QUICK FACTS BAR
State DOC: Delaware Department of Correction (DDOC)
Parole Board: Delaware Board of Parole
Medicaid expansion: YES (full expansion - 2014)
Voting rights: Restored after completing FULL sentence including probation and parole - no early restoration
SNAP drug felony ban: Full opt-out - no ban regardless of conviction
Expungement: Strong - Delaware's expungement law has been significantly expanded; covers most misdemeanors and many felonies after waiting periods; automatic expungement for eligible offenses; one of the better Mid-Atlantic frameworks
Ban the box: Public AND private employers - Delaware's statewide law covers most employers; Wilmington has additional local protections; also bail-banned state
INTRO
Delaware is a small state - the second smallest by land area - but has built a relatively progressive reentry legal framework. Full Medicaid expansion since 2014, full SNAP opt-out, a statewide ban-the-box law covering private employers, bail abolished, and one of the better expungement frameworks in the Mid-Atlantic region. Delaware's 2019 and subsequent expungement reforms significantly expanded eligibility, and the state now has automatic expungement provisions for some categories. Voting rights require completing all supervision - Delaware has not moved to early restoration for parolees. The reentry service infrastructure is primarily in New Castle County (Wilmington and the Wilmington suburbs, where most of Delaware's population lives). Kent County (Dover, the state capital) has secondary resources. Sussex County (the beach resort area and rural south) has limited organized services. Delaware's small geographic size means that Wilmington-based services are generally accessible to most of the state.
FIRST 30 DAYS CHECKLIST
Day 1-3:
Report to your Delaware Board of Parole officer or DDOC probation officer as directed. DDOC's Probation and Parole unit administers supervision. Report on the scheduled date.
Day 1-7:
Obtain your Delaware state ID or driver's license. Delaware DMV: dmv.de.gov. DDOC provides a state ID to qualifying individuals at release. Bring: birth certificate or DDOC ID, Social Security card, and proof of Delaware residency.
Day 1-14:
Apply for Delaware Medicaid (Diamond State Health Plan). Most low-income adults qualify. Apply at assist.dhss.delaware.gov or call 1-866-843-7212.
Day 1-14:
Apply for SNAP (Delaware Food Stamps). Delaware has fully opted out of the federal drug felony ban. Apply at assist.dhss.delaware.gov or your local Division of Social Services office.
Day 1-30:
Determine your full supervision end date. Delaware voting rights restore only after completing all parole and probation.
ID RESTORATION
Birth certificate:
Delaware Office of Vital Statistics - dhss.delaware.gov/dph/vital-statistics. Cost: $25 per copy. DDOC assists with pre-release birth certificate requests.
Social Security card:
SSA.gov/ssnumber. Free.
State ID / Driver's License:
Delaware DMV - dmv.de.gov. Cost: $20 for ID card. DDOC provides state IDs at release.
ID Assistance Programs:
Delaware Community Legal Aid Society (declasi.org) statewide.
VOTING RIGHTS
Delaware restores voting rights after completing all parole and probation. Rights restore automatically - no application required.
Register at ivote.de.gov. Delaware does not have same-day registration - register at least 24 days before an election. Delaware allows mail voting.
BENEFITS ACCESS
DIAMOND STATE HEALTH PLAN (MEDICAID):
Full expansion since 2014. Apply at assist.dhss.delaware.gov or call 1-866-843-7212. DDOC has pre-release enrollment efforts.
SNAP: Full opt-out. Apply at assist.dhss.delaware.gov.
TANF: Full opt-out of the TANF drug felony ban.
Housing:
Delaware is a bail-banned state. Federal RRCs under BOP RRM Philadelphia (covers DE, PA, NJ, and others). State-supervised reentry housing through DDOC contracts. New Castle County (Wilmington) has the most options. Kent and Sussex counties have limited options.
EXPUNGEMENT AND RECORD RELIEF
Delaware expungement (11 Del. C. § 4371 et seq.):
Significantly expanded by legislation in 2019 and subsequent years.
What is eligible:
- Arrests without conviction: eligible immediately or after 1 year depending on circumstances
- Most misdemeanor convictions: eligible 3-5 years from completion of sentence with no new convictions
- Class F and G felony convictions (Delaware's lowest levels - include many drug and property offenses): eligible 7 years from completion with no new convictions - this is broad coverage for Delaware's common felony categories
- Higher felony convictions: more limited; Class A through E felonies generally require longer waiting periods or are not eligible
- Automatic expungement: Delaware has enacted automatic expungement for some arrest records and lower-level conviction categories - the system processes these without requiring a petition
What CANNOT be expunged: Violent felonies, sex offenses, crimes against children, and most Class A through C felony convictions.
Legal resources:
- Delaware Community Legal Aid Society: declasi.org / (302) 575-0408 - statewide
- Delaware Courts self-help: courts.delaware.gov/SelfHelp
EMPLOYMENT AND LICENSING
Ban the box - Delaware statewide:
Delaware prohibits employers with 4 or more employees from asking about criminal history on initial job applications. Employers must assess individually after the interview stage.
Wilmington has additional local protections.
Employment assistance:
- Delaware JobLink: joblink.delaware.gov - statewide workforce development with offices in Wilmington, Dover, and Georgetown
KEY DELAWARE REENTRY ORGANIZATIONS
Delaware Community Legal Aid Society (CLASI)
declasi.org / (302) 575-0408 / Wilmington (statewide)
Free civil legal services statewide including expungement, housing, and reentry legal needs.
Ministry of Caring
ministryofcaring.org / (302) 652-5523 / Wilmington
Social services, transitional housing, and reentry support in Wilmington and New Castle County.
Brandywine Counseling and Community Services
brandywinecounseling.org / (302) 655-3261 / Wilmington
Substance abuse treatment and behavioral health services with significant reentry population served.
DDOC Probation and Parole Division
doc.delaware.gov
Official DDOC reentry coordination.
STATE DOC REENTRY PROGRAMS
DDOC Reentry:
DDOC operates pre-release programming including education, vocational training, and substance abuse treatment. Delaware's correctional facilities are primarily in New Castle and Kent counties.
HALFWAY HOUSES LINK BLOCK
Find halfway houses and reentry housing in Delaware ->
inmateaid.com/halfway-houses/delaware/
Federal RRCs under BOP RRM Philadelphia. State-supervised reentry housing through DDOC contracts. New Castle County (Wilmington) has the most options. Delaware is bail-banned - no commercial bail bonds.
Frequently asked questions
Q: When do my voting rights restore in Delaware?
A: After completing all parole and probation. Rights restore automatically. Register at ivote.de.gov at least 24 days before any election.
Q: Can my Delaware felony conviction be expunged?
A: Class F and G felony convictions (Delaware's lowest levels) are eligible for expungement after 7 years from completion of sentence with no new convictions. Most misdemeanors after 3-5 years. Some records may be automatically expunged. Contact Delaware Community Legal Aid Society (declasi.org / 302-575-0408) for a free evaluation.
Q: How do I apply for Medicaid in Delaware after prison?
A: Apply at assist.dhss.delaware.gov or call 1-866-843-7212. Full expansion since 2014.
Q: Does Delaware ban the box for private employers?
A: Yes - employers with 4 or more employees cannot ask about criminal history on initial applications. Wilmington has additional protections. Delaware JobLink (joblink.delaware.gov) connects returning citizens to employers. TruthFinder WIDGET Search Delaware inmate and arrest records INTERNAL LINKS - inmateaid.com/halfway-houses/delaware/ - inmateaid.com/reentry/ - inmateaid.com/reentry/myths-and-facts/ EXTERNAL LINKS (new tab) - doc.delaware.gov - assist.dhss.delaware.gov - ivote.de.gov - dmv.de.gov - declasi.org - joblink.delaware.gov - findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov SCHEMA BreadcrumbList + FAQPage DATA SOURCES Voting rights: Del. Code tit. 15 § 1701 / ivote.de.gov; ccresourcecenter.org Medicaid: kff.org expansion tracker / DHSS (2014) SNAP: ccresourcecenter.org full opt-out confirmed Expungement: 11 Del. C. § 4371 et seq. (2019 expansion + subsequent) / declasi.org Ban the box: 19 Del. C. § 711(g) / DDOL; Wilmington local ordinance Bail abolition: Delaware pretrial reform / bail_banned = true BOP RRM: RRM Philadelphia covers DE, PA, NJ, and other states