Delaware General Assembly

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 10 AND 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO RECORDS OF ARREST AND PROSECUTION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

(a) If a person is charged with the commission of a crime or crimes and the case is terminated in favor of the accused, the person may request the expungement of the police records and the court records relating to the charge pursuant to the provisions of this subchapter.

(b) For the purposes of this subchapter, a case shall be deemed to be ‘terminated in favor of the accused’ only if:

(1) the accused is acquitted of all charges related to the case; or

(2) a nolle prosequi is entered on all charges related to the case, or all charges related to the case are otherwise dismissed.

(a) For the purposes of this subchapter, ‘case’ means a charge or set of charges related to a complaint or incident that are or could be properly joined for prosecution.”.

(a) If a person is charged with the commission of a crime which is designated as a misdemeanor or violation in Titles 4, 7, 11, 16 or 23 of this Code, excepting those crimes specifically exempted in subsection (c) of this Section, and the case is terminated in favor of the accused, and the person has not previously been convicted of another criminal offense, upon an appropriate request to the State Bureau of Identification by such person the police records and court records, including any electronic records, relating to the charge or charges shall be expunged if the person has not been convicted of any crime since the date upon which the case was terminated in favor of the accused.

(b) If the State Bureau of Identification determines that expungement is mandated pursuant to the terms of this Section it shall promptly so notify the courts and police agencies where records pertaining to the case are located or maintained, and any court where the case was terminated, disposed of or concluded. All records appropriately specified in the expungement request shall, within 60 days of the determination that such request is mandated pursuant to the terms of this Section, be removed from the files, and placed in the control of the Supervisor of the State Bureau of Identification who shall be designated to retain control over all expunged records, and who shall insure that the records or the information contained therein is not released for any reason except as specified in this subchapter. A court and/or police agency which receives a notice of expungement from the State Bureau Identification shall provide the Bureau with written confirmation of the completion of the expungement. In response to requests from nonlaw-enforcement officers for information or records on the person who was arrested, the law-enforcement officers and departments shall reply, with respect to the arrest and proceedings which are the subject of the order, that there is no record.

(c) Mandatory expungement pursuant to this Section shall not be applicable to the records of any case in which the defendant was charged with one or more of the following crimes:

(1) Any misdemeanor designated as a sex offense pursuant to 11 Del.C. § 761;

(2) any misdemeanor set forth in subpart A of subchapter II of Chapter 5 of Title 11 of this Code;

(3) Trespassing with Intent to Peer or Peep, pursuant to 11 Del.C. § 820;

(4) Endangering the Welfare of a Child, pursuant to 11 Del.C. § 1102;

(5) Endangering the Welfare of an Incompetent Person, pursuant to 11 Del.C. § 1105;

(6) any misdemeanor set forth in subparts A, B, C or F of subchapter VI of Chapter 5 of Title 11 of this Code;

(7) any misdemeanor or violation set forth in Chapter 85 of Title 11 of this Code;

(8) Patient Abuse, pursuant to 16 Del.C. § 1136;

(9) Operation of a Vessel or Boat While Under the Influence, pursuant to 23 Del.C. § 2302.

(a) At the time the application requesting expungement is filed with the State Bureau of Identification the applicant shall pay a reasonable fee to the State Bureau of Identification. The applicant shall attach a copy of his or her criminal history as maintained by the State Bureau of Identification to any application requesting expungement filed pursuant to this Section. The State Bureau of Identification shall summarily reject any application for expungement that does not include the applicant’s criminal history without further notice to the applicant.

(b) The State Bureau of Identification shall be authorized to promulgate reasonable regulations and a reasonable fee schedule to accomplish the purposes of this Section.”.

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of § 4373 of this Title to the contrary, if a person is charged with the commission of a crime and the case is terminated in favor of the accused, the person may file a petition in the Superior Court in the county where the case was terminated, disposed of or concluded setting forth the relevant facts and requesting expungement of the police records and the court records, or includes any electronic records, relating to the charge or charges. Discretionary expungement pursuant to this Section shall not be applicable to the records of any case that may be expunged pursuant to the provisions of § 4373 of this Title; provided, however, where a person was charged with a criminal offense where discretionary expungement pursuant to this § 4374 applies, but also was charged, within the same case, with a criminal offense where mandatory expungement pursuant to § 4373 applies, such person must file a petition in Superior Court pursuit to this Section.

(b) After the petition requesting expungement is filed with the Superior Court the petitioner shall cause a copy of the petition to be served upon the Attorney General, who may file an objection or answer to the petition within 30 days after it is served on the Attorney General. The petitioner shall attach a copy of his or her criminal history as maintained by the State Bureau of Identification to any petition requesting expungement filed pursuant to this Section. The Court shall summarily reject any petition for expungement that does not include the petitioner’s criminal history.

(c) Unless the Court believes a hearing is necessary, petitions shall be disposed of without a hearing. If the Court finds that the continued existence and possible dissemination of information relating to the arrest of the petitioner causes, or may cause, circumstances which constitute a manifest injustice to the petitioner, it shall enter an order requiring the expungement of the police and court records relating to the charge or case. Otherwise, it shall deny the petition. The burden shall be on the petitioner to allege specific facts in support of his or her allegation of manifest injustice, and the burden shall be on the petitioner to prove such manifest injustice by a preponderance of the evidence. The fact that the petitioner has previously been convicted of a criminal offense, other than that referred to in the petition, shall be considered by the Court as prima facie evidence that the continued existence and possible dissemination of information relating to the arrest in question does not constitute a manifest injustice to the petitioner. A petition filed by the Attorney General or his or her designee pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section shall be granted by the Court.

(d) The State shall be made party defendant to the proceeding. Any party aggrieved by the decision of the Court may appeal, as provided by law in civil cases.

(e) Notwithstanding any provision of this subchapter or any other statute or rule to the contrary, the Attorney General or his/her designee responsible for prosecuting a criminal action may petition the Court to expunge the instant arrest record of a defendant if at the time of a state motion to dismiss or entry a nolle prosequi in the case, the prosecutor has determined that the continued existence and possible dissemination of information relating to the arrest of the defendant for the matter dismissed or for which a nolle prosequi was entered may cause circumstances which constitute a manifest injustice to the defendant.

(f) If an order expunging the records is granted by the Court, all the criminal records specified in the order shall, within 60 days of the order, be removed from the files, and placed in the control of the Supervisor of the State Bureau of Identification who shall be designated to retain control over all expunged records, and who shall insure that the records or the information contained therein is not released for any reason except as specified in this subchapter. A court and/or police agency which receives a notice of expungement from the State Bureau Identification shall provide the Bureau with written confirmation of the completion of the expungement. The State Bureau of Identification shall provide the Court which entered the order with written confirmation of the execution of the order. In response to requests from nonlaw-enforcement officers for information or records on the person who was arrested, the law-enforcement officers and departments shall reply, with respect to the arrest and proceedings which are the subject of the order, that there is no record. No order requiring an expungement of any record shall be entered or enforced is such order is contrary to the provisions of this subchapter. The State Bureau of Identification shall promptly notify the Court if it is unable to comply with any order issued pursuant to this subchapter.

(g) (1) Notwithstanding any provision of this subchapter or any other statute or rule to the contrary, the police records and the court records relating to any charge set forth in Title 21 of this Code shall not be expunged pursuant to this subchapter unless the charge or charges is one of those specifically enumerated in paragraph (2) of this subsection.

(2) Discretionary expungement pursuant to this Section shall be applicable when otherwise appropriate for the following Title 21 offenses:

a. Driving After Judgment Prohibited, pursuant to 21 Del.C. § 2810;

b. Reckless Driving, pursuant to 21 Del.C. § 4175;

c. Operation of a Motor Vehicle Causing Death, pursuant to 21 Del.C. § 4176A;

d. Driving Under the Influence, pursuant to 21 Del.C. § 4177; or

e. Operating a Commercial Vehicle With a Prohibited Blood Alcohol Concentration or While Impaired By Drugs, pursuant to 21 Del.C. § 4177M.

(a) The Superior Court shall establish a reasonable fee schedule for the filing of a petition of expungement pursuant to this Section.

§ 4375. Discretionary expungement following a pardon.

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this subchapter or any other law to the contrary, a person who was convicted of a misdemeanor or violation excepting those crimes specifically exempted in subsection (b) of this Section who is thereafter unconditionally pardoned by the Governor may request a discretionary expungement pursuant to the procedures set forth in § 4374 of this subchapter. The burden shall be on the petitioner to allege specific facts in support of his or her allegation of manifest injustice, and the burden shall be on the petitioner to prove such manifest injustice by a preponderance of the evidence. The fact that the petitioner was convicted of the criminal offense that is the subject of his or her expungement application shall be considered by the Court as prima facie evidence that the continued existence and possible dissemination of information relating to the arrest in question does not constitute a manifest injustice to the petitioner.

(b) Discretionary expungement following a pardon pursuant to this Section shall not be applicable to the records of any case in which the defendant was charged with one or more of the following crimes:

(1) any misdemeanor or violation involving embezzlement of public money, bribery or perjury;

(2) any misdemeanor designated as a sex offense pursuant to 11 Del.C. § 761; or

(3) any misdemeanor set forth in subparts A, B, C or F of subchapter VI of Chapter 5 of Title 11 of this Code.”.

Section 4. Amend Chapter 43 of Title 11 of the Delaware Code by adding a new § 4378 thereto, to read as follows:

(a) Notwithstanding any statute or rule to the contrary, the police records and court records relating to any charge resolved by probation before judgment as set forth in § 4218 of this Title followed by a discharge from probation upon fulfillment of the terms and condition of probation shall not be expunged unless at least five years have elapsed from the date on which the defendant was discharged from probation. After such five year period has elapsed, any charge resolved by probation before judgment followed by a discharge from probation upon fulfillment of the terms and condition of probation shall be expunged pursuant to the provisions of this subchapter.

(b) Notwithstanding any statute or rule to the contrary, the police records and court records relating to any charge resolved by the First Offenders Controlled Substances Diversion Program as set forth in § 4764 of Title 16 of this Code followed by a discharge from probation upon fulfillment of the terms and condition of probation shall not be expunged unless at least two years have elapsed from the date on which the defendant was discharged from probation. After such two year period has elapsed, any charge resolved by the First Offenders Controlled Substances Division Program followed by a discharge from probation upon fulfillment of the terms and condition of probation shall be expunged pursuant to the provisions of this subchapter.”.

“(h) Notwithstanding any law or court rule to the contrary, criminal history record information disseminated pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section shall not include information pertaining to any charge resolved by Probation Before Judgment as set forth in § 4218 of this Title, or by the First Offenders Controlled Substances Diversion Program as set forth in § 4764 of Title 16 of this Code, once all terms and conditions of any period of probation imposed pursuant to said Sections have been completed to the satisfaction of the Court and the defendant is discharged from probation. Nothing in this subsection shall prevent the dissemination of such information to any criminal justice agency.”.

(a) If an adult person is charged with the commission of a crime or crimes and the case is terminated in favor of the accused, the person may request the expungement of the police records and the court records relating to the charge pursuant to the provisions of this subchapter.

(b) For the purposes of this Section, a case shall be deemed to be ‘terminated in favor of the accused’ only if:

(1) the accused is acquitted of all charges related to the case; or

(2) a nolle prosequi is entered on all charges related to the case, or all charges related to the case are otherwise dismissed.

(a) For the purposes of this Section ‘case’ means a charge or set of charges related to a complaint or incident that are or could be properly joined for prosecution.

(b) If an adult is charged with the commission of a crime which is designated as a misdemeanor or violation in Titles 4, 7, 11, 16, or 23 of this Code, excepting those crimes specifically exempted in paragraph (2) of this subsection, and the case is terminated in favor of the accused, and the person has not previously been convicted of another criminal offense, upon an appropriate request to the State Bureau of Identification by such person the police records and court records relating to the charge or charges shall be expunged if the person has not been convicted of any crime since the date upon which the case was terminated in favor of the accused.

(1) If the State Bureau of Identification determines that expungement is mandated pursuant to the terms of this paragraph, it shall promptly so notify the courts and police agencies where records pertaining to the case are located or maintained, and any court where the case was terminated, disposed of or concluded. All records appropriately specified in the expungement request shall, within 60 days of the determination that such request is mandated pursuant to the terms of this Section, be removed from the files, and placed in the control of the Supervisor of the State Bureau of Identification who shall be designated to retain control over all expunged records, and who shall ensure that the records or the information contained therein is not released for any reason except as specified in this subchapter. A court which receives a notice of expungement from the State Bureau of Identification shall provide the Bureau with written confirmation of the completion of the expungement. In response to requests from nonlaw-enforcement officers for information or records on the person who was arrested, the law-enforcement officers and departments shall reply, with respect to the arrest and proceedings which are the subject of the order, that there is no record.

(2) Mandatory expungement pursuant to this subsection shall not be applicable to the records of any case in which the defendant was charged with one or more of the following crimes:

a. any misdemeanor designated as a sex offense pursuant to, 11 Del.C. § 761;

b. any misdemeanor set forth in subpart A of subchapter II of Chapter 5 of Title 11 of this Code;

c. Trespassing with Intent to Peer or Peep, pursuant to 11 Del.C. § 820;

d. Endangering the Welfare of a Child, pursuant to 11 Del.C. § 1102;

e. Endangering the Welfare of an Incompetent Person, pursuant to 11 Del.C. § 1105;

f. any misdemeanor set forth in subparts A, B, C or F of subchapter VI of Chapter 5 of Title 11 of this Code;

g. any misdemeanor or violation set forth in Chapter 85 of Title 11 of this Code;

h. Patient Abuse, pursuant to 16 Del.C. § 1136;

i. Operation of a Vessel or Boat While Under the Influence, pursuant to 23 Del.C. § 2302.

(3) At the time the application requesting expungement is filed with the State Bureau of Identification, the applicant shall pay a reasonable fee to the State Bureau of Identification. The applicant shall attach a copy of his or her criminal history as maintained by the State Bureau of Identification to any application requesting expungement filed pursuant to this Section. The State Bureau of Identification shall summarily reject any application for expungement that does not include the applicant’s criminal history without further notice to the applicant.

(4) The State Bureau of Identification shall be authorized to promulgate reasonable regulations and a reasonable fee schedule to accomplish the purposes of this subsection.

(e) Notwithstanding any provision of subsection (d) of this Title to the contrary, if a person is charged with the commission of a crime and the case is terminated in favor of the accused, the person may file a petition in the Family Court in the county where the case was terminated, disposed of or concluded setting forth the relevant facts and requesting expungement of the police records and the court records relating to the charge or charges. Discretionary expungement pursuant to this Section shall not be applicable to the records of any case that may be expunged pursuant to the provisions of subsection (d) of this Title.

(1) After the petition requesting expungement is filed with the Family Court, the petitioner shall cause a copy of the petition to be served upon the Attorney General, who may file an objection or answer to the petition within 30 days after it is served on the Attorney General. The petitioner shall attach a copy of his or her criminal history as maintained by the State Bureau of Identification to any petition requesting expungement filed pursuant to this Section. The Court shall summarily reject any petition for expungement that does not include the petitioner’s criminal history.

(2) Unless the Court believes a hearing is necessary, petitions shall be disposed of without a hearing. If the Court finds that the continued existence and possible dissemination of information relating the arrest of the petitioner causes, or may cause, circumstances which constitute a manifest injustice to the petitioner, it shall enter an order requiring the expungement of the police and court records relating to the charge. Otherwise, it shall deny the petition. The burden shall be on the petitioner to allege specific facts in support of his or her allegation of manifest injustice, and the burden shall be on the petitioner to prove such manifest injustice by a preponderance of the evidence. The fact that the petitioner has previously been convicted of a criminal offense, other than that referred to in the petition, shall be considered by the Court as prima facie evidence that the continued existence and possible dissemination of information relating to the arrest in question does not constitute a manifest injustice to the petitioner. A petition filed by the Attorney General or his or her designee pursuant to paragraph (4) of this Section shall be granted by the Court.

(3) The State shall be made party defendant to the proceeding. Any party aggrieved by the decision of the Court may appeal, as provided by law in civil cases.

(4) Notwithstanding any provision of this Section or any other statute or rule to the contrary, the Attorney General or designee responsible for prosecuting a criminal action may petition the Court to expunge the instant arrest record of a defendant if at the time of a state motion to dismiss or entry of nolle prosequi in the case, the prosecutor has determined that the continued existence and possible dissemination of information relating to the arrest of the defendant for the matter dismissed or for which a nolle prosequi was entered may cause circumstances which constitute a manifest injustice to the defendant.

(5) If an order expunging the records is granted by the Court, all the records specified in the order shall, within 60 days of the order, be removed from the files, and placed in the control of the Supervisor of the State Bureau of Identification who shall be designated to retain control over all expunged records, and who shall ensure that the records or the information contained therein is not released for any reason except as specified in this subchapter. The State Bureau of Identification shall provide the Court which entered the order with written confirmation of the execution of the order. In response to requests from nonlaw-enforcement officers for information or records on the person who was arrested, the law-enforcement officers and departments shall reply, with respect to the arrest and proceedings which are the subject of the order, that there is no record. No order requiring an expungement of any record shall be entered or enforced if such order is contrary to the provisions of this subchapter. The State Bureau of Identification shall promptly notify the Court if it is unable to comply with any order issued pursuant to this subchapter.

(6) Notwithstanding any provision of this Section or any other statute or rule to the contrary, the police records and the court records relating to any charge set forth in Title 21 of this Code shall not be expunged pursuant to this Section unless the charge or charges is one of these specifically enumerated offenses:

a. Driving After Judgment Prohibited, pursuant to 21 Del.C. § 2810;

b. Reckless Driving, pursuant to 21 Del.C. § 4175;

c. Operation of a Motor Vehicle Causing Death, pursuant to 21 Del.C. § 4176A;

d. Driving Under the Influence, pursuant to 21 Del.C. § 4177;

e. Operating a Commercial Vehicle With a Prohibited Blood Alcohol Concentration or While Impaired by Drugs, pursuant to 21 Del.C. § 4177M.

(7) The Family Court shall establish a reasonable fee schedule for the filing of a petition of expungement pursuant to this Section.”.

Ҥ 1026. Expungement of offenses resolved by probation before judgment.

Notwithstanding any statute or rule to the contrary, the police records and court records relating to any charge resolved by probation before judgment followed by a discharge from probation upon fulfillment of the terms and condition of probation shall not be expunged unless at least five (5) years have elapsed from the date on which the defendant was discharged from probation. After such five-year period has elapsed, any charge resolved by probation before judgment followed by a discharge from probation upon fulfillment of the terms and condition of probation shall be expunged pursuant to the provisions of this subchapter.”.

Section 9. This Act will become effective 90 days after signed by the Governor.

Approved July 17, 2008