Delaware’s Pardons Board Reforms Aim to Give Second Chances
October 9, 2024
DOVER, Del. — Reforms to Delaware’s Board of Pardons have significantly reduced wait times and helped more residents secure pardons and commutations in the last eight years than at any time in the past three decades, a move hailed as a critical step toward stability for those reentering society after incarceration.
Under the leadership of Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long, who has chaired the board since 2017, procedures have been streamlined, staffing increased, and legal adjustments made, all in an effort to expedite the process for applicants. These reforms have led to a sharp decrease in wait times for scheduling hearings — in some cases by half — and resulted in a rise in recommendations for pardons and commutations.
File Photo: Delaware Lieutenant Governor BETHANY HALL-LONG gives remarks during a Children’s Mental Health Forum Monday, Aug 01, 2022; at Nemours Children’s Health Center in Wilmington, DE. Photo By Saquan Stimpson
“The pardon and commutation processes are key to criminal justice reform,” Hall-Long said. “Over the past eight years, I’ve met thousands of people looking to overcome the barriers imposed by past mistakes, barriers that keep them from finding work, securing housing, or rebuilding their lives.”
Prior to the reforms, applicants often faced more than a year of waiting just to have their cases heard. The improvements have cut that wait to about four months for pardon petitions and for administrative reviews of commutations.
The Board of Pardons, which consists of the lieutenant governor, state auditor, state treasurer, secretary of state, and the chancellor of the Court of Chancery, meets monthly to review petitions. While the board can only make recommendations, final decisions rest with the governor.
State Treasurer Colleen Davis emphasized the importance of these changes, noting that the streamlined process has not only reduced wait times but also restored hope for many. “This is about second chances,” Davis said. “By addressing these issues, we empower people to move forward.”
Since 2017, the number of pardon petitions has risen by over 12%, with commutation hearings up by more than 90% compared to the previous eight-year period. As a result, the number of pardons granted by the governor has increased by nearly 20%, and commutations have surged by over 190%.
The reforms have also included legislative action, such as expanding the pool of professionals eligible to conduct mental health evaluations required for applications, reducing both wait times and costs for applicants.
Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the board continued to meet and process petitions, further cutting down the backlog.