Dover, DE – Department of Correction Commissioner Terra Taylor today announced that Deputy Bureau Chief of Community Corrections Heidi Collier has been named statewide Director of Delaware Probation and Parole.
“Heidi possesses incredible knowledge of correctional practices which, along with her extensive experience, serves as an invaluable asset to our statewide leadership team,” Department of Correction Commissioner Terra Taylor said. “She has been instrumental in implementing the modern evidence-based assessment tools, staff training programs, and supervision strategies we are using today to achieve our mission. I have great confidence that under her leadership Delaware Probation and Parole will continue to embrace innovative new ideas alongside effective time-tested strategies to promote public safety, build upon strong collaborations with government and community partners, and drive sustained reentry success.”
Director Collier, who has more than two decades of corrections and law enforcement experience, completed her Correctional Officer training in 2003 and was assigned as an Officer to multiple security posts at James T. Vaughn Correctional Center. In 2008 she completed the Basic Officer Training Course and was assigned as a Probation Officer to the Domestic Violence Unit in the Hares Corner regional probation office. In 2011 she was promoted to Senior Probation Officer and was assigned as reentry coordinator for Kent County where developed and implemented procedures to guide reentry services, supervision and referrals to community-based treatment and social services in collaboration with state and non-profit partners. In 2017 she was promoted to Probation and Parole Supervisor with responsibility for intake, reentry, interstate compact and institutional release across Kent County. In 2018 Collier was named the Department’s statewide Director of Classification and Special Programs, where she engaged with leadership and staff across all DOC facilities, the courts, and treatment and program providers to assess offender risks and treatment needs, made security classification, housing, and treatment recommendations, and oversaw offender movement between DOC facilities and levels of community supervision. In October, 2021 she was further promoted to Deputy Chief of the Bureau of Community Corrections, which is responsible for probation and parole, pretrial services, the community work release program, electronic monitoring and other supervision programs for more than 10,000 individuals statewide who are housed in Work Release and Violation of Probation facilities and the statewide Community Corrections Treatment Center, or are serving probationary sentences in the community.
Collier has been serving as acting statewide Director of Probation and Parole following the recent departure of Director Melissa Kearney who retired after 30 years of distinguished service to the Department of Correction.
Collier has completed numerous specialized training courses, including the FBI LEEDA Executive Leadership Institute and Supervisor Leadership Institute, and is a 2020 graduate of the Delaware State Police Civilian Leadership Development Program. In April 2021 she was named DOC Employee of the Year for her leadership in returning to Delaware 300 inmates who were temporarily housed in Pennsylvania. Collier led that mission which was made more challenging by COVID pandemic by facilitating constant communication between the states, collaborating with Wardens and DOC healthcare staff, completing hundreds of classification reviews, and ensuring that complex transportation arrangements were developed and carried out. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice and Master of Science Degree in Public Administration from Wilmington University and a Project Management Professional Certificate from the University of Delaware.