Policy should be informed by the people it most directly affects. However, learning from people with lived experiences in the legal system, such as those who have served time in prison, isn’t often a priority for policymakers in Delaware.
Bringing directly affected people into the decision room concerning laws that will affect us makes better policy. Making that inclusion the norm, rather than the exception, is a real, tangible goal that lawmakers and Delawareans can work to make a reality.
That’s why the American Civil Liberties Union of Delaware’s Campaign for Smart Justice created the Smart Justice Ambassador (SJA) program. The training is designed to give people impacted by the legal system the skills necessary to become community advocates — effectively preparing communities to advocate for legislation, policies and initiatives to reduce the prison population and racial disparities within the legal system. In October, 20 directly impacted people from across the state completed the SJA training and are actively working in their communities, advocating for legal system reform. The SJAs are specifically interested in participating in discussions on policy reform, implementing new and innovative policies and services, and ensuring Black and Brown people have a fair shot when dealing with the legal system.
Research supports that having impacted community members participate in policy development is a principle of good governance that can help build trust with our communities and add legitimacy to the policymaking process. According to “Research on Restorative Justice Practices,” “programs operating in a non-coercive environment and that attempt to involve victims of crime and community members had the largest recidivism reduction effects.”
We’d like to introduce ourselves.
“My name is Daron “Timeless Thomas” Swann. I am a Smart Justice Ambassador, and I’m no stranger to prison, recidivism or the racial disparities that exist within the legal system. I have not only been a victim of these three plagues, but I’ve also evolved into a success story. Addressing systemic issues in a big-picture manner with directly impacted people at the table is important because if the underlying issues for people who have been convicted aren’t addressed, then ultimately, we’re just renovating a system that continues to harm the people it comes into contact with the most. People with convictions who have served more than one year in prison are considered “experts of incarceration.” That is a full-time internship or apprenticeship which arms them with enough experience to give an educated assessment on the changes or reforms that, ultimately, bring about crime and victim reduction in the community. As Smart Justice Ambassadors, we understand that a person who’s incarcerated is still a human being and will, one day, become a returning citizen who deserves to have a voice in a system in which they were once voiceless.”
Daron isn’t the only impacted community member using his story to advocate for his community to have a say in legal system lawmaking. Alani, another Smart Justice Ambassador, has her own reasons for making sure directly involved citizens have a seat at the table.
“My name is Alani Ray, and being a Smart Justice Ambassador is deeply personal for many reasons, including my familial associations with strict sentencing. At the age of 18, I experienced my stepfather being charged with attempted capital murder. Despite limited proof that he committed the crime and the fact that he was eligible for parole, the harsh sentencing that my stepfather received still affects him and my family every day. However, his story is only an example of a broader issue revolving around incarceration and harsh punishment systems. Millions of families have loved ones who are unjustly incarcerated but whose stories are silenced. This form of erasure is shown in legislation that does not reflect the demands of marginalized communities but prioritizes the self-interest of those in power. Until such individuals, families and communities are involved in these legislative processes, the stark reality of our current system will stay the same or worsen. In either case, transformative change in society will be elusive, if not for the people playing an active role in enacting that change. Then and only then can the cycle stop, and positive change will persist.”
Being a Smart Justice Ambassador means fighting for the voiceless and fundamentally reforming the various angles that prevent underserved communities from having resources and knowledge to combat oppressive systems. This looks like addressing the discrepancies between policing and community trust, the complicated barriers to obtaining an expungement, staggering fines and fees, and many more systematic processes intended to dissuade our communities from having a voice. Most importantly, it looks like the power of all of us (yes, you, too!) coming together to reduce bad policies that harm Delawareans.
If you have been impacted by the legal system in any way and you now want to be a part of reforming the legal system, you should join the Campaign for Smart Justice. You can join our coalition if you belong to an organization or you can join our coalition chapters in New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties if you are a community member who wants to get involved. Another way to get involved is to contact your state legislators directly and let them know that you want to be involved with decisions and planning around reforming the legal system. NAACP Delaware, Network Delaware, Delaware United, the Working Families Party, the Campaign to End Debtors’ Prison and other organizations advocating for legal system reform are always looking for community members to get involved in their initiatives, too. If you need help in finding a way to get connected, feel free to contact Campaign for Smart Justice manager Haneef Salaam at hsalaam@aclu-de.org.
When directly impacted people are directly involved in policy crafting and reform, every community in Delaware stands to win.
Daron (Timeless) Swann of Wilmington and Alani Ray of Camden are Smart Justice Ambassadors and community advocates.
