COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICE
Gail Stallings Minor, Chief of Community Relations
Who are we: The Office of Community Relations works with the families of offenders, civic and community organizations, the church community, students, research bodies, quasi-government agencies, City and Town governments, other state and national agencies, and Delaware citizens in accommodating requests for information and assistance and in the resolution of constituent concerns. We are also the unit assigned to processing Kidney donation request and managing the logistics involved in that process. Finally, the Office of Community Relations works to keep DOC employees informed about Department developments through the agency newsletter and to encourage the outstanding performance of employees through recognition programs, picnics, banquets and special services.
What we do: The unit secures the needed linkages, manages the relationships and creates vehicles and opportunities to promote a positive agency image and to support the Department's commitment to public safety, the community and its employees.
The Office of Community Relations manages a Speakers Bureau that provides specialists from the Department of Correction to address clubs, civic groups and organizations on the agency, new agency initiatives and Department of Correction programs.
Our guiding principle: Part of our work to uphold public safety requires family interest, strong community links and solid government support. The Delaware Department of Correction needs the aid of the Delaware community to achieve this. The guiding principle for the Office of Community Relations is to keep sight of this and encourage these relationships.
Access to Information: The Delaware Department of Correction (DOC) understands that Delaware citizens are interested in corrections issues. The Delaware Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) allows access by Delaware citizens to certain Department of Correction information, documents, files, etc. However, there are areas of information that are not subject to disclosure. The following information and records, as specified by Delaware Code, are not deemed public:
- Pretrial and Presentence reports
- Criminal files and criminal records
- Intelligence matters that, if disclosed, would jeopardize security or are part of litigation or an active investigation
- Any records specifically exempted from public disclosure by statute or common law
- Psychological or clinical evaluations of inmates
- Any records involving labor negotiations or collective bargaining
- Personnel files
- Medical records
- Matters pending litigation or under investigation
- Any file that, if disclosed, would constitute an invasion of privacy under state and federal laws
- Any document or information of which the Delaware Department of Correction is not the custodian
- Any records specifically exempted from public disclosure by statute or common law
The Chief of Community Relations is responsible for handling all inquiries from Delaware citizens, except members of the news media. However, formal requests for information under the Delaware Freedom of Information Act must be submitted in writing to: Commissioner of Correction, 245 McKee Road, Dover, DE 19904.
The Department will make every attempt to provide a timely response to reasonable requests for information.
How to reach us: Contact the office located at 245 McKee Road, Dover, Delaware 19901 or by calling (302) 857-5246 or fax (302) 739-8220. All submissions for the quarterly newsletter can be sent via e-mail or fax.
What Organizations Contact Us for Information or
Assistance:
Hundreds of organizations contact us annually. The following listing gives
the names of only a few from that list.
NAACP
ACLU
U.S. Congressmen and Congress Women
U. S. Senators
State Senators
State Representatives
High School Students
College Students
Graduate Students
Researchers
Family of Offenders
Family of Probationers
Offenders and Probationers
