TITLE 11

Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Criminal Procedure Generally

CHAPTER 35. Witnesses and Evidence

Subchapter III. Intimidation of Witnesses and Victims

§ 3531. Definitions.

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this subchapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

(1) “Malice” shall mean an intent to vex, annoy, harm or injure in any way another person, or to thwart or interfere in any manner with the orderly administration of justice.

(2) “Victim” shall mean any natural person against whom any crime (as defined under the laws of this State, of any other state or of the United States) has been attempted, is being perpetrated or has been perpetrated.

(3) “Witness” shall mean any natural person:

a. Having knowledge of the existence or nonexistence of facts relating to any crime; or

b. Whose declaration under oath is received, or has been received, as evidence for any purpose; or

c. Who has reported any crime to any peace officer, prosecuting agency, law-enforcement officer, probation officer, parole officer, correctional officer or judicial officer; or

d. Who has been served with a subpoena issued under the authority of any court of this State, of any other state or of the United States; or

e. Who would be believed by any reasonable person to be an individual described in any paragraph of this subparagraph of this paragraph.

63 Del. Laws, c. 275, §  3

§ 3532. Act of intimidation; class D felony.

Except as provided in § 3533 of this title, every person who knowingly and with malice prevents or dissuades (or who attempts to prevent or dissuade) any witness or victim from attending or giving testimony at any trial, proceeding or inquiry authorized by law is committing an act of intimidation and is guilty of a class D felony. A person who knowingly and with malice retaliates against any victim or witness who has attended or given testimony at any trial proceeding or inquiry authorized by law by committing any crime as defined by the laws of this State against such victim or witness is committing an act of intimidation and is guilty of a class D felony. A person who knowingly and with malice attempts to prevent another person who has been the victim of a crime, or a witness to a crime (or any person acting on behalf of a victim or witness) from:

(1) Making any report of such crime or victimization to any peace officer, law-enforcement officer, prosecuting agency, probation officer, parole officer, correctional officer or judicial officer;

(2) Causing a complaint, indictment, information, probation or parole violation to be sought or prosecuted, or from assisting in the prosecution thereof; or

(3) Arresting, causing or seeking the arrest of any person in connection with such crime or victimization;

Is guilty of a class D felony.

63 Del. Laws, c. 275, §  371 Del. Laws, c. 430, §  179 Del. Laws, c. 237, §  1

§ 3533. Aggravated act of intimidation; class B felony.

Every person doing any of the acts set forth in § 3532 of this title, knowingly and with malice under 1 or more of the following circumstances, shall be guilty of a class B felony if, in addition, such act:

(1) Is accompanied by an express or implied threat of force or violence, upon a victim, a witness or any third person (or upon the property of a victim, witness or third person);

(2) Is in furtherance of a conspiracy;

(3) Is committed by any person who has been convicted of any violation of this subchapter, any predecessor law hereto, the statute of any other state or any federal statute which would be a violation of this subchapter if committed in this State; or

(4) Committed, for pecuniary gain or for any other consideration, by any person acting upon the request of another person.

63 Del. Laws, c. 275, §  379 Del. Laws, c. 237, §  2

§ 3534. Attempt to intimidate.

Every person attempting the commission of any act described in §§ 3532 and 3533 of this title is guilty of the offense attempted, without regard to the success or failure of such attempt. The fact that no person was actually physically injured, or actually intimidated, shall be no defense against any prosecution under this subchapter.

63 Del. Laws, c. 275, §  3

§ 3535. Protective orders — Issuance.

Any court with jurisdiction over any criminal matter may in its discretion and upon good cause (which may include, but is not limited to, such matters as credible hearsay, the declaration of the prosecutor or the declaration of the defense attorney) find that intimidation or dissuasion of a victim or witness has occurred (or is reasonably likely to occur) and may issue orders including, but not limited to, the following:

(1) An order that a defendant not violate any provision of this subchapter;

(2) An order that a person before the court other than a defendant (including, but not limited to, a subpoenaed witness) not violate any provision of this subchapter;

(3) An order that a designated person maintain a prescribed geographic distance from any other person specified by the court;

(4) An order that any designated person have no communication whatsoever with any person specified by the court, except through an attorney, and under such reasonable restrictions as the court may impose;

(5) An order for a hearing to determine if any order under this section should be issued;

(6) An order that a particular law-enforcement agency within the jurisdiction of the court provide protection for a person specified by the court.

63 Del. Laws, c. 275, §  3

§ 3536. Protective orders — Violations.

(a) A person who violates an order made pursuant to this subchapter may be punished for any substantive offense set forth in this subchapter.

(b) A person who violates an order made pursuant to this subchapter may be punished as a contempt of the court making such order. No finding of contempt shall be a bar to prosecution for a substantive offense under this subchapter, but:

(1) Any person so held in contempt shall be entitled to credit for any punishment imposed therein, against any sentence imposed upon conviction for that offense; and

(2) Any conviction or acquittal for any substantive offense under this subchapter shall be a bar to subsequent punishment for contempt arising out of the same act.

(c) A person who violates an order made pursuant to this subchapter may be punished by revocation of any form of pretrial release, by the forfeiture of bail and/or by the issuance of a bench warrant which requires the defendant’s arrest or which remands the defendant into custody. Said revocation may, after a hearing, and upon a showing by a clear and convincing evidence in the sound discretion of the court, be made either where the violation complained of has been committed by the defendant personally, or has in any way been caused indirectly or through the encouragement of the defendant.

63 Del. Laws, c. 275, §  3

§ 3537. Pretrial release.

(a) Any pretrial release of any defendant (whether on bail or under any other form of recognizance) shall be deemed, as a matter of law, to include a condition that the defendant neither do, nor cause to be done, nor knowingly permit to be done on the defendant’s behalf, any act proscribed by this subchapter hereof and any wilful violation of said condition is subject to sanction as prescribed in § 3536 of this title whether or not the defendant was the subject of an order under § 3535 of this title.

(b) From and after June 22, 1982, any receipt or any bail or bond given by the clerk of any court, by any surety or bondsperson and/or any other form of conditional release shall contain, in a conspicuous location, notice that such bail bond, or other release, is conditioned upon strict adherence to the requirements and prohibitions of this subchapter.

63 Del. Laws, c. 275, §  370 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1