Article by: Emily Evans, President, New Castle County Smart Justice Chapter
Do you want to make a difference in your state and community’s criminal justice system, but don’t know where to begin? It can be difficult to know whether one person’s voice can actually make a difference in the deep-rooted, systemic issues that plague our criminal justice system—the problems are too large and too pervasive for one individual to affect any sort of lasting change… but together, when our voices and our actions combine in a chorus through unified efforts, we can make lasting, substantive change.
Join a group of like-minded people meeting the first Monday of every month from 6:30 – 7:30 pm at the Appoquinimink Community Library in Middletown, DE. We’ll network, collaborate, and educate fellow community members about current legislation in our state that directly affects Delaware citizens.
Together, our aim is to reduce the overall prison population in our state by 50 percent and challenge the racial disparities in the system. Meeting these goals requires a multi-faceted approach, so we need group members who are willing to meet with state legislators, canvas our communities, educate friends and family members, and mobilize change agents within New Castle County.
Due to the efforts of core group members, we were able to celebrate accomplishments at our very first meeting in August! In total, 11 bills were passed during the first half of this legislative session, affecting adult expungement and sentencing reform in an historic way. The momentum built so far just goes to show: Change is possible, and it is within reach.
Please consider joining us at a future meeting. We can’t wait to have you in this fight with us! For more information, contact Emily Evans, the chapter president at: emily.finding.grace@gmail.com. Or simply show up at our next meeting (more meeting info can be found here).
