The Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice recently announced the formation of its Returning Citizens Support Committee.

With the long-term goal to prevent recidivism, committee members empower returning citizens to overcome barriers for successful reentry into the community. They work with incarcerated men and women, or their family or friends to help them meet the challenges that arise on their journey. 

Incarcerated individuals with access to a computer, or their family or friends can request support in four areas: shelter, employment, legal services referral, and medical and/or mental health referral. 

To complete the form to access services, go to sdarj.org/returning-citizens-support. For individuals without computer access, the form can be downloaded, printed and mailed.

While focused primarily on Sussex County, the committee is partnering with organizations in all three counties and hopes to eventually provide statewide services.

Melvin Mitchell, committee chair, said, “The Returning Citizens Support Committee will research and report issues in the life cycle of the entire prison system and advocate for change – from intake, sentencing and incarceration, to returning to society and effecting and/or supporting change through legislation.”

Having recently retired to Millsboro from Bowie, Md., Mitchell brings years of experience as a prison reform activist with a passion for reforming Maryland’s criminal, legal and prison systems. After an exemplary federal government information technology career, and as president and CEO of a company designing and implementing information management systems, he, in collaboration with the minister of Reid Temple in Glenn Dale, Md., was actively involved for 30 years in support of citizens returning to society from prison. Second Chance with Assistance and other faith-based communities, organizations and government entities offered formerly incarcerated citizens and their families similar services to those now offered by the Returning Citizens Support Committee.