The United States District Court for the District of Delaware’s Re-entry Court (“REC”) began operation in September 2012. It is a voluntary federal re-entry program for Delaware residents on supervised release who present a significant risk of recidivism. Specifically, it is intended for high-risk supervisees as identified through their criminal record and/or those who score moderate to high-risk on the United States Probation Office’s Post-Conviction Risk Assessment (“PCRA”). Risk assessment screening begins while candidates are residents of the Federal Residential Re-entry Center (“RRC”), where they are serving the final portion of their term of imprisonment.
Once selected for inclusion in the program, participants in Re-entry Court appear before a United States Magistrate Judge every two weeks, to discuss their progress on supervision. Each REC session takes approximately one hour. During their time in REC, the participants receive intensive supervision and mentoring by the Probation Office, while also receiving priority services in job training, job placement/retention, education, housing, and treatment. Their progress is reviewed prior to their court appearance by REC team members, who include: U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher J. Burke, Federal Public Defender Eleni Kousoulis, Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiana Sampson, Deputy Chief U.S. Probation Officer Robert Henderson, U.S. Probation Officer Angela Cosenza, Dr. Naomi Sadeh from (University of Delaware), and Tyrone Williams (peer mentor) .
After participants successfully complete 52 weeks in REC, they are eligible for a reduction of up to one year of their term of federal supervised release. They participate in a graduation ceremony attended by their families and friends, REC team members, other Court employees, service providers, and anyone else who contributed to the participant’s success. A reception with refreshments follows the graduation ceremony. As of the Spring of 2024, the REC has held 15 graduation ceremonies and has recognized 32 graduates of the program.
More information about the REC can be obtained from United States Probation and Pretrial Services Office for the District of Delaware.