teaching in special education and T.A.M. classes, he has engaged the following administrative positions: Behavioral Coordinator at Thomas A. Edison Charter School and Assistant Principal at Kingswood Academy in Wilmington, Delaware, Turnaround Vice Principal at Samuel Daroff Elementary School and Charles Audenried High School in Philadelphia. Before accepting the position of Principal at Warner Elementary School, Dr. Newton served as an Assistant Principal at Henry B. du Pont Middle School in the Red Clay Consolidated School District and an Educational Consultant at Kingswood Academy in Wilmington. Dr. Newton holds a B.A. in Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology from Delaware State University. In 2005, Dr. Newton graduated from Delaware State University with his M.Ed in Special Education. Dr. Newton graduated with his doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from Delaware State University at the Wilmington Campus. Dr. Newton made history by graduating in the first Delaware State University Wilmington campus doctoral cohort. Additionally, Dr. Newton is certified/ licensed as a K-12 Principal/Assistant Principal and Special Education teacher, as well as School Leader I & II (Asst. Superintendent/Superintendent) in Delaware. Dr. Newton is also trained in Diversity/Multi-Cultural Education and Sexual Harassment. Professionally, Dr. Newton has been active in the Association for Elementary and Secondary School Principals and served as a member on the Delaware Council Mentor Committee. Dr. Newton is also a member of the National Association on the Prevention of School Violence and has worked as a Youth Rehabilitator Counselor at the New Castle County Detention Center for adjudicated juveniles. On a personal note, Dr. Newton was born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware where he grew up in a low-income community. Through bad decision making in a tough community, Dr. Newton was shot twice: once in the leg and in the arm. He was able to overcome his situation through the support of his mother, Marie L. Hammond-Newton, and by surrounding himself with positive people. In 1994, Dr. Newton was offered a football scholarship from Coach William Collick. Due to the combined influences of both Coach Collick and Delaware State University, Dr. Newton persevered to become a positive, productive citizen. Grateful for his success, Dr. Newton goes back in his community to help others. He compares himself with Harriet Tubman. “I escaped the traps of the ghetto and now I want to go and help others escape to become successful.”
Meredith Seitz currently serves as the Chief Policy Advisor for the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families (DSCYF). In this role, she works with the Governor’s policy team and external stakeholders to gain favorable policy outcomes for the Department’s clients and employees. Her responsibilities also include advising Department leadership on legislative strategy and internal policies. During her tenure at DSCYF, she has successfully pursued legislation to expand adoption, created a tuition waiver for youth who have aged out of foster care, as well as enabling legislation for the “Take Care Delaware” program which provides a trauma-informed response for children and youth in schools. After graduating from college in 2009 with a B.A. in Political Science and History from the University of Vermont, Meredith returned home to pursue a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Delaware. While working on her MPA, she worked as a Research Assistant at the Institute for Public Administration and helped create and lead the School of Public Policy and Administration’s first undergraduate winter session program in Washington, DC. After graduating in 2012, Meredith worked as the Finance Director for the State Democratic Party before accepting a position as a Legislative Aide with the Delaware House of Representatives Democratic Caucus in 2014. In that role, she assisted the Chair of the Joint Finance Committee and the Chair of the Joint Capital Improvement Committee on legislative and constituent issues. In March 2017, she was promoted to the position of Policy Analyst where she worked on legislative initiatives and special research projects for caucus members. She served in that role until coming to DSCYF in July 2018. Outside of work, Meredith enjoys volunteering as a mentor at the Clarence Fraim Boys & Girls Club. Meredith lives in Hockessin with her husband and two children.
Steven E. Yeatman has devoted his life to protecting children and families. He currently serves as Deputy Secretary of the Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families (DSCYF), where he guides the day-to-day operations of the state’s child welfare, juvenile justice, and behavioral health systems with a keen focus on expanding evidenced-based best practices. Prior to his appointment as Deputy Secretary, Mr. Yeatman served as Chief Policy Advisor where he led the department’s legislative efforts, provided expert testimony before legislators and the public, and advised the Governor’s policy advisors on complex issues involving the well-being of children and families. He also coordinated the development and implementation of statewide operational policies related to the department. Deputy Secretary Yeatman previously served as Deputy Director of DSCYF’s Division of Prevention & Behavioral Health Services. In this leadership role, he was responsible for the delivery of mental health and substance use disorder services for Delaware children and youth who were receiving Medicaid or who were uninsured. The continuum of care in this system consists of all service levels from outpatient services to hospitalization. Prior to his role as Deputy Director, he was part of the management team for a statewide Early Intervention Program focused on families with children in Kindergarten through Fifth Grade. He led a team of 13 Case Managers throughout the state that specialized in school-based and home-based interventions for the entire family. One of the many unique aspects of this program was that services were provided during the evenings and summer months. In his earlier years at DSCYF, Deputy Secretary Yeatman served as a member of DSCYF’s Division of Youth Rehabilitative Services where he guided and mentored youth remanded to a Level 5 Juvenile Justice facility. Additionally, he was a member of the team that led a transfer from an older architecturally challenging building, which did not meet the programming needs of the youth, to a new state of the art facility. This same team helped secure the initial American Correctional Association Accreditation for the facility, which it still holds today. In 2011, former Delaware Governor Jack Markell appointed Mr. Yeatman to the Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council. He also serves on the Delaware Early Childhood Council, The Child Protection and Accountability Commission Legislative Committee, the P-20 Council for Education, The Delaware Criminal Justice Council and other child related councils, commissions and task forces. During his career, Deputy Secretary Yeatman simultaneously served in the United States Army Reserve and Pennsylvania National Guard. He retired from military service in 2010 after 20 years of honorable service. He is a combat Veteran who served in both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He received several awards throughout his service including the Bronze Star Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal. Deputy Secretary Yeatman holds an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Delaware Technical and Community College, a B.A. in Sociology from West Chester University, and a Master’s in Education from Wilmington University. He and his wife of 25 years are the proud parents of three children and reside in northern Delaware.
Barbie Fischer is the Restorative Services Director at the Delaware Center for Justice (DCJ). A restorative justice practitioner for over 20 year, Ms. Fischer has assisted in the success of innovative and strategic programming aimed at healing communities, reducing involvement in the legal system, and restoring those returning home. At the Delaware Center for Justice, she manages the restorative based diversion programs for both youth and adults focused on victim offender conferencing/mediation. During her term at DCJ she has been able to expand this program to allow for more Delawareans to access it. She also works with the youth re-entry team to implement and manage the restorative conferencing involved in that, which provides space for the youth and their families to heal the harm incarceration has caused and to collectively plan for a positive future. Her work in this field began with her development of reintegration programs for former child soldiers that have been utilized in northern Uganda and in Sri Lanka. Grateful to the teachings she has learned overseas, she then turned her attention stateside where she has run and expanded victim offender conferencing pre adjudication, spearheaded restorative justice practices for veterans returning home, has developed restorative re-entry programs for incarcerated people, focusing on bringing support to the incarcerated person, the victim, and their families during the release process, which has led to her being a member of the Pennsylvania Reentry Counsel created by Governor Tom Wolf. If that wasn’t enough to keep her busy, she is also a part of the Restorative Cities Movement in the mid-Atlantic region of the USA and a facilitator for the Annie E Casey Foundation’s Reimagining Juvenile Justice, a professional development initiative working with youth involved in the juvenile justice system and their families and aims to develop the capacity of professionals to support, divert and redirect youth to appropriate and fair justice options, including those requiring a high degree of cross-system collaboration and coordination.
Dr. Taryn Fletcher is a transformational leader, author, and culturally responsive teaching expert, who thrives in the intersection of education, entrepreneurship, and activism. After her tenure serving as deputy superintendent of Camden City Schools, she now helps forward-thinking leaders to design schools that challenge dated systems. Her purpose is to cultivate the next generation of diverse leaders and thinkers who can respond to the multicultural needs of our future, society, and global market. Dr. Fletcher is also the founder and CEO of Truly POC INC, a company that helps leaders design high-quality, community-focused, culturally responsive schools.
Lauren Mahler serves as an Assistant Public Defender. She supervises ODS’s statewide Juvenile Defense Unit and is Assistant Supervisor for ODS’s Family Court Unit. She has been an attorney with the ODS since 2018 and previously worked as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Diane Clarke Streett of the Superior Court of Delaware and as a shareholder at McAndrews Law Offices, where she focused her practice on representing children with disabilities in special education law cases. Lauren is a Delaware native and received her undergraduate degree from Loyola University Maryland. She graduated from Delaware Law School in 2010.
Lisa Minutola serves as the Chief of Legal Services for the Delaware Office of Defense Services. She has been in this role since 2009. Lisa is responsible for the agency's strategic planning, policy initiatives, and legislative agenda. She supervises and monitors the agency’s delivery of legal services and staff productivity. In addition, she is the Chief Defender’s representative on multiple boards and committees related to criminal and juvenile justice. Lisa has been awarded the Delaware Center for Justice's SURJ Award for her efforts in criminal justice reform and the Delaware State Bar Association's Service to Children Award. In 2018, she was appointed as the co-director of the Gault Center's Northeast Regional and serves on its advisory board. She has a bachelor's degree from the University of Delaware and a J.D. from the George Mason University School of Law.
Dr. Terrance Newton possesses more than 17 years experience in education. In addition to eight years teaching in special education and T.A.M. classes, he has engaged the following administrative positions: Behavioral Coordinator at Thomas A. Edison Charter School and Assistant Principal at Kingswood Academy in Wilmington, Delaware, Turnaround Vice Principal at Samuel Daroff Elementary School and Charles Audenried High School in Philadelphia. Before accepting the position of Principal at Warner Elementary School, Dr. Newton served as an Assistant Principal at Henry B. du Pont Middle School in the Red Clay Consolidated School District and an Educational Consultant at Kingswood Academy in Wilmington. Dr. Newton holds a B.A. in Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology from Delaware State University. In 2005, Dr. Newton graduated from Delaware State University with his M.Ed in Special Education. Dr. Newton graduated with his doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from Delaware State University at the Wilmington Campus. Dr. Newton made history by graduating in the first Delaware State University Wilmington campus doctoral cohort. Additionally, Dr. Newton is certified/ licensed as a K-12 Principal/Assistant Principal and Special Education teacher, as well as School Leader I & II (Asst. Superintendent/Superintendent) in Delaware. Dr. Newton is also trained in Diversity/Multi-Cultural Education and Sexual Harassment. Professionally, Dr. Newton has been active in the Association for Elementary and Secondary School Principals and served as a member on the Delaware Council Mentor Committee. Dr. Newton is also a member of the National Association on the Prevention of School Violence and has worked as a Youth Rehabilitator Counselor at the New Castle County Detention Center for adjudicated juveniles. On a personal note, Dr. Newton was born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware where he grew up in a low-income community. Through bad decision making in a tough community, Dr. Newton was shot twice: once in the leg and in the arm. He was able to overcome his situation through the support of his mother, Marie L. Hammond-Newton, and by surrounding himself with positive people. In 1994, Dr. Newton was offered a football scholarship from Coach William Collick. Due to the combined influences of both Coach Collick and Delaware State University, Dr. Newton persevered to become a positive, productive citizen. Grateful for his success, Dr. Newton goes back in his community to help others. He compares himself with Harriet Tubman. “I escaped the traps of the ghetto and now I want to go and help others escape to become successful.”
Meredith Seitz currently serves as the Chief Policy Advisor for the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families (DSCYF). In this role, she works with the Governor’s policy team and external stakeholders to gain favorable policy outcomes for the Department’s clients and employees. Her responsibilities also include advising Department leadership on legislative strategy and internal policies. During her tenure at DSCYF, she has successfully pursued legislation to expand adoption, created a tuition waiver for youth who have aged out of foster care, as well as enabling legislation for the “Take Care Delaware” program which provides a trauma-informed response for children and youth in schools. After graduating from college in 2009 with a B.A. in Political Science and History from the University of Vermont, Meredith returned home to pursue a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Delaware. While working on her MPA, she worked as a Research Assistant at the Institute for Public Administration and helped create and lead the School of Public Policy and Administration’s first undergraduate winter session program in Washington, DC. After graduating in 2012, Meredith worked as the Finance Director for the State Democratic Party before accepting a position as a Legislative Aide with the Delaware House of Representatives Democratic Caucus in 2014. In that role, she assisted the Chair of the Joint Finance Committee and the Chair of the Joint Capital Improvement Committee on legislative and constituent issues. In March 2017, she was promoted to the position of Policy Analyst where she worked on legislative initiatives and special research projects for caucus members. She served in that role until coming to DSCYF in July 2018. Outside of work, Meredith enjoys volunteering as a mentor at the Clarence Fraim Boys & Girls Club. Meredith lives in Hockessin with her husband and two children.
Steven E. Yeatman has devoted his life to protecting children and families. He currently serves as Deputy Secretary of the Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families (DSCYF), where he guides the day-to-day operations of the state’s child welfare, juvenile justice, and behavioral health systems with a keen focus on expanding evidenced-based best practices. Prior to his appointment as Deputy Secretary, Mr. Yeatman served as Chief Policy Advisor where he led the department’s legislative efforts, provided expert testimony before legislators and the public, and advised the Governor’s policy advisors on complex issues involving the well-being of children and families. He also coordinated the development and implementation of statewide operational policies related to the department. Deputy Secretary Yeatman previously served as Deputy Director of DSCYF’s Division of Prevention & Behavioral Health Services. In this leadership role, he was responsible for the delivery of mental health and substance use disorder services for Delaware children and youth who were receiving Medicaid or who were uninsured. The continuum of care in this system consists of all service levels from outpatient services to hospitalization. Prior to his role as Deputy Director, he was part of the management team for a statewide Early Intervention Program focused on families with children in Kindergarten through Fifth Grade. He led a team of 13 Case Managers throughout the state that specialized in school-based and home-based interventions for the entire family. One of the many unique aspects of this program was that services were provided during the evenings and summer months. In his earlier years at DSCYF, Deputy Secretary Yeatman served as a member of DSCYF’s Division of Youth Rehabilitative Services where he guided and mentored youth remanded to a Level 5 Juvenile Justice facility. Additionally, he was a member of the team that led a transfer from an older architecturally challenging building, which did not meet the programming needs of the youth, to a new state of the art facility. This same team helped secure the initial American Correctional Association Accreditation for the facility, which it still holds today. In 2011, former Delaware Governor Jack Markell appointed Mr. Yeatman to the Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council. He also serves on the Delaware Early Childhood Council, The Child Protection and Accountability Commission Legislative Committee, the P-20 Council for Education, The Delaware Criminal Justice Council and other child related councils, commissions and task forces. During his career, Deputy Secretary Yeatman simultaneously served in the United States Army Reserve and Pennsylvania National Guard. He retired from military service in 2010 after 20 years of honorable service. He is a combat Veteran who served in both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He received several awards throughout his service including the Bronze Star Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal. Deputy Secretary Yeatman holds an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Delaware Technical and Community College, a B.A. in Sociology from West Chester University, and a Master’s in Education from Wilmington University. He and his wife of 25 years are the proud parents of three children and reside in northern Delaware.
Correctional Staff Experience
Sherese Brewington-Carr has served in a number of senior executive positions in Delaware state government to include a period of time as one of the first female and African American senior wardens in Delaware and Connecticut Adult Correctional Facilities, and Chief Executive Director of Juvenile Services in Delaware. This rounds out her public and local government career as Senior Administrator with the Delaware Department of Labor where she enforces federal employment laws and advances both the rights and opportunities for migrant workers, veterans and justice involved persons re-entering into the labor market. She strategically executes DOL Criminal Justice policy and operational practices, where their Re-entry Initiatives included development of Delaware's first Mobile One Stop and, On the Job Training Model-Project Jump Start to incentivize employers to hire persons with criminal backgrounds. Sherese is an executive trainer and sought after thought leader on matters of Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement. She currently serves as Workforce Development Chair on the Delaware General Assembly Law Enforcement Accountability Task Force to investigate and make recommendations to enhance Law Enforcement engagement with citizens in Delaware. She served as Public Policy Co-Chair of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, developing solutions for and positions about national public policy issues for Black women and girls. She also served as the Chair/Vice Chair of the Delaware Commission for Women, comprised of 25 diverse, multi-generational Commissioners appointed by the Governor from all counties and major political parties, serving as an advocacy entity for women and girls in the State of Delaware.
Richard Bulson has served with the Delaware Department of Correction since 1999. His first 21 years of service was at the Delaware Correctional Center (DCC), currently known as James T. Vaughn Correctional Center (JTVCC). While assigned at JTVCC, Sergeant Bulson was assigned to a wide variety of locations, including Concrete Design Systems (CDS), Primary Control, JV Tower, medical escorts, education buildings, and commissary. When the DOC implemented the Dialogue Associates program in response to the February 2017 inmate uprising, Sergeant Bulson volunteered as a facilitator, working to foster better communication among staff and incarcerated people, serving from July 2018 to December 2019. Following a year in the Staff Training Relief Officer (STRO) unit, Sergeant Bulson became a Recruiting Sergeant to strengthen and increase DOC staffing throughout the state.
Erin Connelly is the Victim Services Program Manager at the Department of Correction. Erin empowers victims to become informed and involved so they may experience less frustration with prison and probation personnel and be better prepared to participate in the corrections process, if they choose. Erin is the Vice Chair of the Victims’ Rights Task Force and an active member of the Human Trafficking Interagency Coordinating Council Public Awareness Committee, and the Domestic Violence Task Force. Erin is a team leader on the Department’s Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Team.
Shane Troxler is the Chief of the Bureau of Prisons at the Delaware Department of Correction. He oversees the State’s four Level 5 prisons which house approximately 4,500 inmates. Prior to his appointment as Chief, he served as Deputy Bureau Chief where he assisted in overseeing all aspects of prison operations, including Special Operations, Food Services, Facilities Maintenance, Correctional Industries, and Prison Education. He aided the agency’s efforts to secure accreditation with the American Correctional Association by overseeing development and revision of policies, procedures and practice and was involved in PREA accreditation for all facilities. His oversight role has also included participation in PREA critical incident reviews, inmate grievances, classification, elimination of restrictive housing, budget development, and performance measurement. Special projects have included reduction of placement of mentally ill offenders in disciplinary housing through collaboration with security and behavioral health staff, reducing reliance on overtime staffing, expansion of recreation options for mentally ill inmates in a Residential Treatment Unit, implementation of inmate electronic tablets, and creating an Intelligence Operations Center. Previous to his executive oversight role, he was promoted through the ranks, beginning as a Correctional Officer. Chief Troxler earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Chowan College and has completed numerous trainings with NIC, NAAWS, and the Delaware State Police, among others. He is the recipient of multiple Departmental awards for service and performance.
Richard Bulson has served with the Delaware Department of Correction since 1999. His first 21 years of service was at the Delaware Correctional Center (DCC), currently known as James T. Vaughn Correctional Center (JTVCC). While assigned at JTVCC, Sergeant Bulson was assigned to a wide variety of locations, including Concrete Design Systems (CDS), Primary Control, JV Tower, medical escorts, education buildings, and commissary. When the DOC implemented the Dialogue Associates program in response to the February 2017 inmate uprising, Sergeant Bulson volunteered as a facilitator, working to foster better communication among staff and incarcerated people, serving from July 2018 to December 2019. Following a year in the Staff Training Relief Officer (STRO) unit, Sergeant Bulson became a Recruiting Sergeant to strengthen and increase DOC staffing throughout the state.
Erin Connelly is the Victim Services Program Manager at the Department of Correction. Erin empowers victims to become informed and involved so they may experience less frustration with prison and probation personnel and be better prepared to participate in the corrections process, if they choose. Erin is the Vice Chair of the Victims’ Rights Task Force and an active member of the Human Trafficking Interagency Coordinating Council Public Awareness Committee, and the Domestic Violence Task Force. Erin is a team leader on the Department’s Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Team.
Shane Troxler is the Chief of the Bureau of Prisons at the Delaware Department of Correction. He oversees the State’s four Level 5 prisons which house approximately 4,500 inmates. Prior to his appointment as Chief, he served as Deputy Bureau Chief where he assisted in overseeing all aspects of prison operations, including Special Operations, Food Services, Facilities Maintenance, Correctional Industries, and Prison Education. He aided the agency’s efforts to secure accreditation with the American Correctional Association by overseeing development and revision of policies, procedures and practice and was involved in PREA accreditation for all facilities. His oversight role has also included participation in PREA critical incident reviews, inmate grievances, classification, elimination of restrictive housing, budget development, and performance measurement. Special projects have included reduction of placement of mentally ill offenders in disciplinary housing through collaboration with security and behavioral health staff, reducing reliance on overtime staffing, expansion of recreation options for mentally ill inmates in a Residential Treatment Unit, implementation of inmate electronic tablets, and creating an Intelligence Operations Center. Previous to his executive oversight role, he was promoted through the ranks, beginning as a Correctional Officer. Chief Troxler earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Chowan College and has completed numerous trainings with NIC, NAAWS, and the Delaware State Police, among others. He is the recipient of multiple Departmental awards for service and performance.
WEDNESDAY
National Speaker on Re-entry
Nicole Jarrett directs the Corrections and Reentry Division at the CSG Justice Center. She previously served as the division’s deputy director, guiding the organization’s grantee technical assistance, coordinating support to jurisdictions that are developing and implementing diversion, treatment, and reentry initiatives. Nicole previously served as the director of health policy research at the National Medical Association, where she led projects to strengthen the public health safety net and improve the quality of care provided in underserved communities. She also served as the director of community health policy at the Baltimore City Health Department, where she directed the city’s participation in the Community Voices: Healthcare for the Underserved Initiative. She received her BS from Rutgers University, her PhD in health policy and management from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Center of Behavioral Health Services and Criminal Justice Research at Rutgers University.
Re-entry
Darius Brown is the Executive Director of the Wilmington HOPE Commission. The HOPE Commission is Delaware’s premiere reentry program helping justice-involved individuals obtain housing, employment and self-sufficiency.
Deputy Chief Jessica Cline is a 24-year DOC veteran who joined the Department of Correction in 1997 as a Probation and Parole Officer. She was promoted in 2006 to Probation and Parole Supervisor at the Northern New Castle County Probation Office with responsibility over numerous areas, including Reentry Court, the DOC’s offender case management system, probation absconders, Probation and Parole’s participation in the National Criminal Justice Reform Project, policy drafting, and staff training. In this position Jessica began to build DOC’s statewide infrastructure to support reentry. In 2019 she was named the Department’s first Director of Reentry and has played a critical role in implementing Governor Carney’s Executive Order 27 to improve prisoner reentry outcomes through increased services and collaboration across state government and with community-based service providers. In this role Jessica worked closely with the Delaware Correctional Reentry Commission to create the Delaware Recidivism Reduction System Blueprint that guided reentry reforms from 2019 through 2021. In October 2021, Jessica was promoted to Deputy Chief of Planning, Research, and Reentry. In this role she will facilitate the implementation of the new Recidivism Reduction Blueprint launched by Governor Carney in October of 2021 that outlines reentry deliverables for the next three years.
Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long is widely recognized as a leader who uses her skill and expertise in governance to bring people together, collaborate with her fellow legislators, build consensus, and find common-sense solutions to issues and problems facing Delaware families and communities. Bethany has led the fight to make Delaware stronger and healthier as Lieutenant Governor. As the leading voice behind the creation of the Behavioral Health Consortium and as Chair, she has convened parents, teachers, law enforcement, healthcare professionals, lawmakers, and community members who have been affected by mental health and addiction. Her efforts have helped bring substantive and effective change in stemming the opioid crisis and creating a behavioral health system that works for everyone in Delaware. Under Bethany’s guidance, and through her boots-to-the-ground approach, Delaware was one of only four states in the country where the percentage of drug-overdose deaths decreased in 2021. As a nurse, health scientist, and University professor, Bethany understands the connection between physical and emotional wellness, which led her to launch the Lt. Governor’s Challenge 2.0 in 2018. From the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Bethany has directed Delaware’s battle against the virus, and promoted the work of our healthcare workers. On the frontline herself, Bethany has personally administered over four thousand COVID-19 vaccines to Delawareans statewide. Bethany has served as the Chair of the Board of Pardons since she took office in 2017. During her tenure at the board, she has worked tirelessly to help reduce the wait time to go before the Board and has taken measures to ensure that we remove barriers to help ensure Delawareans can receive a second chance. Bethany has been a member of the UD Nursing Faculty now for almost thirty years. She also holds a distinguished record at the University of Delaware (UD). She was the first nursing faculty at UD to receive the University-wide excellence in teaching award and is currently a Professor of Nursing and Joint Faculty in Urban Affairs. Her research and community service record with at-risk groups such as pregnant teens, diabetics, the homeless, and the mentally ill, makes her a nationally recognized health scientist. From 2002-2017, Bethany served as a member of Delaware’s legislature, first as a Representative and then as a Senator. She served as the Chair of the Health and Social Services committee where her efforts were aimed at improving health outcomes among Delawareans by combating addiction, focusing on a stronger mental health system, fighting cancer, and health inequities in our state. She also served as a member of the capital budget Bond Committee where Bethany focused on building Delaware’s infrastructure, modernizing our schools, ensuring proper support is available for reentry to our community, and protecting our environment and open space. Currently, Bethany is serving as the National Chair of the Democratic Lieutenant Governor’s Association for a second term. Bethany has continued to be a leader in the nation by recently serving as the Chair of the National Lieutenant Governor’s Association from 2019 to 2021. Bethany was sworn in for the second time as Delaware’s 26th Lieutenant Governor on January 19th, 2021. She has always been and will continue to be a strong voice for all of Delaware.
Coley Harris serves as the Office of Defense Service’s Community Engagement Specialist. Coley joined the ODS in 2022 and serves as the direct link between the ODS and the communities the office serves. Coley has an extensive history working with impacted individuals and communities. He previously worked for both Crossroads of Delaware and Delaware Pathway developing community programs and outreach. Through his position as lead research assistant with the University of Delaware, Christiana Care and the Center for Court Innovation in New York, Coley presented at various conferences throughout the US and provided training on the research methodology know as Street Participatory Action Research which is the process of doing research and activism with street-identified populations. Coley is also the founder of Out of the Ashes, a family restoration organization for formerly incarcerated individuals. In 2019, Coley was recognized by the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League, receiving its Community Service Award for his outstanding work.
Davis Rich serves as a client advocate with the Office of Defense Services. He has been in this role, via the Partners for Justice program, since August 2020. Davis provides service and resource navigation and supports clients to limit or avoid incarceration and other consequences of criminal legal system involvement. Davis graduated from Northwestern University in 2020.
Meredith Seitz currently serves as the Chief Policy Advisor for the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families (DSCYF). In this role, she works with the Governor’s policy team and external stakeholders to gain favorable policy outcomes for the Department’s clients and employees. Her responsibilities also include advising Department leadership on legislative strategy and internal policies. During her tenure at DSCYF, she has successfully pursued legislation to expand adoption, created a tuition waiver for youth who have aged out of foster care, as well as enabling legislation for the “Take Care Delaware” program which provides a trauma-informed response for children and youth in schools. After graduating from college in 2009 with a B.A. in Political Science and History from the University of Vermont, Meredith returned home to pursue a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Delaware. While working on her MPA, she worked as a Research Assistant at the Institute for Public Administration and helped create and lead the School of Public Policy and Administration’s first undergraduate winter session program in Washington, DC. After graduating in 2012, Meredith worked as the Finance Director for the State Democratic Party before accepting a position as a Legislative Aide with the Delaware House of Representatives Democratic Caucus in 2014. In that role, she assisted the Chair of the Joint Finance Committee and the Chair of the Joint Capital Improvement Committee on legislative and constituent issues. In March 2017, she was promoted to the position of Policy Analyst where she worked on legislative initiatives and special research projects for caucus members. She served in that role until coming to DSCYF in July 2018. Outside of work, Meredith enjoys volunteering as a mentor at the Clarence Fraim Boys & Girls Club. Meredith lives in Hockessin with her husband and two children.
Daron “Timeless Thomas” Swann is a certified ACLU Smart Justice Ambassador. A Wilmington native, he worked closely with inner city youth for the Wilmington Department of Parks and Recreation before serving nine years in prison. After his release, he earned a divinity degree and became an ordained minister in the Universal Life Church. He also majored in Behavioral Health and Human Services at the Community College of Philadelphia. An infinite ball of entrepreneurial spirit and community outreach energy, he branded the marketing, promotion and production business Timeless Thomas Co. Timeless published the book, “101 Things You Should Know About Jail” in 2019. Today, he continues to minister to elderly residents at ProMedica ManorCare and has become one of the biggest personalities on 95.3FM. He also hosts a weekly high-energy podcast called “Back to Greatest.”
Corry Wright is the Director of Youth and Diversion Services at the Delaware Center for Justice, he holds a Masters degree in Public Administration from the University of Delaware and a Bachelors degree from Wilmington University in Behavioral Science. He has worked in the field of re-entry for over 10 years. He has been a Youth Advocate and has worked in the Wilmington community for over 15 years.
Chief Heather Zwickert joined the Department of Correction in 2000 as a Probation and Parole Officer. In 2012, she was promoted to Probation and Parole Supervisor, during which time she supervised the Pretrial Services Unit and served as the Department’s lead representative on the Smart Pretrial Initiative. In 2018, she moved to the Office of the Commissioner to serve as the Department’s Accreditation and Compliance Manager, overseeing compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) and American Correctional Association (ACA) standards. In 2019, she was appointed Deputy Chief of the Planning, Research, and Reentry Unit which has played a critical role in implementing Governor Carney’s Executive Order 27 to improve prisoner reentry outcomes through increased services and collaboration across state government and with community-based service providers. In 2021, she was appointed Chief of the Planning, Research, and Reentry Unit.
Deputy Chief Jessica Cline is a 24-year DOC veteran who joined the Department of Correction in 1997 as a Probation and Parole Officer. She was promoted in 2006 to Probation and Parole Supervisor at the Northern New Castle County Probation Office with responsibility over numerous areas, including Reentry Court, the DOC’s offender case management system, probation absconders, Probation and Parole’s participation in the National Criminal Justice Reform Project, policy drafting, and staff training. In this position Jessica began to build DOC’s statewide infrastructure to support reentry. In 2019 she was named the Department’s first Director of Reentry and has played a critical role in implementing Governor Carney’s Executive Order 27 to improve prisoner reentry outcomes through increased services and collaboration across state government and with community-based service providers. In this role Jessica worked closely with the Delaware Correctional Reentry Commission to create the Delaware Recidivism Reduction System Blueprint that guided reentry reforms from 2019 through 2021. In October 2021, Jessica was promoted to Deputy Chief of Planning, Research, and Reentry. In this role she will facilitate the implementation of the new Recidivism Reduction Blueprint launched by Governor Carney in October of 2021 that outlines reentry deliverables for the next three years.
Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long is widely recognized as a leader who uses her skill and expertise in governance to bring people together, collaborate with her fellow legislators, build consensus, and find common-sense solutions to issues and problems facing Delaware families and communities. Bethany has led the fight to make Delaware stronger and healthier as Lieutenant Governor. As the leading voice behind the creation of the Behavioral Health Consortium and as Chair, she has convened parents, teachers, law enforcement, healthcare professionals, lawmakers, and community members who have been affected by mental health and addiction. Her efforts have helped bring substantive and effective change in stemming the opioid crisis and creating a behavioral health system that works for everyone in Delaware. Under Bethany’s guidance, and through her boots-to-the-ground approach, Delaware was one of only four states in the country where the percentage of drug-overdose deaths decreased in 2021. As a nurse, health scientist, and University professor, Bethany understands the connection between physical and emotional wellness, which led her to launch the Lt. Governor’s Challenge 2.0 in 2018. From the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Bethany has directed Delaware’s battle against the virus, and promoted the work of our healthcare workers. On the frontline herself, Bethany has personally administered over four thousand COVID-19 vaccines to Delawareans statewide. Bethany has served as the Chair of the Board of Pardons since she took office in 2017. During her tenure at the board, she has worked tirelessly to help reduce the wait time to go before the Board and has taken measures to ensure that we remove barriers to help ensure Delawareans can receive a second chance. Bethany has been a member of the UD Nursing Faculty now for almost thirty years. She also holds a distinguished record at the University of Delaware (UD). She was the first nursing faculty at UD to receive the University-wide excellence in teaching award and is currently a Professor of Nursing and Joint Faculty in Urban Affairs. Her research and community service record with at-risk groups such as pregnant teens, diabetics, the homeless, and the mentally ill, makes her a nationally recognized health scientist. From 2002-2017, Bethany served as a member of Delaware’s legislature, first as a Representative and then as a Senator. She served as the Chair of the Health and Social Services committee where her efforts were aimed at improving health outcomes among Delawareans by combating addiction, focusing on a stronger mental health system, fighting cancer, and health inequities in our state. She also served as a member of the capital budget Bond Committee where Bethany focused on building Delaware’s infrastructure, modernizing our schools, ensuring proper support is available for reentry to our community, and protecting our environment and open space. Currently, Bethany is serving as the National Chair of the Democratic Lieutenant Governor’s Association for a second term. Bethany has continued to be a leader in the nation by recently serving as the Chair of the National Lieutenant Governor’s Association from 2019 to 2021. Bethany was sworn in for the second time as Delaware’s 26th Lieutenant Governor on January 19th, 2021. She has always been and will continue to be a strong voice for all of Delaware.
Coley Harris serves as the Office of Defense Service’s Community Engagement Specialist. Coley joined the ODS in 2022 and serves as the direct link between the ODS and the communities the office serves. Coley has an extensive history working with impacted individuals and communities. He previously worked for both Crossroads of Delaware and Delaware Pathway developing community programs and outreach. Through his position as lead research assistant with the University of Delaware, Christiana Care and the Center for Court Innovation in New York, Coley presented at various conferences throughout the US and provided training on the research methodology know as Street Participatory Action Research which is the process of doing research and activism with street-identified populations. Coley is also the founder of Out of the Ashes, a family restoration organization for formerly incarcerated individuals. In 2019, Coley was recognized by the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League, receiving its Community Service Award for his outstanding work.
Davis Rich serves as a client advocate with the Office of Defense Services. He has been in this role, via the Partners for Justice program, since August 2020. Davis provides service and resource navigation and supports clients to limit or avoid incarceration and other consequences of criminal legal system involvement. Davis graduated from Northwestern University in 2020.
Meredith Seitz currently serves as the Chief Policy Advisor for the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families (DSCYF). In this role, she works with the Governor’s policy team and external stakeholders to gain favorable policy outcomes for the Department’s clients and employees. Her responsibilities also include advising Department leadership on legislative strategy and internal policies. During her tenure at DSCYF, she has successfully pursued legislation to expand adoption, created a tuition waiver for youth who have aged out of foster care, as well as enabling legislation for the “Take Care Delaware” program which provides a trauma-informed response for children and youth in schools. After graduating from college in 2009 with a B.A. in Political Science and History from the University of Vermont, Meredith returned home to pursue a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Delaware. While working on her MPA, she worked as a Research Assistant at the Institute for Public Administration and helped create and lead the School of Public Policy and Administration’s first undergraduate winter session program in Washington, DC. After graduating in 2012, Meredith worked as the Finance Director for the State Democratic Party before accepting a position as a Legislative Aide with the Delaware House of Representatives Democratic Caucus in 2014. In that role, she assisted the Chair of the Joint Finance Committee and the Chair of the Joint Capital Improvement Committee on legislative and constituent issues. In March 2017, she was promoted to the position of Policy Analyst where she worked on legislative initiatives and special research projects for caucus members. She served in that role until coming to DSCYF in July 2018. Outside of work, Meredith enjoys volunteering as a mentor at the Clarence Fraim Boys & Girls Club. Meredith lives in Hockessin with her husband and two children.
Daron “Timeless Thomas” Swann is a certified ACLU Smart Justice Ambassador. A Wilmington native, he worked closely with inner city youth for the Wilmington Department of Parks and Recreation before serving nine years in prison. After his release, he earned a divinity degree and became an ordained minister in the Universal Life Church. He also majored in Behavioral Health and Human Services at the Community College of Philadelphia. An infinite ball of entrepreneurial spirit and community outreach energy, he branded the marketing, promotion and production business Timeless Thomas Co. Timeless published the book, “101 Things You Should Know About Jail” in 2019. Today, he continues to minister to elderly residents at ProMedica ManorCare and has become one of the biggest personalities on 95.3FM. He also hosts a weekly high-energy podcast called “Back to Greatest.”
Corry Wright is the Director of Youth and Diversion Services at the Delaware Center for Justice, he holds a Masters degree in Public Administration from the University of Delaware and a Bachelors degree from Wilmington University in Behavioral Science. He has worked in the field of re-entry for over 10 years. He has been a Youth Advocate and has worked in the Wilmington community for over 15 years.
Chief Heather Zwickert joined the Department of Correction in 2000 as a Probation and Parole Officer. In 2012, she was promoted to Probation and Parole Supervisor, during which time she supervised the Pretrial Services Unit and served as the Department’s lead representative on the Smart Pretrial Initiative. In 2018, she moved to the Office of the Commissioner to serve as the Department’s Accreditation and Compliance Manager, overseeing compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) and American Correctional Association (ACA) standards. In 2019, she was appointed Deputy Chief of the Planning, Research, and Reentry Unit which has played a critical role in implementing Governor Carney’s Executive Order 27 to improve prisoner reentry outcomes through increased services and collaboration across state government and with community-based service providers. In 2021, she was appointed Chief of the Planning, Research, and Reentry Unit.
A National Perspective
Amanda Essex is an attorney and program principal in the Criminal Justice Program at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). She has worked for NCSL since May 2013 as a member of both the Transportation and Criminal Justice programs. She conducts research, writes, and presents on a range of topics, including criminal justice data, sentencing and corrections, community supervision, and front-end justice policy. Prior to joining NCSL, Essex worked as a student attorney in the University of Denver Sturm College of Law Civil Rights Clinic litigating claims under the eighth amendment and Americans with Disabilities Act, representing an inmate at Colorado State Penitentiary. She received her Bachelor of Arts cum laude in political science from Colorado State University. She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.
Karmen Hanson is an associate director for health and lead of behavioral health and pharmaceutical policy at the National Conference of State Legislatures. Hanson has been with NCSL for over 21 years and specializes in tracking and analyzing state health legislation and laws in the areas of behavioral health, state cannabis programs, pharmaceuticals, cancer and others. She has convened dozens of state policy meetings with legislators and health policy experts, collaborated with numerous federal agencies and other national organizations, and testified for a wide variety of legislative committees and national audiences regarding state health policy issues. Hanson is also NCSL’s state liaison to the North Dakota Legislative Assembly. She has over 28 years of experience in national nonprofits. Hanson earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in psychology and sociology from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Master of Arts in sociology from the University of Denver.
Tammy Jo Hill is a policy specialist in the health program at the National Conference of State Legislatures, supporting work related to behavioral health, public health and maternal and child health. Prior to joining NCSL, she spent years supporting Colorado's Medicaid Program as a program manager and policy specialist for their fee-for-service state contractors. Hill has a Master of Arts degree in Political Science from Colorado State University.
Karmen Hanson is an associate director for health and lead of behavioral health and pharmaceutical policy at the National Conference of State Legislatures. Hanson has been with NCSL for over 21 years and specializes in tracking and analyzing state health legislation and laws in the areas of behavioral health, state cannabis programs, pharmaceuticals, cancer and others. She has convened dozens of state policy meetings with legislators and health policy experts, collaborated with numerous federal agencies and other national organizations, and testified for a wide variety of legislative committees and national audiences regarding state health policy issues. Hanson is also NCSL’s state liaison to the North Dakota Legislative Assembly. She has over 28 years of experience in national nonprofits. Hanson earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in psychology and sociology from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Master of Arts in sociology from the University of Denver.
Tammy Jo Hill is a policy specialist in the health program at the National Conference of State Legislatures, supporting work related to behavioral health, public health and maternal and child health. Prior to joining NCSL, she spent years supporting Colorado's Medicaid Program as a program manager and policy specialist for their fee-for-service state contractors. Hill has a Master of Arts degree in Political Science from Colorado State University.
Listening Session
My name is Samuel Cocke and I was released from James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in November of 2019. I served 7 years for several felonies as a habitual offender. The reason I believe I bring a unique perspective to this topic is not only, as I mentioned earlier, that I did time in a Delaware correctional facility. But, I’m also a repeat offender who has also been incarcerated in other states. And this, I believe gives me a unique perspective. I’m 38 years old and originally from Florida but have been here for over 20 years.
Joseph P. Connor, Jr. is Delaware native, who was educated at St Elizabeth’s, Salesianum, Brandywine High School, and the University of Delaware. In my early career, I was Delaware Labor director for the McGovern for President campaign in 1972 and coordinated with President Biden’s first campaign. I was employed for 10 year as an International Representative of the United Food and Commercial Workers AFL-CIO and served as deputy national labor director for the Carter/Mondale re election campaign in 1979-80. In the early 80’s, my drinking led to personal and employment issues. Fortunately, I was able to find treatment in early 1984. I then was able to regain my ability to earn a decent living and in 1986 we moved to the Bethany Beach area, and I started a successful real estate career. I was active in the recovery community and Governor Carper appointed me to the Governor’s Council on Substance Abuse and Mental Health in 1993. I served on the Council until 2007 and was Chair from 1998 to 2006. In about 2003, I quietly relapsed while maintaining a façade of sobriety. This went on for several years until I could no longer hide my addiction. My journey through the criminal justice system began on the evening of August 13, 2006 when I ran a red light and was broadsided by a pick up truck at Rt 40 and 896 in Glasgow. I was cut from the vehicle in critical condition, underwent major hip surgery and spent over two weeks in the hospital recovering from the surgery, punctured lung, and multiple broken ribs. I was charged with DUI but with good representation I was able to plead to reckless driving and get my license back. By this time my business was in turmoil and I did not use my pain meds responsibly. In Early May 2007 I filed chapter 7 bankruptcy and agreed to forfeit my home. I was involved in a financial dispute with a bank and I did not take it seriously and they decided to seek criminal charges. On May 17, 2007 I was driving back from Washington DC to meet my lawyer and deal with the charges I was drinking and in deep depression. I stopped my car on the Bay Bridge in Annapolis, climbed on the rail and intended to jump. Something stopped me and I went back in the car and continued to head home. I did not make it. A Trooper attempted to pull me over west of Bethany and I led them on a multiple mile chase almost to Selbyville when I aimed the car at a tree and accelerated. I instead rolled the car in a ditch and came to rest. Thus began my road to recovery and my current life. I found myself yet again in the hospital in Salisbury MD in critical condition and under a suicide watch. My injuries included a crushed foot, shoulder injuries, and more broken ribs. I was facing multiple serious legal consequences and my financial resources were exhausted. I was wrapped in the arms of many friends who rallied to my side. I was able through those friends to receive in-patient psychiatric and substance abuse treatment. I moved to Wilmington, found housing and employment prior to my court appearance. On September 21, 2007, I pleaded to several charges and began my journey through DOC which continued until July 31, 2009. I spent time at SCI , CVOP and the Plummer Center. I completed the Crest program. After my release I spent 6 months on Level III probation with mandatory after care. I was released from probation entirely in April 2011. I started my new life in an Oxford House and was working part time for the Addictions Coalition and for a real estate friend inspecting vacant houses and writing reports. Briefly my life steadily improved. I regained my real estate career. I developed a parallel career in the recovery world with the Addictions Coalition, Connections, and Brandywine Counseling. In 2016 Governor Markell granted me a pardon. Today, I am again a home owner and I have a great life notwithstanding my multiple lingering health and mobility issues. The gift of sobriety has been at the center of all of the things that have returned to my life.
Derek Johnson, also known as Dawud Mustafa Muhammad, was born and raised in the City of Baltimore. A survivor of 38 years of incarceration, I was able to prevail, persevere and maneuver out of a situation that had him marked for death only by the Grace of Allah (God). As a Muslim, I was able to grasp and embraced the Ayat in the Qur'an. In Surah 286, Allah says on no soul will I place a burden that we can not bear. This means that no matter who you are or where you on your life journey, there is no impediments that we face that is impossible for us to overcome. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad said when God created the Heavens and Earth out of nothing He destroyed the impossible. In 2019, Allah blessed me with the opportunity to be released from prison on parole. To be honest with you, I felt like David the King in the Scriptures when he slayed the beast Goliath. Despite what seems impossible for him to overpower the beast he was courageous enough to stand before the Beast and slayed him. Well, that's how I felt inside the belly of the beast for 38 years. I prevailed by walking out of prison as opposed to leaving out in a box. Nevertheless, out of tragedy comes triumph and out of suffering comes creativity. My endeavors to re-enter and re-integrate back out into society have been very successful. As a result of my faith and diligence, I managed to exceed the expectations of those who underestimated my ability to prevail. Currently ,I resides in my own apartment, have my own car Nissan 2014 Altima, work two jobs at Marriott Residence Inn and Family Dollar and serve as an advocate for the Urban League and the ACLU. Indeed doing my part to give back to the community. Ala-hum-dul-Allah !
Keandra McDole's hometown is Wilmington, Delaware. She is a wife, mother, community leader, and police reform activist. She spends most of her time putting smiles on children's faces throughout the many neighborhoods in the city of Wilmington. Keandra received her GED while incarcerated at Baylor Woman’s Correctional institution in 2009. Keandra currently has two felonies on her record. She is haunted by her past mistakes even still to this day and is forced to work for minimal wage. Keandra received a fully paid scholarship to attend Wilmington University in 2016. She helped change a use-of-force law in Delaware. This law was put in place for more than 70 years and was used to protect good and bad officers. Keandra dedicates her life in changing laws that will help make it safe for everyone in the state of Delaware.
Nautica Powell is 24 years old. I have 5 healthy baby boys with my lovely husband. I have been a certified nursing assistant for the past three years. My goal is to become a licensed practical nurse while working towards obtaining my registered nursing degree. My most impressive achievement was surviving most of my life without having a father because he was incarcerated off and on throughout my entire childhood. I am also proud that I was able to graduate high school as a teen mom in only three years. I walked across Mount Pleasant High School stage with my son watching in the audience. My hometown is Wilmington, Delaware. My hobbies are cooking, math, running and also baking.
Alani Ray (or Ani, as she likes to be called) is a native Virginian who moved to Delaware when she was 15. Since living in Delaware, Ani’s energy has constantly been on overdrive. From working with nonprofits, pursuing higher education, and her work with the ACLU, you’ll always find her researching something or being stuck asking, “What’s next?"
Sylvester Shockley is 71 years old, and spent over 50 year in prison at different stages of his life. He was released in 2019 from the James T, Vaughn Correctional Center after spending over 37 years in prison. While incarcerated, he led, helped develop, coordinate and participated in a host of programs. Shockley's ability to draw from his wealth of experiences has made him well qualified with insight to support the changes that are needed to our prison system and re-entry here in Delaware. The path seems clear given his past. Family, friends and healthy relationships are the focus of his future personal goals. Professionally, Sylvester hopes through his prior positions and experiences, help in finding ways to better our prison system and to develop programs to assist others to find a path forward of their own – in coaching them through the unresolved traumas which have contributed to their situation as it is, and to develop a successful pathway from prison back into the community.
Joseph P. Connor, Jr. is Delaware native, who was educated at St Elizabeth’s, Salesianum, Brandywine High School, and the University of Delaware. In my early career, I was Delaware Labor director for the McGovern for President campaign in 1972 and coordinated with President Biden’s first campaign. I was employed for 10 year as an International Representative of the United Food and Commercial Workers AFL-CIO and served as deputy national labor director for the Carter/Mondale re election campaign in 1979-80. In the early 80’s, my drinking led to personal and employment issues. Fortunately, I was able to find treatment in early 1984. I then was able to regain my ability to earn a decent living and in 1986 we moved to the Bethany Beach area, and I started a successful real estate career. I was active in the recovery community and Governor Carper appointed me to the Governor’s Council on Substance Abuse and Mental Health in 1993. I served on the Council until 2007 and was Chair from 1998 to 2006. In about 2003, I quietly relapsed while maintaining a façade of sobriety. This went on for several years until I could no longer hide my addiction. My journey through the criminal justice system began on the evening of August 13, 2006 when I ran a red light and was broadsided by a pick up truck at Rt 40 and 896 in Glasgow. I was cut from the vehicle in critical condition, underwent major hip surgery and spent over two weeks in the hospital recovering from the surgery, punctured lung, and multiple broken ribs. I was charged with DUI but with good representation I was able to plead to reckless driving and get my license back. By this time my business was in turmoil and I did not use my pain meds responsibly. In Early May 2007 I filed chapter 7 bankruptcy and agreed to forfeit my home. I was involved in a financial dispute with a bank and I did not take it seriously and they decided to seek criminal charges. On May 17, 2007 I was driving back from Washington DC to meet my lawyer and deal with the charges I was drinking and in deep depression. I stopped my car on the Bay Bridge in Annapolis, climbed on the rail and intended to jump. Something stopped me and I went back in the car and continued to head home. I did not make it. A Trooper attempted to pull me over west of Bethany and I led them on a multiple mile chase almost to Selbyville when I aimed the car at a tree and accelerated. I instead rolled the car in a ditch and came to rest. Thus began my road to recovery and my current life. I found myself yet again in the hospital in Salisbury MD in critical condition and under a suicide watch. My injuries included a crushed foot, shoulder injuries, and more broken ribs. I was facing multiple serious legal consequences and my financial resources were exhausted. I was wrapped in the arms of many friends who rallied to my side. I was able through those friends to receive in-patient psychiatric and substance abuse treatment. I moved to Wilmington, found housing and employment prior to my court appearance. On September 21, 2007, I pleaded to several charges and began my journey through DOC which continued until July 31, 2009. I spent time at SCI , CVOP and the Plummer Center. I completed the Crest program. After my release I spent 6 months on Level III probation with mandatory after care. I was released from probation entirely in April 2011. I started my new life in an Oxford House and was working part time for the Addictions Coalition and for a real estate friend inspecting vacant houses and writing reports. Briefly my life steadily improved. I regained my real estate career. I developed a parallel career in the recovery world with the Addictions Coalition, Connections, and Brandywine Counseling. In 2016 Governor Markell granted me a pardon. Today, I am again a home owner and I have a great life notwithstanding my multiple lingering health and mobility issues. The gift of sobriety has been at the center of all of the things that have returned to my life.
Derek Johnson, also known as Dawud Mustafa Muhammad, was born and raised in the City of Baltimore. A survivor of 38 years of incarceration, I was able to prevail, persevere and maneuver out of a situation that had him marked for death only by the Grace of Allah (God). As a Muslim, I was able to grasp and embraced the Ayat in the Qur'an. In Surah 286, Allah says on no soul will I place a burden that we can not bear. This means that no matter who you are or where you on your life journey, there is no impediments that we face that is impossible for us to overcome. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad said when God created the Heavens and Earth out of nothing He destroyed the impossible. In 2019, Allah blessed me with the opportunity to be released from prison on parole. To be honest with you, I felt like David the King in the Scriptures when he slayed the beast Goliath. Despite what seems impossible for him to overpower the beast he was courageous enough to stand before the Beast and slayed him. Well, that's how I felt inside the belly of the beast for 38 years. I prevailed by walking out of prison as opposed to leaving out in a box. Nevertheless, out of tragedy comes triumph and out of suffering comes creativity. My endeavors to re-enter and re-integrate back out into society have been very successful. As a result of my faith and diligence, I managed to exceed the expectations of those who underestimated my ability to prevail. Currently ,I resides in my own apartment, have my own car Nissan 2014 Altima, work two jobs at Marriott Residence Inn and Family Dollar and serve as an advocate for the Urban League and the ACLU. Indeed doing my part to give back to the community. Ala-hum-dul-Allah !
Keandra McDole's hometown is Wilmington, Delaware. She is a wife, mother, community leader, and police reform activist. She spends most of her time putting smiles on children's faces throughout the many neighborhoods in the city of Wilmington. Keandra received her GED while incarcerated at Baylor Woman’s Correctional institution in 2009. Keandra currently has two felonies on her record. She is haunted by her past mistakes even still to this day and is forced to work for minimal wage. Keandra received a fully paid scholarship to attend Wilmington University in 2016. She helped change a use-of-force law in Delaware. This law was put in place for more than 70 years and was used to protect good and bad officers. Keandra dedicates her life in changing laws that will help make it safe for everyone in the state of Delaware.
Nautica Powell is 24 years old. I have 5 healthy baby boys with my lovely husband. I have been a certified nursing assistant for the past three years. My goal is to become a licensed practical nurse while working towards obtaining my registered nursing degree. My most impressive achievement was surviving most of my life without having a father because he was incarcerated off and on throughout my entire childhood. I am also proud that I was able to graduate high school as a teen mom in only three years. I walked across Mount Pleasant High School stage with my son watching in the audience. My hometown is Wilmington, Delaware. My hobbies are cooking, math, running and also baking.
Alani Ray (or Ani, as she likes to be called) is a native Virginian who moved to Delaware when she was 15. Since living in Delaware, Ani’s energy has constantly been on overdrive. From working with nonprofits, pursuing higher education, and her work with the ACLU, you’ll always find her researching something or being stuck asking, “What’s next?"
Sylvester Shockley is 71 years old, and spent over 50 year in prison at different stages of his life. He was released in 2019 from the James T, Vaughn Correctional Center after spending over 37 years in prison. While incarcerated, he led, helped develop, coordinate and participated in a host of programs. Shockley's ability to draw from his wealth of experiences has made him well qualified with insight to support the changes that are needed to our prison system and re-entry here in Delaware. The path seems clear given his past. Family, friends and healthy relationships are the focus of his future personal goals. Professionally, Sylvester hopes through his prior positions and experiences, help in finding ways to better our prison system and to develop programs to assist others to find a path forward of their own – in coaching them through the unresolved traumas which have contributed to their situation as it is, and to develop a successful pathway from prison back into the community.
Listening Session Debrief
Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long is widely recognized as a leader who uses her skill and expertise in governance to bring people together, collaborate with her fellow legislators, build consensus, and find common-sense solutions to issues and problems facing Delaware families and communities. Bethany has led the fight to make Delaware stronger and healthier as Lieutenant Governor. As the leading voice behind the creation of the Behavioral Health Consortium and as Chair, she has convened parents, teachers, law enforcement, healthcare professionals, lawmakers, and community members who have been affected by mental health and addiction. Her efforts have helped bring substantive and effective change in stemming the opioid crisis and creating a behavioral health system that works for everyone in Delaware. Under Bethany’s guidance, and through her boots-to-the-ground approach, Delaware was one of only four states in the country where the percentage of drug-overdose deaths decreased in 2021. As a nurse, health scientist, and University professor, Bethany understands the connection between physical and emotional wellness, which led her to launch the Lt. Governor’s Challenge 2.0 in 2018. From the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Bethany has directed Delaware’s battle against the virus, and promoted the work of our healthcare workers. On the frontline herself, Bethany has personally administered over four thousand COVID-19 vaccines to Delawareans statewide. Bethany has served as the Chair of the Board of Pardons since she took office in 2017. During her tenure at the board, she has worked tirelessly to help reduce the wait time to go before the Board and has taken measures to ensure that we remove barriers to help ensure Delawareans can receive a second chance. Bethany has been a member of the UD Nursing Faculty now for almost thirty years. She also holds a distinguished record at the University of Delaware (UD). She was the first nursing faculty at UD to receive the University-wide excellence in teaching award and is currently a Professor of Nursing and Joint Faculty in Urban Affairs. Her research and community service record with at-risk groups such as pregnant teens, diabetics, the homeless, and the mentally ill, makes her a nationally recognized health scientist. From 2002-2017, Bethany served as a member of Delaware’s legislature, first as a Representative and then as a Senator. She served as the Chair of the Health and Social Services committee where her efforts were aimed at improving health outcomes among Delawareans by combating addiction, focusing on a stronger mental health system, fighting cancer, and health inequities in our state. She also served as a member of the capital budget Bond Committee where Bethany focused on building Delaware’s infrastructure, modernizing our schools, ensuring proper support is available for reentry to our community, and protecting our environment and open space. Currently, Bethany is serving as the National Chair of the Democratic Lieutenant Governor’s Association for a second term. Bethany has continued to be a leader in the nation by recently serving as the Chair of the National Lieutenant Governor’s Association from 2019 to 2021. Bethany was sworn in for the second time as Delaware’s 26th Lieutenant Governor on January 19th, 2021. She has always been and will continue to be a strong voice for all of Delaware.
Jon Offredo serves as the Legislative and Communications Director for the Office of Defense Services. Jon acts as the liaison between Legislative Hall and the ODS and spearheads the agency’s policy and legislative goals. He also manages the office’s communications plan and acts as the spokesperson to the media. He previously was a reporter at the News Journal. Jon is a graduate of West Virginia University and obtained his Master of International Multimedia Journalism from Newcastle University in the United Kingdom.
Kevin O’Connell serves as the Chief Defender of the Office of Defense Services. He was appointed to the position by Governor John Carney in May 2021. Kevin has more than 30 years of experience representing indigent criminal clients. He has been with the ODS since 2005, most recently as the head of the New Castle County Division and head of the office’s Superior Court Unit. Prior to that, Kevin was in private practice. Kevin is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a founding member of the Delaware Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and Widener University Delaware Law School. Kevin was awarded the ACLU of Delaware’s Clarence Darrow Award in 2018.
Meredith Seitz currently serves as the Chief Policy Advisor for the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families (DSCYF). In this role, she works with the Governor’s policy team and external stakeholders to gain favorable policy outcomes for the Department’s clients and employees. Her responsibilities also include advising Department leadership on legislative strategy and internal policies. During her tenure at DSCYF, she has successfully pursued legislation to expand adoption, created a tuition waiver for youth who have aged out of foster care, as well as enabling legislation for the “Take Care Delaware” program which provides a trauma-informed response for children and youth in schools. After graduating from college in 2009 with a B.A. in Political Science and History from the University of Vermont, Meredith returned home to pursue a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Delaware. While working on her MPA, she worked as a Research Assistant at the Institute for Public Administration and helped create and lead the School of Public Policy and Administration’s first undergraduate winter session program in Washington, DC. After graduating in 2012, Meredith worked as the Finance Director for the State Democratic Party before accepting a position as a Legislative Aide with the Delaware House of Representatives Democratic Caucus in 2014. In that role, she assisted the Chair of the Joint Finance Committee and the Chair of the Joint Capital Improvement Committee on legislative and constituent issues. In March 2017, she was promoted to the position of Policy Analyst where she worked on legislative initiatives and special research projects for caucus members. She served in that role until coming to DSCYF in July 2018. Outside of work, Meredith enjoys volunteering as a mentor at the Clarence Fraim Boys & Girls Club. Meredith lives in Hockessin with her husband and two children.
Deputy Chief of Prisons Paul Shavack joined the Department of Correction in 2017 following a 26 year career with the Delaware State Police, where he first served as a Trooper assigned to Troop 1, followed by a Trooper Paramedic with the DSP Aviation Section, and as a Special Operations Response Team (SORT) Medic. He rose through the ranks in the Aviation Section, earning a promotion to Sergeant in 2000 and assignment as the Trooper Medic Commander. Throughout the rest of his DSP career, he served in numerous leadership roles, including Troop 2 Shift Commander, New Castle County Governor’s Task Force Commander, and Director of Public Information at DSP Headquarters. After joining the DOC as a Training Administrator in 2017, he was promoted to Training Administrator II in February 2018 and Director of Training in April 2018. In March 2019 he was promoted to Deputy Bureau Chief of Prisons, and he currently serves as the Bureau’s Public Information Officer and as the Department of Correction Legislative Liaison. Deputy Chief Shavack also brings more than two decades of military experience after serving with the Delaware Air National Guard as a First Sergeant deploying in support of Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Shula Dragon in South America. He retired from the Delaware Air National Guard in 2004 at the rank of Senior Master Sergeant.
Daron “Timeless Thomas” Swann is a certified ACLU Smart Justice Ambassador. A Wilmington native, he worked closely with inner city youth for the Wilmington Department of Parks and Recreation before serving nine years in prison. After his release, he earned a divinity degree and became an ordained minister in the Universal Life Church. He also majored in Behavioral Health and Human Services at the Community College of Philadelphia. An infinite ball of entrepreneurial spirit and community outreach energy, he branded the marketing, promotion and production business Timeless Thomas Co. Timeless published the book, “101 Things You Should Know About Jail” in 2019. Today, he continues to minister to elderly residents at ProMedica ManorCare and has become one of the biggest personalities on 95.3FM. He also hosts a weekly high-energy podcast called “Back to Greatest.”
Chief Heather Zwickert joined the Department of Correction in 2000 as a Probation and Parole Officer. In 2012, she was promoted to Probation and Parole Supervisor, during which time she supervised the Pretrial Services Unit and served as the Department’s lead representative on the Smart Pretrial Initiative. In 2018, she moved to the Office of the Commissioner to serve as the Department’s Accreditation and Compliance Manager, overseeing compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) and American Correctional Association (ACA) standards. In 2019, she was appointed Deputy Chief of the Planning, Research, and Reentry Unit which has played a critical role in implementing Governor Carney’s Executive Order 27 to improve prisoner reentry outcomes through increased services and collaboration across state government and with community-based service providers. In 2021, she was appointed Chief of the Planning, Research, and Reentry Unit.
Jon Offredo serves as the Legislative and Communications Director for the Office of Defense Services. Jon acts as the liaison between Legislative Hall and the ODS and spearheads the agency’s policy and legislative goals. He also manages the office’s communications plan and acts as the spokesperson to the media. He previously was a reporter at the News Journal. Jon is a graduate of West Virginia University and obtained his Master of International Multimedia Journalism from Newcastle University in the United Kingdom.
Kevin O’Connell serves as the Chief Defender of the Office of Defense Services. He was appointed to the position by Governor John Carney in May 2021. Kevin has more than 30 years of experience representing indigent criminal clients. He has been with the ODS since 2005, most recently as the head of the New Castle County Division and head of the office’s Superior Court Unit. Prior to that, Kevin was in private practice. Kevin is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a founding member of the Delaware Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and Widener University Delaware Law School. Kevin was awarded the ACLU of Delaware’s Clarence Darrow Award in 2018.
Meredith Seitz currently serves as the Chief Policy Advisor for the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families (DSCYF). In this role, she works with the Governor’s policy team and external stakeholders to gain favorable policy outcomes for the Department’s clients and employees. Her responsibilities also include advising Department leadership on legislative strategy and internal policies. During her tenure at DSCYF, she has successfully pursued legislation to expand adoption, created a tuition waiver for youth who have aged out of foster care, as well as enabling legislation for the “Take Care Delaware” program which provides a trauma-informed response for children and youth in schools. After graduating from college in 2009 with a B.A. in Political Science and History from the University of Vermont, Meredith returned home to pursue a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Delaware. While working on her MPA, she worked as a Research Assistant at the Institute for Public Administration and helped create and lead the School of Public Policy and Administration’s first undergraduate winter session program in Washington, DC. After graduating in 2012, Meredith worked as the Finance Director for the State Democratic Party before accepting a position as a Legislative Aide with the Delaware House of Representatives Democratic Caucus in 2014. In that role, she assisted the Chair of the Joint Finance Committee and the Chair of the Joint Capital Improvement Committee on legislative and constituent issues. In March 2017, she was promoted to the position of Policy Analyst where she worked on legislative initiatives and special research projects for caucus members. She served in that role until coming to DSCYF in July 2018. Outside of work, Meredith enjoys volunteering as a mentor at the Clarence Fraim Boys & Girls Club. Meredith lives in Hockessin with her husband and two children.
Deputy Chief of Prisons Paul Shavack joined the Department of Correction in 2017 following a 26 year career with the Delaware State Police, where he first served as a Trooper assigned to Troop 1, followed by a Trooper Paramedic with the DSP Aviation Section, and as a Special Operations Response Team (SORT) Medic. He rose through the ranks in the Aviation Section, earning a promotion to Sergeant in 2000 and assignment as the Trooper Medic Commander. Throughout the rest of his DSP career, he served in numerous leadership roles, including Troop 2 Shift Commander, New Castle County Governor’s Task Force Commander, and Director of Public Information at DSP Headquarters. After joining the DOC as a Training Administrator in 2017, he was promoted to Training Administrator II in February 2018 and Director of Training in April 2018. In March 2019 he was promoted to Deputy Bureau Chief of Prisons, and he currently serves as the Bureau’s Public Information Officer and as the Department of Correction Legislative Liaison. Deputy Chief Shavack also brings more than two decades of military experience after serving with the Delaware Air National Guard as a First Sergeant deploying in support of Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Shula Dragon in South America. He retired from the Delaware Air National Guard in 2004 at the rank of Senior Master Sergeant.
Daron “Timeless Thomas” Swann is a certified ACLU Smart Justice Ambassador. A Wilmington native, he worked closely with inner city youth for the Wilmington Department of Parks and Recreation before serving nine years in prison. After his release, he earned a divinity degree and became an ordained minister in the Universal Life Church. He also majored in Behavioral Health and Human Services at the Community College of Philadelphia. An infinite ball of entrepreneurial spirit and community outreach energy, he branded the marketing, promotion and production business Timeless Thomas Co. Timeless published the book, “101 Things You Should Know About Jail” in 2019. Today, he continues to minister to elderly residents at ProMedica ManorCare and has become one of the biggest personalities on 95.3FM. He also hosts a weekly high-energy podcast called “Back to Greatest.”
Chief Heather Zwickert joined the Department of Correction in 2000 as a Probation and Parole Officer. In 2012, she was promoted to Probation and Parole Supervisor, during which time she supervised the Pretrial Services Unit and served as the Department’s lead representative on the Smart Pretrial Initiative. In 2018, she moved to the Office of the Commissioner to serve as the Department’s Accreditation and Compliance Manager, overseeing compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) and American Correctional Association (ACA) standards. In 2019, she was appointed Deputy Chief of the Planning, Research, and Reentry Unit which has played a critical role in implementing Governor Carney’s Executive Order 27 to improve prisoner reentry outcomes through increased services and collaboration across state government and with community-based service providers. In 2021, she was appointed Chief of the Planning, Research, and Reentry Unit.