Corie Priest is the Community Engagement Program Administrator for the Delaware Department of Justice. He started this pioneering position in April 2019, making this the first time in history the Department has hired a person it prosecuted years before.
Corie is a leading figure in reentry and criminal justice reform in the state of Delaware. Aside from his personal experience in reentry, as a returning citizen, Corie has extensive professional practice in reentry, starting at the Wilmington HOPE Commission Achievement Center in 2014 as the Peer Support Specialist. He is considered one of the first “reentry” peers in the state of Delaware. While still at the Achievement Center, Corie’s talent led to the creation of the In-Reach Coordinator position. This role help increase membership to unprecedented numbers. Mr. Priest was then hired to be the New Castle County Supervisor of Reentry for Connections, CSP.
Outside of his DOJ employment, Corie acts as director of C L Priest Consulting, a firm that centers its focus on mass incarceration, inner-city poverty and crime, reentry, workforce development, child support, and community engagement. He also owns and operates Mobile Entertainment, a video game truck/RV (www.met302.com). Always looking to support our local communities, Corie also serves on several committees, including Law Enforcement Accountability Taskforce—Community Engagement and Policing Subcommittee, Delaware Correctional Reentry Commission – Communities of Support Subcommittee, Del Shakes Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Community Wellbeing Initiative Steering Committee, Central Delaware Workforce Taskforce, and Executive Committee of Group Violence Intervention. Corie’s greatest passion is encouraging, supporting, listening, and advocating for individuals beset with barriers and obstacles, all in an effort to empower them to become their best selves.
With that passion, Corie has been acknowledged in 2015 by Delaware Technical and Community College with the Bridge Builder Award. In 2019, he was given the Leadership Through Service Award from the Ebony Tie Affair. In 2020, M & T Bank recognized Mr. Priest for his continued leadership in the community. In 2021, the Department of Correction awarded him with a DOC recognition certificate for being
the beacon of hope for all residents living in its facilities and encouraging hundreds of residents to get vaccinated against COVID-19. His efforts allowed DOC to surpass the targeted threshold, after having challenges getting individuals vaccinated. For Black History Month in February of 2022, Mr. Priest was recognized for his relentless years of service by the Delaware Blue Coats and 76ers organization, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware, and Delaware Technical and Community College.
Corie was born and raised in the Southbridge and Northside sections of Wilmington. He attended Delaware Technical and Community College, graduating with a degree in Human Services. Corie also obtained a B.S. in Psychology from Wilmington University. Corie resides in Newark, Delaware with his beautiful wife of eight years Janice (pronounced Janiece), and two amazing children, Brayden and Bria.
