Delaware gov. signs bills allowing ex-offenders easier time joining workforce

Gov. John Carney this week signed three new laws that will make it easier for Delawareans with criminal convictions to become licensed electricians, plumbers, HVAC workers and masseuses. 

The bills, which passed the state Legislature in June, were part of a package of criminal justice reform legislation backed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Delaware and Attorney General Kathy Jennings. 

Seizing on a nationwide bipartisan trend of lessening harsh sentences and helping ex-prisoners return to society, Delaware lawmakers passed 11 bills that advocates said will reform the system and ameliorate racial disparities. 

Many ex-offenders interviewed by The News Journal in July said it was difficult to get jobs with a felony conviction, contributing to a cycle of joblessness, crime and re-incarceration in their neighborhoods. The wave of reform bills, they said, gave them some hope of turning their lives around.

BACKGROUND: Ex-offenders in Delaware say new efforts offer hope

Those include measures Carney signed earlier this year to expand the list of crimes that ex-offenders can get sealed from their record after a period of time.

Another bill Carney signed will give judges more flexibility in allowing certain sentences to be served at the same time, rather than "stacked" to be served one after another.

MORE BACKGROUND: Delaware Democrats take aim at laws they see as unfairly hurting minorities, poor

On Monday he signed a bill that reduces the amount of time that must pass after a felony conviction for a person to be licensed for work in plumbing, heating and ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration.

Two other measures include the same rules for electricians' licenses, and massage and bodywork licenses.

Those with felony convictions, not including sex offenses, will be able to get a license after two years; those who commit crimes against another person can be licensed after three. The state will not be able to consider crimes committed more than 10 years ago, if an applicant hasn't committed any new crimes since. 

Contact Jeanne Kuang at jkuang@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2476. Follow her on Twitter at @JeanneKuang.

MORE BY JEANNE KUANG:

After Wilmington council rejected $5,000 grants, Shabazz gave out $4,900 instead

Wilmington suing both its police and firefighter unions

A dispute over Delaware's property taxes pits Wilmington against New Castle County