WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) - A state panel has agreed to seek more than $250,000 in federal funding for the state's effort to develop a comprehensive plan for cutting prison costs by reducing the number of offenders detained while awaiting trial and decreasing the recidivism rate among criminals who are released from prison.
At its inaugural meeting Monday, the Justice Reinvestment Oversight Group agreed to seek $269,000 in federal seed money for Delaware's reform effort.
The money would be used to hire a full-time coordinator for the Justice Reinvestment Initiative and for training and programs within the Department of Correction.
The justice reinvestment effort is aimed at developing more methodical approaches to setting bail, and preventing convicted criminals from committing more offenses after they are released from prison.
