Governor Meyer Signs Criminal Justice Reform Package Advancing Dignity, Privacy & Fairness in Delaware’s Justice System

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Media Contact:
Jonah Anderson
jonah.anderson@delaware.gov

DOVER, Del. — Governor Matt Meyer today signed three criminal justice reform bills designed to create a fairer justice system by preventing the criminalization of poverty, protecting everyone’s constitutional privacy, and strengthening reentry support for Delawareans returning to their communities.

Joined by legislators, advocates, impacted Delawareans, and criminal justice leaders at Legislative Hall, Governor Meyer signed House Bill 133, House Substitute 1 for House Bill 145, and Senate Bill 292.

“For too long, our criminal justice system has criminalized poverty, treated privacy as optional, and abandoned people at the exact moment they needed our support the most,” said Governor Matt Meyer. “These bills recognize that public safety and justice go hand in hand in a system that values fairness, dignity, and second chances alongside accountability. That’s how you build a stronger, safer, and more just Delaware.”

“In 2023, Grace Peterson was brutally assaulted, kidnapped, and left for dead by a man who was evicted from his Seaford halfway house without any real plan for his reentry into society. Her story is why I took the lead on Senate Bill 292, which requires landlords to develop a discharge plan and provide a warm hand-off when an individual is evicted from reentry housing,” said Sen. Stephanie Hansen. “This bill will help ensure that no Delawarean has to endure what Mrs. Peterson did and puts in place proper procedures that help individuals in their reentry journey.”

“No Delawarean should be subjected to the invasive surveillance of reverse keyword warrants. These methods show no regard for individuals’ consent and create a slippery slope that infringes on people’s privacy,” said Sen. Marie Pinkney. “This bill is necessary to guarantee that Delawareans’ smartphones and any other day-to-day online use will not be used against them.”

“Right now, even small offenses can leave someone with hundreds of dollars in court debt. For some people, that might not seem like much, but for others, it can be overwhelming. It can turn a one-time mistake into a life sentence of debt and poverty,” said Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall. “HB 133 is very important because it addresses the unjust impacts that the current structure of the criminal justice system has on low-income people by making sure that these fees – the vast majority of which already go unpaid by defendants who are struggling financially – do not have an outsized impact on someone’s future.”

“As the use of reverse keyword warrants continue to increase and people become more aware that everything they search online, from their casual curiosities to their most intimate queries, could be caught up in a digital dragnet search, online speech will be chilled,” said Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton. “Hb145 represents an important first step in protecting Delawareans’ and Americans’ private search data from government overreach. In our modern world where community conversations, relationship building, and access to important resources predominantly occur online, people may become hesitant to seek information and support that they need. With HS 1 for HB 145 now signed into law, we’ve taken an important step to start to alleviate these concerns for Delawareans and ensure that their constitutional right to privacy remains protected. More work remains to be done to protect Americans from mass surveillance and government overreach and I look forward to working with my colleagues to do that in the years to come.”

“Our justice system is centered around rehabilitation, and that doesn’t end when they leave prison,” said Rep. Kendra Johnson. “Imagine coming back into society after several years of being away from it, with no money, no housing, and limited resources. It’s hard. And just as we have the power to put people away, we must make sure they are able to re-enter it. SB 292 helps to ensure a smooth transition from incarceration, to re-entry housing, to their next stage in life, without the pain of being left to fend for themselves with no resources.”

“House Bill 133 reflects our shared commitment to a fairer justice system – one that allows individuals to move forward without being weighed down by debt – especially our economically disadvantaged neighbors,” said Sen. Darius Brown. “By protecting individuals on public assistance from unnecessary court fines and fees, we continue our work to right the wrongs of a justice system that has historically placed unjust burdens on low-income and underserved residents.”

Preventing the Criminalization of Poverty
House Bill 133, sponsored by Representative Claire Snyder-Hall and Senator Darius Brown, gives Delaware courts discretion to waive fines and fees, in whole or in part, when circumstances warrant. The legislation also creates a presumption against imposing certain fines and fees when a defendant demonstrates financial hardship, including receiving public assistance or being represented by the Office of Defense Services.

The legislation establishes a process for individuals already sentenced to pay fines or fees to seek relief and implements recommendations from the Criminal Legal System Imposed Debt Study Group. It is intended to ensure Delaware’s justice system does not punish individuals simply because they cannot afford to pay.

Protecting Everyone’s Digital Privacy
House Bill 145, sponsored by Representative Madinah Wilson-Anton and Senator Marie Pinkney, prohibits law enforcement and courts from requesting, issuing, or enforcing reverse-keyword court orders and requests, except in limited investigations involving suspected Class A felonies when a search returns five or fewer results.

The legislation is intended to ensure government searches remain grounded in individualized suspicion while protecting Delawareans’ constitutional privacy rights as digital technology increasingly records where people go, who they communicate with, and what they search online.

Strengthening Reentry and Public Safety
Senate Bill 292, sponsored by Senator Stephanie Hansen and Representative Kendra Johnson, requires landlords whose tenants receive state-funded reentry housing assistance to complete a discharge plan before terminating a lease, helping ensure individuals are connected to services before losing housing.

Known as the Grace Peterson Act, the legislation was inspired by Grace Peterson of Seaford, who survived a violent attack after an individual with a history of violence was removed from transitional housing without a coordinated handoff to community supervision and support. The law is designed to help prevent similar situations while improving coordination among reentry providers.
Governor Meyer recognized Peterson and her family during the ceremony, thanking her for turning a deeply personal tragedy into legislation that will help protect other Delawareans.

Governor Meyer also thanked the legislators, legal advocates, civil liberties organizations, public defenders, reentry organizations, and directly impacted Delawareans whose work and advocacy helped shape the legislation.

Photos and video from the signing can be found here.

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