TITLE 11

Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Criminal Procedure Generally

CHAPTER 25. Extradition and Detainers

Subchapter I. Extradition; Uniform Criminal Extradition Law

§ 2501. Definitions.

As used in this subchapter, unless the context indicates a different intent:

(1) “Executive authority” includes the governor and any person performing the functions of governor in a state other than this State.

(2) “Governor” includes any person performing the functions of Governor by authority of the law of this State.

(3) “State,” referring to a state other than this State, includes any other state or territory, organized or unorganized, of the United States of America.

41 Del. Laws, c. 213, §  1;  11 Del. C. 1953, §  2501; 

§ 2502. Fugitives from justice; duty of Governor.

Subject to this subchapter, the provisions of the Constitution of the United States and any and all acts of Congress enacted in pursuance thereof, the Governor of this State shall have arrested and delivered up to the executive authority of any other state of the United States any person charged in that state with treason, felony or other crime, who has fled from justice and is found in this State.

41 Del. Laws, c. 213, §  2;  11 Del. C. 1953, §  2502; 

§ 2503. Form of demand.

No demand for the extradition of a person charged with crime in another state shall be recognized by the Governor unless in writing alleging, except in cases arising under § 2506 of this title, that the accused was present in the demanding state at the time of the commission of the alleged crime, and that thereafter the accused fled from the state, and accompanied by a copy of an indictment found or by information supported by affidavit in the state having jurisdiction of the crime, or by a copy of an affidavit made before a magistrate there, together with a copy of any warrant which was issued thereupon or by a copy of a judgment of conviction or of a sentence imposed in execution thereof, together with a statement by the executive authority of the demanding state that the person claimed has escaped from confinement or has broken the terms of bail, probation or parole. The indictment, information or affidavit made before the magistrate shall substantially charge the person demanded with having committed a crime under the law of that state; and the copy of indictment, information, affidavit, judgment of conviction or sentence shall be authenticated by the executive authority making the demand.

41 Del. Laws, c. 213, §  3;  11 Del. C. 1953, §  2503;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1

§ 2504. Investigation by Governor.

When a demand is made upon the Governor of this State by the executive authority of another state for the surrender of a person so charged with crime, the Governor may call upon the Attorney General or any prosecuting officer in this State to investigate or assist in investigating the demand, and to report to the Governor the situation and circumstances of the person so demanded, and whether the person ought to be surrendered.

41 Del. Laws, c. 213, §  4;  11 Del. C. 1953, §  2504;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1

§ 2505. Persons imprisoned or awaiting trial; involuntary departure.

(a) When it is desired to have returned to this State a person charged in this State with a crime, and such person is imprisoned or is held under criminal proceedings then pending in another state, the Governor of this State may agree with the executive authority of such other state for the extradition of such person before the conclusion of such proceedings or the person’s term of sentence in such other state, upon condition that such person be returned to such other state at the expense of this State as soon as the prosecution in this State is terminated.

(b) The Governor of this State may surrender, on demand of the executive authority of any other state, any person in this State who is charged in the manner provided in § 2523 of this title with having violated the laws of the state whose executive authority is making the demand, even though such person left the demanding state involuntarily.

41 Del. Laws, c. 213, §  5;  11 Del. C. 1953, §  2505;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1

§ 2506. Persons absent at time of commission of crime.

The Governor of this State may surrender, on demand of the executive authority of any other state, any person in this State charged in such other state in the manner provided in § 2503 of this title with committing an act in this State, or in a third state, intentionally resulting in a crime in the state whose executive authority is making the demand, and the provisions of this chapter not otherwise inconsistent shall apply to such cases, even though the accused was not in that state at the time of the commission of the crime, and has not fled therefrom, provided the acts for which extradition is sought would be punishable by the laws of this State, if the consequences claimed to have resulted from those acts in the demanding state had taken effect in this State.

41 Del. Laws, c. 213, §  6;  11 Del. C. 1953, §  2506;  83 Del. Laws, c. 327, § 4

§ 2507. Governor’s warrant of arrest; issuance.

If the Governor decides that the demand should be complied with, the Governor shall sign a warrant of arrest, which shall be sealed with the state seal, and be directed to any peace officer or other person whom the Governor thinks fit to entrust with the execution thereof. The warrant shall substantially recite the facts necessary to the validity of its issuance.

41 Del. Laws, c. 213, §  7;  11 Del. C. 1953, §  2507;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1

§ 2508. Contents of warrant.

Such warrant shall authorize the peace officer or other person to whom directed to arrest the accused at any time and any place where the accused may be found within the State and to command the aid of all peace officers or other persons in the execution of the warrant, and to deliver the accused, subject to this subchapter, to the duly authorized agent of the demanding state.

41 Del. Laws, c. 213, §  8;  11 Del. C. 1953, §  2508;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1

§ 2509. Authority of arresting officer to command assistance.

Every peace officer or other person empowered to make the arrest under this subchapter shall have the same authority, in arresting the accused, to command assistance therein, as peace officers have by law in the execution of any criminal process directed to them, with like penalties against those who refuse their assistance.

41 Del. Laws, c. 213, §  9;  11 Del. C. 1953, §  2509; 

§ 2510. Rights of accused; habeas corpus.

No person arrested upon such warrant shall be delivered over to the agent whom the executive authority demanding the person has appointed to receive the person unless the person is first taken forthwith before a judge of a court of record or a justice of the peace in this State, who shall inform the person of the demand made for the person’s surrender and of the crime with which the person is charged, and that the person has the right to demand and procure legal counsel. If the prisoner or the prisoner’s counsel states that the person or they desire to test the legality of the prisoner’s arrest, the judge or justice of the peace shall fix a reasonable time to be allowed within which to apply for a writ of habeas corpus. When such writ is applied for, notice thereof, and of the time and place of hearing thereon, shall be given to the Deputy Attorney General of the county in which the arrest is made and in which the accused is in custody, or to the Attorney General or the Chief Deputy Attorney General, and to the agent of the demanding state.

41 Del. Laws, c. 213, §  10;  11 Del. C. 1953, §  2510;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1

§ 2511. Denial of rights of accused; penalty.

Whoever, being an officer, delivers to the agent for extradition of the demanding state a person in the officer’s custody under the Governor’s warrant, in wilful disobedience of § 2510 of this title, shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both.

41 Del. Laws, c. 213, §  11;  11 Del. C. 1953, §  2511;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1

§ 2512. Confinement in jail.

(a) The officer or persons executing the Governor’s warrant of arrest, or the agent of the demanding state to whom the prisoner has been delivered, may, when necessary, confine the prisoner in the jail of any county, town or city through which the officer passes; and the keeper of such jail shall receive and safely keep the prisoner until the officer or person having charge of the prisoner is ready to proceed on the officer’s route, such officer or person being chargeable with the expense of keeping.

(b) The officer or agent of a demanding state to whom a prisoner has been delivered following extradition proceedings in another state, or to whom a prisoner has been delivered after waiving extradition in such other state, and who is passing through this State with such a prisoner for the purpose of immediately returning such prisoner to the demanding state may, when necessary, confine the prisoner in the jail of any county, town or city through which the officer passes; and the keeper of such jail shall receive and safely keep the prisoner until the officer or agent having charge of the prisoner is ready to proceed on the officer’s route, such officer or agent, however, being chargeable with the expense of keeping. Such officer or agent shall produce and show to the keeper of such jail satisfactory written evidence of the fact that the officer is actually transporting such prisoner to the demanding state after a requisition by the executive authority of such demanding state. Such prisoner shall not be entitled to demand a new requisition while in this State.

41 Del. Laws, c. 213, §  12;  11 Del. C. 1953, §  2512;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1

§ 2513. Arrest prior to requisition.

Whenever any person within this State shall be charged on the oath of any credible person before any judge or justice of the peace of this State with the commission of any crime in any other state and, except in cases arising under § 2506 of this title, with having fled from justice, or with having been convicted of a crime in that state and having escaped from confinement, or having broken the terms of bail, probation or parole, or whenever complaint has been made before any judge or justice of the peace in this State setting forth on the affidavit of any credible person in another state that a crime has been committed in such other state and that the accused has been charged in such state with the commission of the crime, and, except in cases arising under § 2506 of this title, has fled from justice, or with having been convicted of a crime in that state and having escaped from confinement, or having broken the terms of bail, probation or parole, and is believed to be in this State, the judge or justice of the peace shall issue a warrant directed to any peace officer commanding the officer to apprehend the person named therein, wherever the person so named is found in this State, and to bring the accused before the same or any other judge, justice of the peace or court who or which is available in or convenient of access to the place where the arrest is made, to answer the charge or complaint and affidavit.

41 Del. Laws, c. 213, §  13;  11 Del. C. 1953, §  2513;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1

§ 2514. Arrest without warrant.

The arrest of a person may be lawfully made by any peace officer or a private person, without a warrant, upon reasonable information that the accused stands charged in the courts of a state with a crime punishable by death or imprisonment for a term exceeding 1 year, but when so arrested the accused shall be taken before a judge or justice of the peace with all practicable speed and complaint shall be made against the accused under oath setting forth the ground for the arrest as in § 2513 of this title, and thereafter the accused’s answer shall be heard as if the accused had been arrested on a warrant.

41 Del. Laws, c. 213, §  14;  11 Del. C. 1953, §  2514;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1

§ 2515. Commitment awaiting requisition; bail.

If from the examination before the judge or justice of the peace it appears that the person held is the person charged with having committed the crime alleged and, except in cases arising under § 2506 of this title, that the person has fled from justice, the judge or justice of the peace shall, by a warrant reciting the accusation, commit the person to jail for such a time not exceeding 30 days and specified in the warrant, as will enable the arrest of the accused to be made under a warrant of the Governor on a requisition of the executive authority of the state having jurisdiction of the offense, unless the accused gives bail as provided in § 2516 of this title, or until the accused is legally discharged.

41 Del. Laws, c. 213, §  15;  11 Del. C. 1953, §  2515;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1

§ 2516. Admission to bail; conditions of bond.

Unless the offense with which the prisoner is charged is shown to be an offense punishable by death or life imprisonment under the laws of the state in which it was committed, a judge or justice of the peace in this State may admit the person arrested to bail by bond, with sufficient sureties, and in such sum as the judge or justice deems proper, conditioned for the prisoner’s appearance before the judge or justice at a time specified in such bond, and for the prisoner’s surrender, to be arrested upon the warrant of the Governor of this State.

41 Del. Laws, c. 213, §  16;  11 Del. C. 1953, §  2516;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1

§ 2517. Extension of time of commitment.

If the accused is not arrested under warrant of the Governor by the expiration of the time specified in the warrant or bond, a judge or justice of the peace may discharge the accused or may recommit the accused for a further period not to exceed 60 days, or a judge or justice of the peace may again take bail for the accused’s appearance and surrender, as provided in § 2516 of this title, but within a period not to exceed 60 days after the date of such new bond.

41 Del. Laws, c. 213, §  17;  11 Del. C. 1953, §  2517;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1

§ 2518. Forfeiture of bail.

If the prisoner is admitted to bail, and fails to appear and surrender according to the conditions of the bond, the judge or justice of the peace by proper order shall declare the bond forfeited and order the accused’s immediate arrest, without warrant if the accused is within this State. Recovery may be had on such bond in the name of the State as in the case of other bonds given by the accused in criminal proceedings within this State.

41 Del. Laws, c. 213, §  18;  11 Del. C. 1953, §  2518;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1

§ 2519. Persons under criminal prosecution.

If a criminal prosecution has been instituted against such person under the laws of this State and is still pending, the Governor, in the Governor’s discretion, either may surrender the accused on demand of the executive authority of another state or hold the accused until the accused has been tried and discharged or convicted and punished in this State.

41 Del. Laws, c. 213, §  19;  11 Del. C. 1953, §  2519;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1

§ 2520. Inquiry into guilt of accused.

The guilt or innocence of the accused as to the crime of which the accused is charged may not be inquired into by the Governor or in any proceeding after the demand for extradition accompanied by a charge of crime in legal form as provided in this subchapter has been presented to the Governor, except as it is involved in identifying the person held as the person charged with the crime.

41 Del. Laws, c. 213, §  20;  11 Del. C. 1953, §  2520;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1

§ 2521. Recall of warrant; issuance of alias.

The Governor may recall the Governor’s own warrant of arrest or may issue another warrant whenever the Governor deems proper.

41 Del. Laws, c. 213, §  21;  11 Del. C. 1953, §  2521;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1

§ 2522. Warrant to receive fugitive from State.

Whenever the Governor of this State demands a person charged with crime or with escaping from confinement or breaking the terms of bail, probation or parole in this State, from the executive authority of any other state, or from the Chief Justice or an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia authorized to receive such demand under the laws of the United States, the Governor shall issue a warrant under the seal of this State, to some agent, commanding the agent to receive the person so charged if delivered to the agent and convey the accused to the proper officer of the county in this State in which the offense was committed.

41 Del. Laws, c. 213, §  22;  11 Del. C. 1953, §  2522;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1

§ 2523. Application for issuance of requisition.

(a) When the return to this State of a person charged with crime in this State is required, the Attorney General or any Deputy Attorney General shall present to the Governor a written application for a requisition for the return of the person charged, in which application shall be stated the name of the person so charged, the crime charged, the approximate time and place of its commission, the state in which the accused is believed to be, including the location of the accused therein, at the time the application is made and certifying that, in the opinion of the Attorney General or Deputy Attorney General the ends of justice require the arrest and return of the accused to this State for trial and that the proceeding is not instituted to enforce a private claim.

(b) When the return to this State is required of a person who has been convicted of a crime in this State and has escaped from confinement or broken the terms of bail, probation or parole, the Attorney General or any Deputy Attorney General, the parole board, or any agent thereof, probation or court officer, or the warden of the institution or sheriff of the county, from which escape was made, shall present to the Governor a written application for a requisition for the return of such person, in which application shall be stated the name of the person, the crime of which the person was convicted, the circumstances of the person’s escape from confinement or of the breach of the terms of bail, probation or parole, the state in which the person is believed to be, including the location of the person therein, at the time application is made.

(c) The application shall be verified by affidavit, shall be executed in duplicate and shall be accompanied by 2 certified copies of the indictment returned, or information and affidavit filed, or of the complaint made to the judge or justice of the peace, stating the offense with which the accused is charged, or of the judgment of conviction or of the sentence. The Attorney General or any Deputy Attorney General, parole board, or any agent thereof, probation or court officer, warden or sheriff may also attach such further affidavits and other documents in duplicate as deemed proper to be submitted with such application. One copy of the application, with the action of the Governor indicated by endorsement thereon, and 1 of the certified copies of the indictment, complaint, information, affidavits, or of the judgment of conviction or of the sentence shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of State to remain of record in that office. The other copies of all papers shall be forwarded with the Governor’s requisition.

41 Del. Laws, c. 213, §  23;  11 Del. C. 1953, §  2523;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1

§ 2524. Costs and expenses.

(a) The actual expenses of agents appointed by the Governor to serve requisition papers may be paid indirectly, by having the agent pay the agent’s own expenses and then later seek reimbursement by submitting receipts to the State Treasurer; or they may be paid directly, by having the agent pay for the expenses with a credit card registered in the name of the Department of Justice.

(1) When the indirect method is chosen, the agent shall be reimbursed only for reasonable, authorized, extradition-related expenses. Further, the State Treasurer shall reimburse the agent only for receipts that have been approved by the Attorney General or 1 of the Attorney General’s deputies.

(2) Similarly, when the direct method is chosen, the credit card may be used only for reasonable, authorized, extradition-related expenses; the agent shall be personally liable for any unauthorized excesses or abuses of the credit card.

(b) Upon the conviction of any individual returned to this State by requisition proceedings, the court shall assess the costs of requisition in the same manner as other costs of the case.

(c) All money received by the State in payment of the costs of requisition shall be credited by the State Treasurer to a fund to be known as the “Extradition Fund.”

(d) The Extradition Fund shall be a revolving fund and shall consist of funds transferred to it pursuant to recovery of the costs of requisitions.

(e) If, at the end of any fiscal year, the balance in the Extradition Fund exceeds $40,000, the excess shall be withdrawn from the Extradition Fund and deposited in the General Fund.

(f) The Attorney General is authorized to expend from the Extradition Fund such funds as are necessary for the payment of operating costs, expenses and charges incurred in connection with the requisition proceedings necessary to return individuals to this State.

41 Del. Laws, c. 213, §  24;  11 Del. C. 1953, §  2524;  64 Del. Laws, c. 122, §  170 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  170 Del. Laws, c. 296, §  1

§ 2525. Immunity from process in civil actions.

A person brought into this State by, or after waiver of, extradition based on a criminal charge shall not be subject to service of personal process in civil actions arising out of the same facts as the criminal proceedings to answer which the person is being or has been returned, until the person has been convicted in the criminal proceeding, or, if acquitted, until the person has had reasonable opportunity to return to the state from which the person was extradited.

41 Del. Laws, c. 213, §  25;  11 Del. C. 1953, §  2525;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1

§ 2526. Waiver of requisition.

Any person arrested or detained for the commission of a crime in a foreign jurisdiction, may, after the rights to demand requisition papers have been fully explained, waive requisition and consent to return to the jurisdiction in which the person is wanted. The waiver of requisition shall be in writing, and shall set forth that the person voluntarily waives requisition and that the person’s rights have been fully explained and are understood, which shall be signed by the prisoner and 3 other witnesses in the prisoner’s presence. The proper signing of such a waiver of requisition shall constitute ample authority for the sheriff, or other officer having the prisoner in custody, to deliver the prisoner to the duly authorized agent commissioned to receive the prisoner. The sheriff, or other officer having the prisoner in charge, before the officer surrenders the prisoner shall be satisfied that the agent is duly authorized and commissioned to receive the prisoner, and shall, unless the agent is a known peace officer, demand and retain the agent’s warrant of authority, which the officer shall file and preserve together with the prisoner’s waiver of requisition.

41 Del. Laws, c. 213, §  25a;  11 Del. C. 1953, §  2526;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1

§ 2527. Preservation of rights of State.

Nothing in this subchapter shall be deemed to constitute a waiver by this State of its right, power or privilege to try such demanded person for crime committed within this State, or of its right, power or privilege to regain custody of such person by extradition proceedings or otherwise for the purpose of trial, sentence or punishment for any crime committed within this State, nor shall any proceedings had under this subchapter which result in, or fail to result in, extradition be deemed a waiver by this State of any of its rights, privileges or jurisdiction in any way whatsoever.

41 Del. Laws, c. 213, §  25b;  11 Del. C. 1953, §  2527; 

§ 2528. Prosecution for other crimes after extradition.

After a person has been brought back to this State by or after waiver of extradition proceedings, the person may be tried in this State for other crimes which the person may be charged with having committed here as well as that specified in the requisition for extradition.

41 Del. Laws, c. 213, §  26;  11 Del. C. 1953, §  2528;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1

§ 2529. Construction.

The provisions of this subchapter shall be so interpreted and construed as to effectuate its general purposes to make uniform the law of those states which enact it.

41 Del. Laws, c. 213, §  27;  11 Del. C. 1953, §  2529; 

§ 2530. Short title.

This subchapter may be cited as the “Uniform Criminal Extradition Law.”

41 Del. Laws, c. 213, §  30;  11 Del. C. 1953, §  2530;