Bills would change probation and parole system

A pair of Senate bills would change Delaware’s probation and parole system.

Senate Bill 7 and Senate Bill 8, sponsored by Sen. Marie Pinkney, D-Bear, with support from Sen. Russ Huxtable, D-Lewes, would preserve public safety while modernizing the way the courts and Department of Correction administer community supervision, according to a press release on the bills.

SB 7 would direct the courts, the Board of Parole and the Bureau of Community Corrections to use the least restrictive probation and parole conditions and the most minimally intrusive reporting requirements necessary to meet the goals of community supervision – all while ensuring that conditions of probation are tailored for the specific needs of the individual, officials said. 

Under the bill, probation and parole officers would be required to establish meeting times and locations that reasonably accommodate the verifiable work schedule of an individual on probation, and take into consideration education, childcare, healthcare and transportation availability. The bill would allow remote meetings, such as Zoom or audio-only communication, as an alternative to face-to-face, in-person reporting by a probationer.

SB 8 would codify standard conditions of probation. Both bills await action in the Senate Executive Committee. 

Adoption bill

Sen. Dave Wilson, R-Lincoln, has introduced a bill to help relatives legally adopt children in their care.

Under the bill, relatives who meet five specific conditions would be eligible for free legal counsel during the termination of parental rights and adoption process. In order to qualify, the petitioner must be a relative of the child; have guardianship of the child; obtained guardianship while the child was in the custody of the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families; filed the guardianship petition on or after July 1, 2026; and be found indigent by the Family Court.

Wilson said the bill should provide long-term savings for the state.

“By helping more families finalize adoptions, we can reduce the number of children lingering in long-term foster care. That lowers the burden on our courts, caseworkers and housing systems,” he said in a statement.

The original SB 79 cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee in April. The substitute legislation now awaits consideration by the Senate Finance Committee.