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DELAWARE Legislation
Self-Defense - House Bill 9
Date Enacted/Effected:
6/15/21
Synopsis/ Summary:
This Act adds the term “adjudication” to this section of the criminal code to enable juvenile defendants to petition the court for their adjudications of delinquency to be vacated and their juvenile criminal record to be expunged in regard to crimes, other than defined violent felonies, committed as a direct result of being victims of human traicking.
Bill Text:
HOUSE BILL NO. 9
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWAE CODE RELATING TO CRIMES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
Section 1. Amend § 787, Title 11 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:
§ 787 Traicking an individual forced labor and sexual servitude; class D felony; class C felony; class B felony; class A felony.
(j) Application for pardon and petition to expunge; motion to vacate adjudication or conviction and expungement record.
(2) A person convicted or adjudicated of any crime, except those deemed to be violent felonies pursuant to § 4201 of this title, committed as a direct result of being a victim of human traicking may file a motion in the court in which the adjudication or conviction was obtained to vacate the adjudication or judgment of conviction. A motion filed under this paragraph must:
a. Be in writing;
b. Be sent to the Delaware Department of justice; and c.[Repealed]
d. Describe the evidence and provide copies of any oicial documents showing that the person is entitled to relief under this paragraph.
If the motion satisfies the foregoing requirements, the court shall hold a hearing on a motion, provided that the court may dismiss a motion without a hearing if the court finds that the motion fails to assert grounds on which relief may be granted. Oicial documentation of the person’s status as a victim of this section, ”traicking in persons”, or “a severe form of traicking” from a federal, state, or local government agency shall create a presumption that the person’s participation in any crime, except those deemed to be violent felonies pursuant to §4201 of this title, committed was a direct result of having been a victim of human traicking but shall not be required for the court to grant a petition under this paragraph. If the petitioner can show to the satisfaction of the court that he or she is entitled to relief in a proceeding under this paragraph, the court shall grant the motion and, pursuant to this paragraph, enter an order vacating the adjudication or judgment of conviction and dismissing the accusatory pleading, and may take such additional action as is appropriate in the circumstances or as justice requires.
(3) Notwithstanding any provisions of Chapter 43 of this title or any other law to the contrary, any person filing a motion under paragraph (j)(2) of this section in Superior Court or Family
Court may also seek in that motion expungement of the criminal record related to such conviction .If the court grants the motion to vacate the adjudication or conviction under paragraph (j)(2) of this section and the movant also requested expungement, the court’s order shall require expungement of the police and court records relating to the charge and conviction. Such order shall contain a statement that the expungement is ordered pursuant to this paragraph and, not withstanding any limitations to the contrary, that the provisions of § 4372(e), 4376 and 4377 of this title apply to such order.