Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 8513 – Dissemination of criminal history record information
(a) Upon application, the Bureau shall furnish a copy of all information available pertaining to the identification and criminal history of any person or persons of whom the Bureau has a record to:
(1) Criminal justice agencies and/or courts of the State or of any political subdivision thereof or to any similar agency and/or court in any State or of the United States or of any foreign country for purposes of the administration of criminal justice and/or criminal justice employment;
(2) Any person or the person’s attorney of record who requests a copy of the person’s own Delaware criminal history record, provided that such person:
a. Submits to a reasonable procedure established by standards set forth by the Superintendent of the State Police to identify one’s self as the person whose record this individual seeks; and
b. Pays a reasonable fee as set by the Superintendent, payable to the Delaware State Police;
(3) The Office of Defense Services when requesting information about an individual for whom the Office of Defense Services is attorney of record.
Terms Used In Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 8513
- Administration of criminal justice: shall mean performance of any of the following activities: Detection, apprehension, detention, pretrial release, posttrial release, prosecution, adjudication, correction supervision, or rehabilitation of accused persons or criminal offenders, criminal identification activities, and the collection, storage and dissemination of criminal history record information. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 8502
- Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
- Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
- Conviction data: means any criminal history record information relating to an arrest which has led to a conviction or other disposition adverse to the subject. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 8502
- Criminal history record information: shall mean information collected by state or federal criminal justice agencies on individuals consisting of identifiable descriptions and notations of arrests, detentions, indictments, informations or other formal criminal charges and any disposition arising therefrom, sentencing, correctional supervision and release. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 8502
- Criminal justice agency: shall mean :
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Defense attorney: Represent defendants in criminal matters.
- Dissemination: shall mean the transmission of criminal history record information, or the confirmation of the existence or nonexistence of such information. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 8502
- Juror: A person who is on the jury.
- State: means the State of Delaware; and when applied to different parts of the United States, it includes the District of Columbia and the several territories and possessions of the United States. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302
- Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
- Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
- United States: includes its territories and possessions and the District of Columbia. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302
(b) Upon application, the Bureau shall, based on the availability of resources and priorities set by the Superintendent of State Police, furnish information pertaining to the identification and criminal history of any person or persons of whom the Bureau has a record, provided that the requesting agency or individual submits to a reasonable procedure established by standards set forth by the Superintendent of the State Police to identify the person whose record is sought. These provisions shall apply to the dissemination of criminal history record information to all of the following:
(1) Individuals and public bodies for any purpose authorized by Delaware state statute or executive order, court rule or decision or order.
(2) Individuals and agencies pursuant to a specific agreement with a criminal justice agency to provide services required for the administration of criminal justice pursuant to that agreement. Said agreement shall embody an agency agreement as prescribed in § 8611 of this title.
(3) Individuals and agencies for the express purpose of research, evaluative, or statistical activities pursuant to a specific agreement with a criminal justice agency. Said agreement shall embody an agency agreement as prescribed in 8611 of this title.
(4) Individuals and agencies for purposes of international travel.
(5) Individuals and agencies required to provide a security clearance for matters of national security.
(c) Upon application the Bureau may, based upon the availability of resources and priorities set by the Superintendent of State Police, furnish information pertaining to the identification and conviction data of any person or persons of whom the Bureau has record, provided that the requesting agency or individual submits to a reasonable procedure established by standard set forth by the Superintendent of State Police to identify the person whose record is sought. These provisions shall apply to the dissemination of conviction data to:
(1) Individuals and agencies for the purpose of employment of the person whose record is sought, provided:
a. The requesting individual or agency pays a reasonable fee as set by the Superintendent, payable to the Delaware State Police; and
b. The use of the conviction data shall be limited to the purpose for which it was given;
(2) Members of the news media, provided that the use of conviction data shall be limited to the purpose for which it was given, and the requesting media or news agency pays a reasonable fee as set by the Superintendent, payable to the Delaware State Police.
(d) Dissemination of criminal history record information, by any person or agency other than the Bureau or its designee is prohibited. Notwithstanding this prohibition, the dissemination of criminal history record information by any criminal justice agency is authorized:
(1) In those cases in which time is of the essence and the Bureau is technologically incapable of responding within the necessary time period, or
(2) Whenever dissemination of arrest data to members of the public is authorized by this chapter.
(e) Appropriate records of dissemination shall be retained by the Bureau and criminal justice agencies storing, collecting and disseminating criminal history record information to facilitate audits. Such records shall include, but not be limited to, the names of persons and agencies to whom information is disseminated and the date upon which such information is disseminated.
(f) Unless otherwise specified by the court order directing that a record be sealed, such sealing shall not preclude dissemination of the arrest or conviction information concerning the subject of the court order, nor shall it preclude dissemination of the fact a sealed record exists, providing any dissemination made is pursuant to this chapter and Chapter 43 of this title.
(g) Notwithstanding any law or court rule to the contrary, the dissemination to the defendant or defense attorney in a criminal case of criminal history record information pertaining to any juror in such case is prohibited. For the purposes of this subsection, “juror” includes any person who has received notice or summons to appear for jury service. This subsection shall not prohibit the disclosure of such information as may be necessary to investigate misconduct by any juror.
42 Del. Laws, c. 181, § ?11; 11 Del. C. 1953, § ?8511; 59 Del. Laws, c. 551; 63 Del. Laws, c. 188, § ?1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § ?1; 73 Del. Laws, c. 385, § ?1; 76 Del. Laws, c. 392, § ?5; 77 Del. Laws, c. 348, § ?8; 80 Del. Laws, c. 26, § ?3; 80 Del. Laws, c. 169, § ?11; 81 Del. Laws, c. 348, § 1;