CHAPTER 42. Classification of Offenses; Sentences

§ 4201 Transition provisions. (a) Felonies are classified, for the purpose of sentence, into 7 categories: (1) Class A felonies; (2) Class B felonies; (3) Class C felonies; (4) Class D felonies; (5) Class E felonies; (6) Class F felonies; (7) Class G felonies. (b) Any crime or offense which is designated as a felony but which is not specifically given a class shall be a class G felony and shall carry the sentence provided for said class felony. (c) (1) The following felonies shall be designated as violent felonies: Title 11, Section Crime 513 Conspiracy First Degree 602 Aggravated Menacing 604 Reckless Endangering First Degree 605 Abuse of a Pregnant Female in the Second Degree 606 Abuse of a Pregnant Female in the First Degree 607 Strangulation 612 Assault in the Second Degree 613 Assault in the First Degree 614 Assault on a Sports Official [Former] 615 Assault by Abuse 617 Criminal Youth Gangs 629 Vehicular Assault in the First Degree 630 Vehicular Homicide in the Second Degree 630a Vehicular Homicide in the First Degree 631 Criminally Negligent Homicide 632 Manslaughter 633 Murder by Abuse or Neglect in the Second Degree 634 Murder by Abuse or Neglect in the First Degree 635 Murder in the Second Degree 636 Murder in the First Degree 645 Promoting Suicide 768 Unlawful Sexual Contact in the Second Degree 769 Unlawful Sexual Contact in the First Degree Former 770 Unlawful Sexual Penetration in the Third Degree 770 Rape in the Fourth Degree Former 771 Unlawful Sexual Penetration in the Second Degree 771 Rape in the Third Degree Former 772 Unlawful Sexual Penetration in the First Degree 772 Rape in the Second Degree Former 773 Unlawful Sexual Intercourse in the Third Degree 773 Rape in the First Degree 774 Sexual Extortion 775 Bestiality 776 Continuous Sexual Abuse of Child 777 Dangerous Crime Against a Child 777a Sex Offender Unlawful Sexual Conduct Against a Child 778 Sexual Abuse of a Child by a Person in a Position of Trust, Authority or Supervision in the First Degree 778a Sexual Abuse of a Child by a Person in a Position of Trust, Authority or Supervision in the Second Degree 782 Unlawful Imprisonment in the First Degree 783 Kidnapping in the Second Degree 783a Kidnapping in the First Degree 787 Trafficking of an Individual, Forced Labor and Sexual Servitude 802 Arson in the Second Degree 803 Arson in the First Degree 825 Burglary in the Second Degree 826 Burglary in the First Degree [Former] 826A Home Invasion 831 Robbery in the Second Degree 832 Robbery in the First Degree [Former] 835 Carjacking in the Second Degree [Former] 836 Carjacking in the First Degree 846 Extortion 1103b Child Abuse in the Second Degree 1103c Child Abuse in the First Degree 1108 Sexual Exploitation of a Child 1109 Unlawfully Dealing in Child Sexual Abuse Material 1112a Sexual Solicitation of a Child 1112b Promoting Sexual Solicitation of a Child 1250 Assault in the First Degree Against a Law-Enforcement Animal 1253 Escape After Conviction, if convicted as a Class C Felony or a Class B Felony 1254 Assault in a Detention Facility 1256 Promoting Prison Contraband (Deadly Weapon) 1257(a) Resisting Arrest with Force or Violence 1302 Riot 1304 Hate Crimes 1312 Stalking 1338 Bombs, Incendiary Devices, Molotov Cocktails and Explosive Devices 1339 Adulteration (Causing Injury or Death) 1353 Promoting Prostitution in the First Degree 1442 Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon (Firearm Offense) 1444 Possessing a Destructive Weapon 1445 Unlawfully Dealing With a Dangerous Weapon 1447 Possessing a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony 1447a Possessing a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony 1448(e) Possession of a Deadly Weapon by Persons Prohibited (Firearm or Destructive Weapon Purchased, Owned, Possessed or Controlled by a Violent Felon). 1449 Wearing Body Armor During the Commission of a Felony 1455 Engaging in a Firearms Transaction on Behalf of Another (Subsequent Offense) 1503 Racketeering 3533 Aggravated Act of Intimidation Title 16, Section Crime 1136 Abuse/Mistreatment/Neglect of a Patient [Former] 4751 Manufacture/Delivery/Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled or Counterfeit Controlled Substance, Manufacture or Delivery Causing Death [Former] 4752 Manufacture/Delivery/Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled or Counterfeit Controlled Substance [Former] 4752A Unlawful Delivery of a Noncontrolled Substance [Former] 4753A Trafficking in Marijuana, Cocaine, Illegal Drugs, Methamphetamine, LSD, Designer Drugs or MDMA [Former] 4752 Drug Dealing — Aggravated Possession; Class B Felony [Former] 4753 Drug Dealing — Aggravated Possession; Class C Felony [Former] 4754(1) Drug Dealing — Aggravated Possession; Class D Felony [Former] 4761 Former Distribution to Minors 4761(c) and (d) Illegal Delivery of Prescription Drugs [Former] 4773 Delivery of Drug Paraphernalia to a Minor Title 31, Section Crime 3913 Abuse/Neglect/Exploit/Mistreat an Adult who is Impaired (2) Any attempt to commit any felony designated in paragraph (c)(1) of this section as a violent felony shall also be designated as a violent felony. 67 Del. Laws, c. 130, §  6 ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1 ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 477, §  1 ; 71 Del. Laws, c. 285, §  14 ; 71 Del. Laws, c. 467, §  10 ; 72 Del. Laws, c. 34, §  5 ; 72 Del. Laws, c. 43, §  6 ; 72 Del. Laws, c. 197, §  7 ; 72 Del. Laws, c. 480, §  17 ; 74 Del. Laws, c. 106, §  8 ; 75 Del. Laws, c. 421, §  2 ; 76 Del. Laws, c. 66, §  3 ; 76 Del. Laws, c. 343, §  5 ; 77 Del. Laws, c. 313, §  2 ; 77 Del. Laws, c. 318, §  13 ; 78 Del. Laws, c. 13, §§  8-10 ; 78 Del. Laws, c. 224, §  19 ; 78 Del. Laws, c. 252, §  9 ; 78 Del. Laws, c. 406, §  3 ; 79 Del. Laws, c. 276, §  3 ; 80 Del. Laws, c. 28, §  1 ; 80 Del. Laws, c. 173, §  1 ; 82 Del. Laws, c. 215, § 1 ; 82 Del. Laws, c. 216, § 1 ; 82 Del. Laws, c. 217, §§   6-8 ; 84 Del. Laws, c. 126, § 10 ; 84 Del. Laws, c. 223, § 1 ; 85 Del. Laws, c. 294, § 8 ; 85 Del. Laws, c. 548, § 5 ; § 4202 Classification of misdemeanors. (a) Misdemeanors are classified for the purpose of sentence into 2 categories: (1) Class A misdemeanors; (2) Class B misdemeanors. (b) Any offense defined by statute which is not specifically designated a felony, a class A misdemeanor, a class B misdemeanor or a violation shall be an unclassified misdemeanor or an environmental misdemeanor or environmental violation. 67 Del. Laws, c. 130, §  6 ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 436, §  10 ; 79 Del. Laws, c. 421, §  13 ; § 4203 Violations. There shall be a class of offenses denominated violations. No offense is a violation unless expressly declared to be a violation in this Criminal Code or in the statute defining the offense. 11 Del. C. 1953, §  4203; 58 Del. Laws, c. 497, §  2 ; § 4204 Authorized disposition of convicted offenders. (a) Every person convicted of an offense shall be sentenced in accordance with this Criminal Code, with the exception of an environmental misdemeanor as defined in § 1304 of Title 7. This section applies to all judgments of conviction, whether entered after a trial or upon a plea of guilty or nolo contendere. (b) A person convicted of a class A felony may be sentenced to life imprisonment in accordance with § 4205 of this title, unless the conviction is for first-degree murder, in which event § 4209 of this title shall apply. Notwithstanding any other statute, a sentence under § 4209 of this title may not be suspended or reduced by the court. (c) When a person is convicted of any offense other than a class A felony the court may take the following action: (1) Impose a sentence involving an Accountability Level I sanction. — Such sanctions include imposition of a fine as provided by law for the offense or placement of the offender upon unsupervised probation with or without special conditions, or with or without the imposition of a fine as provided by law for the offense; (2) Impose a sentence involving an Accountability Level II sanction. — Such a sanction includes a placement of the offender upon supervised probation amounting to field supervision rather than intensive supervision, with or without special conditions, or with or without the imposition of a fine as provided by law for the offense; (3) Impose a sentence involving an Accountability Level III sanction. — Such sanctions include placement of the offender upon intensive supervision or placement of the offender upon community service, with or without special conditions, or with or without the imposition of a fine as provided by law for the offense. Such intensive supervision shall entail at least the equivalent of 1 hour of supervision per day and no more than 56 hours of supervision per week; (4) Impose a sentence involving an Accountability Level IV sanction. — Such sanctions include placement of the offender upon partial confinement under house arrest under the supervision of the Department of Correction or commitment of the offender to the Department of Correction under partial confinement to a half-way house or restitution center or placement of the offender in a residential treatment facility, all with or without special conditions, and all with or without the imposition of a fine as provided by law for the offense; (5) Impose a sentence involving an Accountability Level V sanction. — Such a sentence consists of the commitment of the offender to the Department of Correction for a period of incarceration, with or without the imposition of a fine provided by law for the offense; (6) Impose a period of incarceration, with or without the imposition of a fine provided by law for the offense, and placement of the offender in a less restrictive sanction, with or without special conditions, to commence when the offender is released from incarceration; (7) Suspend the imposition or execution of sentence, or suspend a portion thereof; (8) Impose any sentence as authorized in this subsection to include any special condition such as the payment of restitution to the victim or victims of the crime for which the offender is being sentenced and/or participation in a drug/alcohol outpatient treatment program, job training program, mental health treatment program, education program, community service program or other like programs. With regard to any such programs, the offender may be ordered to pay a fee covering, in whole or in part, the costs of such program and such fees shall be based upon the offender’s ability to pay therefor; (9) Wherever a victim of crime suffers a monetary loss as a result of the defendant’s criminal conduct, the sentencing court shall impose as a special condition of the sentence that the defendant make payment of restitution to the victim in such amount as to make the victim whole, insofar as possible, for the loss sustained. Notwithstanding any law, rule or regulation to the contrary, for the purposes of ensuring the payment of restitution the court shall retain jurisdiction over the offender until the amount of restitution ordered has been paid in full; (10) Whenever restitution is ordered pursuant to paragraph (c)(9) of this section or any other applicable statute or rule, and if deemed appropriate to ensure or facilitate the collection of restitution from the defendant or if otherwise required by statute, the court may impose a sentence involving an Accountability Level I—Restitution Only sanction. Such a sanction shall be limited to the placement of the offender upon unsupervised probation, and the conditions of such probation shall be limited to those that are necessary to ensure or facilitate the collection of restitution. No offender shall be found to be in violation of the conditions of such a sanction unless the offender is found to be in violation of an applicable restitution order. (d) Notwithstanding anything in this Criminal Code to the contrary, probation or a suspended sentence shall not be substituted for imprisonment where the statute specifically indicates that a prison sentence is a mandatory sentence, a minimum sentence, a minimum mandatory sentence or a mandatory minimum sentence, or may not otherwise be suspended. (e) The court may authorize the payment of a fine in installments. When imposing probation the court shall direct that the offender be subject to the supervision of the Department of Correction and the court order shall specify those conditions under which the offender may remain at liberty on probation. (f) In committing an offender to the Department of Correction the court shall fix the maximum term of incarceration. (g) Where modification of judgment is not provided by rule of court, the court may modify a judgment within 90 days after it is ordered. Dispositions other than commitment to the Department of Correction, and such commitments which are revoked, shall not entail the loss by the offender of any civil rights, except as provided in the state Constitution. (h) The court may direct that a person placed on probation be released on entering into a recognizance, with or without surety, during such period as the court directs, to appear and receive sentence when called upon, and, in the meantime, to keep the peace and be of good behavior. (i) The court may, if it thinks proper, direct that the offender pay the costs of the prosecution or some portion thereof, and may further impose terms and conditions to be complied with by the offender during any period which it deems proper. (j) At any time within the period mentioned in the recognizance, but not afterwards, the court may, upon being satisfied by information on oath that the offender has failed to observe any of the conditions of recognizance, or any of the terms or conditions of probation, issue an order for the offender’s apprehension and thereupon, after proper hearing, impose sentence upon the offender. (k) (1) Except as provided in this subsection, notwithstanding any statute, rule, regulation or guideline to the contrary, the court may direct as a condition to a sentence of imprisonment to be served at Level V or otherwise that all or a specified portion of said sentence shall be served without benefit of any form of early release, good time, furlough, work release, supervised custody or any other form of reduction or diminution of sentence. (2) For the purposes of this subsection, statutes which authorize early release, good time, furlough, work release, supervised custody, or reduction or diminution of sentence include §§ 4205(h) and (i), 4206(g) and (h), 4381, 6533, 6533A [repealed] and 6537-6539 of this title, but do not include § 4217 of this title. (3) The provisions of this subsection shall be applicable only to sentences of imprisonment at Level V for 1 year or less, or to sentences of imprisonment at Level V which are equal to the statutory maximum Level V sentence available for the crime or offense. ( l ) Except when the court imposes a life sentence or sentence of death, whenever a court imposes a period of incarceration at Level V custody for 1 or more offenses that totals 1 year or more, then that court must include as part of its sentence a period of custodial supervision at either Level IV, III or II for a period of not less than 6 months to facilitate the transition of the individual back into society. The 6-month transition period required by this subsection may, at the discretion of the court, be in addition to the maximum sentence of imprisonment established by the statute. (m) As a condition of any sentence, and regardless of whether such sentence includes a period of probation or suspension of sentence, the court may order the offender to engage in a specified act or acts, or to refrain from engaging in a specified act or acts, as deemed necessary by the court to ensure the public peace, the safety of the victim or the public, the rehabilitation of the offender, the satisfaction of the offender’s restitution obligation to the victim or the offender’s financial obligations to the State, or for any other purpose consistent with the interests of justice. The duration of any order entered pursuant to this subsection shall not exceed the maximum term of commitment provided by law for the offense or 1 year, whichever is greater; provided that in all cases where no commitment is provided by law the duration of such order shall not exceed 1 year. A violation of any order issued pursuant to this subsection shall be prosecuted pursuant to § 1271 of this title. Any such prosecution pursuant to § 1271 of this title shall not preclude prosecution under any other provision of this Code. (n) Whenever a court imposes a sentence inconsistent with the presumptive sentences adopted by the Sentencing Accountability Commission [repealed], such court shall set forth on the record its reasons for imposing such penalty. 11 Del. C. 1953, §  4204; 58 Del. Laws, c. 497, §  2 ; 62 Del. Laws, c. 259, §  2 ; 66 Del. Laws, c. 134, §§  1, 2 ; 67 Del. Laws, c. 130, §§  6, 17, 18 ; 67 Del. Laws, c. 260, §  1 ; 67 Del. Laws, c. 350, §§  1, 33 ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1 ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 436, §  11 ; 71 Del. Laws, c. 32, §  1 ; 71 Del. Laws, c. 98, §  5 ; 71 Del. Laws, c. 154, §  1 ; 74 Del. Laws, c. 27, §§  1-3 ; 85 Del. Laws, c. 76, § 3 ; 85 Del. Laws, c. 367, § 1 ; § 4204A Youth convicted in Superior Court. (a) [Repealed.] (b) When a child who has not reached that child’s eighteenth birthday is sentenced in Superior Court to a period of incarceration, such sentence shall initially be served in a juvenile facility upon imposition of the sentence and such child shall remain in the custody of or be transferred forthwith to the Division of Youth Rehabilitative Services until the child’s eighteenth birthday, at which time such child shall be transferred forthwith to the Department of Correction to serve the remaining portion of said sentence. (1) If a child has reached the child’s sixteenth birthday has been sentenced in Superior Court, the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families (“The Department”) may file a motion in Superior Court to place the child in a secured detention facility other than a facility operated by the Department because the Department’s secured detention facilities are at or beyond capacity or the child poses a security risk to self or other youth served by the Department in the facilities it operates. If a motion is filed, Superior Court shall conduct an evidentiary hearing unless the parties reach an agreement. (2) After an evidentiary hearing, the Superior Court may order the child to be placed in a secured detention facility not operated by the Department if the Court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the Department’s secured detention facilities are at or beyond capacity and the child’s safety or health is at risk by remaining at a facility operated by the Department. If the Court makes such a finding, the Department shall thereafter provide the Court with a status on the capacity of the Department’s secured detention facilities at least weekly, and no child may be held in a secured detention facility for adults for more than 30 days. (3) After an evidentiary hearing, the Superior Court may order the child to be placed in a secured detention facility not operated by the Department if the Court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the child is a danger to self or other youth served by the Department in the facilities it operates and the child’s needs would be better served at a facility not operated by the Department. (c) [Repealed.] (d) (1) Notwithstanding any provision of this title to the contrary, any offender sentenced to an aggregate term of incarceration in excess of 20 years for any offense or offenses other than murder first degree that were committed prior to the offender’s eighteenth birthday shall be eligible to petition the Superior Court for sentence modification after the offender has served 20 years of the originally imposed Level V sentence. (2) Notwithstanding any provision of this title to the contrary, any offender sentenced to a term of incarceration for murder first degree when said offense was committed prior to the offender’s eighteenth birthday shall be eligible to petition the Superior Court for sentence modification after the offender has served 30 years of the originally imposed Level V sentence. (3) Notwithstanding any provision of this subsection or title to the contrary, any offender who has petitioned the Superior Court for sentence modification pursuant to this subsection shall not be eligible to submit a second or subsequent petition until at least 5 years have elapsed since the date on which the Court ruled upon the offender’s most recent petition. Further, the Superior Court shall have the discretion at the time of each sentence modification hearing to prohibit a subsequent sentence modification petition for a period of time in excess of 5 years if the Superior Court finds there to be no reasonable likelihood that the interests of justice will require another hearing within 5 years. (4) Notwithstanding the provisions of § 4205 or § 4217 of this title, any court rule or any other provision of law to the contrary, a Superior Court Judge upon consideration of a petition filed pursuant to this subsection (d), may modify, reduce or suspend such petitioner’s sentence, including any minimum or mandatory sentence, or a portion thereof, in the discretion of the Court. Nothing in this section, however, shall require the Court to grant such a petitioner a sentence modification pursuant to this section. (5) The Superior Court shall have the authority to promulgate appropriate rules to regulate the filing and litigation of sentence modification petitions pursuant to this paragraph. 69 Del. Laws, c. 353, §  1 ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1 ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 597, §  2 ; 71 Del. Laws, c. 5, §§  2-4 ; 72 Del. Laws, c. 149, §  2 ; 79 Del. Laws, c. 37, §  4 ; 83 Del. Laws, c. 40, § 2 ; § 4205 Sentence for felonies. (a) A sentence of incarceration for a felony shall be a definite sentence. (b) The term of incarceration which the court may impose for a felony is fixed as follows: (1) For a class A felony not less than 15 years up to life imprisonment to be served at Level V except for conviction of first degree murder in which event § 4209 of this title shall apply. (2) For a class B felony not less than 2 years up to 25 years to be served at Level V. (3) For a class C felony up to 15 years to be served at Level V. (4) For a class D felony up to 8 years to be served at Level V. (5) For a class E felony up to 5 years to be served at Level V. (6) For a class F felony up to 3 years to be served at Level V. (7) For a class G felony up to 2 years to be served at Level V. (c) In the case of the conviction of any felony, the court shall impose a sentence of Level V incarceration where a minimum sentence is required by subsection (b) of this section and may impose a sentence of Level V incarceration up to the maximum stated in subsection (b) of this section for each class of felony. (d) Where a minimum, mandatory, mandatory minimum or minimum mandatory sentence is required by subsection (b) of this section, such sentence shall not be subject to suspension by the court. (e) Where no minimum sentence is required by subsection (b) of this section, or with regard to any sentence in excess of the minimum required sentence, the court may suspend that part of the sentence for probation or any other punishment set forth in § 4204 of this title. (f) Any term of Level V incarceration imposed under this section must be served in its entirety at Level V, reduced only for earned “good time” as set forth in § 4381 of this title. (g) No term of Level V incarceration imposed under this section shall be served in other than a full custodial Level V institutional setting unless such term is suspended by the court for such other level sanction. (h) The Department of Correction, the remainder of this section notwithstanding, may house Level V inmates at a Level IV work release center or halfway house during the last 180 days of their sentence; provided, however, that the first 5 days of any sentence to Level V, not suspended by the court, must be served at Level V. (i) The Department of Correction, the remainder of this section notwithstanding, may grant Level V inmates 48-hour furloughs during the last 120 days of their sentence to assist in their adjustment to the community. (j) No sentence to Level V incarceration imposed pursuant to this section is subject to parole. (k) In addition to the penalties set forth above, the court may impose such fines and penalties as it deems appropriate. (l) In all sentences for less than 1 year the court may order that more than 5 days be served in Level V custodial setting before the Department may place the offender in Level IV custody. 67 Del. Laws, c. 130, §  6 ; 67 Del. Laws, c. 260, §  1 ; 71 Del. Laws, c. 98, §  6 ; 74 Del. Laws, c. 106, §§  9, 10 ; § 4205A Additional penalty for serious sex offenders or pedophile offenders. (a) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter or any other laws to the contrary, the Superior Court, upon the State’s application, shall sentence a defendant convicted of any crime set forth in § 771(a)(2), § 772, § 773, § 776, § 777, § 777A, § 778(1) or (2) of this title to not less than 25 years up to life imprisonment to be served at Level V if 1 of the following apply: (1) The defendant has previously been convicted or adjudicated delinquent of any sex offense set forth in this title and classified as a class A or B felony, or any similar offense under the laws of another state, the United States or any territory of the United States. (2) The victim of the instant offense is a child less than 14 years of age. (b) [Repealed.] (c) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter or any other laws to the contrary, the Superior Court, upon the State’s application, shall sentence a defendant convicted of any crime set forth in subsection (a) of this section to an additional 5 years to be served at Level V for any sentence imposed under subsection (a) of this section if the victim of the crime set forth in subsection (a) of this section is a child less than 7 years of age. (d) (1) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter or any other laws to the contrary, the Superior Court, upon the State’s application, shall sentence a defendant convicted of any crime set forth in § 769 or § 783(4) of this title to not less than 5 years to be served at Level V if the victim of the crime is a child less than 7 years of age. (2) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter or any other laws to the contrary, the Superior Court, upon the State’s application, shall sentence a defendant convicted of a crime set forth in § 783A(4) of this title to not less than 10 years to be served at Level V if the victim of the crime is a child less than 7 years of age. 75 Del. Laws, c. 438, §  1 ; 77 Del. Laws, c. 318, §  14 ; 80 Del. Laws, c. 26, §  3 ; 80 Del. Laws, c. 349, § 1 ; 81 Del. Laws, c. 297, § 1 ; § 4206 Sentence for misdemeanors. (a) The sentence for a class A misdemeanor may include up to 1 year incarceration at Level V and such fine up to $2,300, restitution or other conditions as the court deems appropriate. (b) The sentence for a class B misdemeanor may include up to 6 months incarceration at Level V and such fine up to $1,150, restitution or other conditions as the court deems appropriate. (c) The sentence for an unclassified misdemeanor shall be a definite sentence fixed by the court in accordance with the sentence specified in the law defining the offense. If no sentence is specified in such law, the sentence may include up to 30 days incarceration at Level V and such fine up to $575, restitution or other conditions as the court deems appropriate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in any municipality with a population greater than 50,000 people, any offense under the building, housing, health or sanitation code which is classified therein as a misdemeanor, the sentence for any person convicted of such a misdemeanor offense shall include the following fines and may include restitution or such other conditions as the court deems appropriate: (1) For the first conviction: no less than $250, nor more than $1,000; (2) For the second conviction for the same offense; no less than $500, nor more than $2,500; and (3) For all subsequent convictions for the same offense: no less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000. In any municipality with a population greater than 50,000 people, a conviction for a misdemeanor offense, which is defined as a “continuing” or “ongoing” violation, shall be considered a single conviction for the purposes of paragraphs (c)(1)-(3) of this section. For all convictions subsequent to the second, the minimum fines required herein shall not be suspended, but such amounts imposed over the minimum may be suspended or subject to such other conditions as the court deems appropriate. The provisions of this subsection relating to municipalities with a population greater than 50,000 people shall not apply to offenses or convictions involving single family residences that are occupied by an owner of the property. (d) The court may suspend any sentence imposed under this section for probation or any of the other sanctions set forth in § 4204 of this title. (e) Any term of Level V incarceration imposed under this section must be served in its entirety at Level V, reduced only for earned “good time” as set forth in § 4381 of this title. (f) No term of Level V incarceration imposed under this section shall be served in other than a full custodial Level V institutional setting unless such term is suspended by the court for such other level sanction. (g) The Department of Correction, the remainder of this section notwithstanding, may house Level V inmates at a Level IV work release center or halfway house during the last 180 days of their sentence; provided, however, that the first 5 days of any sentence to Level V, not suspended by the court, must be served at Level V. (h) The Department of Correction, the remainder of this section notwithstanding, may grant Level V inmates 48-hour furloughs during the last 120 days of their sentence to assist in their adjustment to the community. (i) Any sentence for issuing a worthless check pursuant to § 900 of this title shall require restitution to the person to whom the check was given. For the purposes of this subsection, restitution shall mean the amount for which the check was written plus a service fee of $30 for processing a worthless check, or a fee of $50 if more than 1 check by same person was processed. (j) In all sentences for less than 1 year the court may order that more than 5 days be served in Level V custodial setting before the Department may place the offender in Level IV custody. 66 Del. Laws, c. 253, §  1 ; 67 Del. Laws, c. 130, §  6 ; 67 Del. Laws, c. 260, §  1 ; 67 Del. Laws, c. 350, §  2 ; 68 Del. Laws, c. 9, §  5 ; 74 Del. Laws, c. 153, §  1 ; § 4207 Sentences for violations. (a) The Court may impose a fine of up to $345 for the first offense of any violation, up to $690 for the second offense of that same violation and up to $1,150 for the third offense of the same violation; provided, that only violations which occurred within 5 years of the violation for which sentence is imposed shall be considered in determining sentence. (b) The Court may impose a period of Level I probation up to 1 year for any violation. 67 Del. Laws, c. 130, §  6 ; 67 Del. Laws, c. 260, §  1 ; § 4208 Fines for organizations. A sentence to pay a fine, when imposed on an organization, shall be the amount specified in the law setting forth the offense if a penalty is specified in that law, or, if there is no specific penalty defined in the law setting forth the offense, a sentence to pay a fine when imposed on an organization shall be as follows: (1) For a felony or a misdemeanor resulting in death or serious physical injury, such fine as the court deems reasonable and appropriate; (2) For a felony that does not result in death or serious physical injury, not more than $500,000; (3) For a class A misdemeanor that results in physical injury, not more than $250,000; (4) For a class A misdemeanor that does not result in physical injury, not more than $100,000; (5) For a class B misdemeanor, class C or unclassified misdemeanor that results in physical injury, not more than $75,000; (6) For a class B misdemeanor, class C or unclassified misdemeanor that does not result in physical injury, not more than $50,000; or (7) For a violation, not more than $10,000. If the defendant derives pecuniary gain from the offense, or if the offense results in pecuniary loss or damage to a person or organization other than the defendant, the defendant may be fined an amount equal to 3 times the amount of the pecuniary gain or 3 times the value of the pecuniary loss or damage incurred in lieu of the penalties set forth in paragraphs (1)-(7) of this section. 11 Del. C. 1953, §  4208; 58 Del. Laws, c. 497, §  2 ; 68 Del. Laws, c. 9, §§  3, 4 ; 74 Del. Laws, c. 71, §  6 ; § 4209 Punishment for first-degree murder committed by adult offenders. (a) Punishment for first-degree murder. — Any person who is convicted of first-degree murder for an offense that was committed after the person had reached the person’s eighteenth birthday shall be punished by imprisonment for the remainder of the person’s natural life without benefit of probation or parole or any other reduction. (b)-(h) [Repealed.] 11 Del. C. 1953, §  4209; 58 Del. Laws, c. 497, §  2 ; 59 Del. Laws, c. 284, §  2 ; 61 Del. Laws, c. 41, §  1 ; 63 Del. Laws, c. 357, §  1 ; 65 Del. Laws, c. 281, §  1 ; 65 Del. Laws, c. 494, §  4 ; 66 Del. Laws, c. 269, §  29 ; 68 Del. Laws, c. 189, §§  1-4 ; 69 Del. Laws, c. 206, §  1 ; 69 Del. Laws, c. 439, §  1 ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 33, §  1 ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 137, §  1 ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 182, §  1 ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1 ; 71 Del. Laws, c. 430, §  2 ; 73 Del. Laws, c. 423, §§  1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ; 73 Del. Laws, c. 424, §  1 ; 74 Del. Laws, c. 174, §§  1, 2, 4 ; 75 Del. Laws, c. 166, §  1 ; 77 Del. Laws, c. 191, §  2 ; 78 Del. Laws, c. 224, §§  20, 21 ; 78 Del. Laws, c. 252, §  10 ; 79 Del. Laws, c. 37, §  2 ; 84 Del. Laws, c. 42, § 1 ; 84 Del. Laws, c. 233, § 14 ; 84 Del. Laws, c. 433, § 1 ; § 4209A Punishment for first-degree murder committed by juvenile offenders. Any person who is convicted of first-degree murder for an offense that was committed before the person had reached the person’s eighteenth birthday shall be sentenced to term of incarceration not less than 25 years to be served at Level V up to a term of imprisonment for the remainder of the person’s natural life to be served at Level V without benefit of probation or parole or any other reduction. 79 Del. Laws, c. 37, §  3 ; § 4210 Arrest and disposition of intoxicated persons. (a) Any intoxicated person taken into custody for a violation of § 1315 of this title shall immediately be taken to a detoxification center where the person shall be admitted as a patient. (1) The arresting officer shall leave a summons for such intoxicated person with the chief medical officer of the detoxification center ordering such intoxicated person to appear before a justice of the peace at a date not to exceed a period of 5 days from the date of admission to the center. (2) The intoxicated person shall be given a physical examination to determine the possible existence of any disease or ailment which threatens the health or safety of such individual; and upon a finding of any such disease or ailment, the medical staff of the detoxification center shall give such treatment as it deems necessary and practicable. (b) Upon regaining sobriety and being informed of the person’s physical condition, the person in custody shall inform the chief medical officer of the detoxification center as to whether, until such time as the person is to appear for trial, the person wishes to remain a patient or be released from custody. (c) Should the person in custody validly consent to remain as a patient and to undergo testing procedures, the person shall be tested to determine if the person is a chronic alcoholic. A diagnosis of chronic alcoholism shall serve as an affirmative defense to violations of § 1315 of this title. (d) Should it be shown to the satisfaction of the court that the person accused of intoxication suffers from chronic alcoholism, the person shall be acquitted of the charge of drunkenness and: (1) Released from custody; or (2) Temporarily released from custody under such conditions of treatment as the court may prescribe; such period of temporary release shall not exceed 1 year after which defendant shall be unconditionally released. 11 Del. C. 1953, §  4210; 58 Del. Laws, c. 497, §  2 ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1 ; § 4211 Payment of expenses. Any person treated under § 4210 of this title shall, any law to the contrary notwithstanding, be responsible for the incurred expenses, and shall be billed for same by the Department of Mental Health. 11 Del. C. 1953, §  4211; 58 Del. Laws, c. 497, §  2 ; § 4212 Definitions relating to §§ 4210 and 4211. For the purposes of §§ 4210 and 4211 of this title, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them: (1) “Chronic alcoholic” shall mean a person who compulsively and habitually uses alcoholic beverages to the extent that they injure the person’s health and interfere with the person’s social and economic functioning. (2) “Detoxification center” shall mean a medical facility, approved by the Department of Health and Social Services, or its successor, which shall provide appropriate medical services for intoxicated persons, including initial examination, diagnosis and temporary treatment. (3) “Intoxicated person” shall mean a person whose powers of self-control have been substantially impaired because of the consumption of alcohol. (4) “Sobriety” shall mean an individual’s state of being when not under the influence of alcohol. (5) “Valid consent” shall mean the voluntary giving of assent to testing procedures by a legally competent person; in the case of a minor or incompetent, such assent shall be obtained from a parent or guardian of the individual or in the absence of either, a person in loco parentis, to undergo testing. 11 Del. C. 1953, §  4212; 58 Del. Laws, c. 497, §  2 ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1 ; § 4213 Arrest of persons under the influence of drugs; drug detoxification centers. (a) For purposes of this section only, the following phrases shall have meanings respectively ascribed to them: (1) “A person under the influence of drugs” shall mean a person whose powers of self-control have been substantially impaired because of the consumption of a drug described in Chapter 47 of Title 16. (2) “Drug abuser” shall mean any person who compulsively and habitually uses drugs to the extent that they injure the person’s health and interfere with the person’s social and economic functioning. (b) The Director of the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (“Director”) shall designate certain hospital, clinic, or other treatment facilities as “drug detoxification centers.” The Director shall so designate such a facility only when the Director is satisfied that the facility has the medical and other staff, as well as the equipment, to diagnose and treat drug abusers as provided for in this section. (c) Upon arrest for any crime which is not a felony under this title or Title 16, an arrestee who believes that the arrestee is under the influence of drugs as defined in subsection (a) of this section shall have the right to request immediate admission to a drug detoxification center. Upon such request, the arresting officer shall, as soon as transportation is available and as soon as conditions at the scene of the arrest permit, arrange to have the arrestee transported to the nearest available drug detoxification center. (1) No expression of a desire to be admitted to a drug detoxification center shall be admissible in evidence in any criminal prosecution against the arrestee. (2) Notwithstanding any provision of this Code to the contrary, no arrestee shall be heard to object in any court to failure to arraign the arrestee before a magistrate during the period of transportation to or stay in a drug detoxification center, or for a reasonable time not to exceed 24 hours after release. (3) An arresting officer shall, when the officer suspects an arrestee of being under the influence of drugs, inform the arrestee of the rights under this section. (4) No arrestee may revoke a request to be taken to a drug detoxification center after having made that request, and any drug detoxification center to which an arrestee is brought must consent to admission and testing of the arrestee, subject to limitations of facilities and staff. (d) A drug detoxification center shall initially test admittees under this section to determine if they are under the influence of drugs or are drug abusers. If tests prove negative, the admittee shall be released forthwith to the custody of the arresting authorities. Any arrestee requesting admission to a drug detoxification center is deemed to consent to all medical and psychiatric tests considered necessary by the center to carry out its function under this section. The results of tests taken at a drug detoxification center or statements made by admittees under this section to drug detoxification center staff shall not be admissible as evidence in a criminal prosecution against the admittee. (e) Admittees under this section whom the drug detoxification center determines to be drug abusers shall be asked if they wish to receive further treatment. Those consenting to further treatment shall remain until discharged by the drug detoxification center or until they wish to leave. No one admitted under this section shall be permitted to leave the drug detoxification center until the arresting police agency is notified. (f) Upon a satisfactory showing to the court that a person is a drug abuser as defined in subsection (a) of this section and has completed treatment under this section in a manner satisfactory to the chairperson of the drug diagnostic team at the drug detoxification center to which the person was admitted, the charge of consumption or use of the drug, under Chapter 47 of Title 16, shall be dismissed. (g) Whenever a police officer sees a person whom the officer believes to have taken drugs and needs medical treatment, the police officer may take that person into custody and arrange to have the person taken to a drug detoxification center or arrange to secure other medical help. This subsection shall apply whether or not the officer may under the circumstances lawfully arrest the person whom the officer believes to have taken drugs. No officer acting in good faith shall be subject to criminal or civil liability for any action under this subsection. (h) To further the implementation of this section, the Director of the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health may prescribe regulations for the operation of drug detoxification centers and may assist such drug detoxification centers by distributing to them such funds as the General Assembly may from time to time appropriate to the Director for expenditure on their behalf. 11 Del. C. 1953, §  4212A; 58 Del. Laws, c. 250, §  1 ; 58 Del. Laws, c. 497, §  3 ; 58 Del. Laws, c. 543 ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1 ; 83 Del. Laws, c. 37, § 10 ; § 4214 Habitual criminal; life sentence (a) Any person who has been 2 times convicted of a Title 11 violent felony, or attempt to commit such a violent felony, as defined in § 4201(c) of this title under the laws of this State, and/or any comparable violent felony as defined by another state, United States or any territory of the United States, and who shall thereafter be convicted of a subsequent Title 11 violent felony, or attempt to commit such a violent felony, as defined in § 4201(c) of this title, or any person who has been 3 times convicted of any felony under the laws of this State, and/or any other state, United States or any territory of the United States, and who shall thereafter be convicted of a subsequent felony is declared to be an habitual criminal. The court, upon the State’s petition, shall impose the applicable minimum sentence pursuant to subsection (b), (c) or (d) of this section and may, in its discretion, impose a sentence of up to life imprisonment, unless the felony conviction allows and results in the imposition of capital punishment. Under no circumstances may the sentence imposed pursuant to this section be less than the minimum sentence provided for by the felony prompting the person’s designation as a habitual offender. (b) Any person who has been 3 times convicted of a felony under the laws of this State, and/or any other state, United States or any territory of the United States, and who shall thereafter be convicted of a subsequent felony, which is the person’s first Title 11 violent felony, or attempt to commit such a violent felony, as defined in § 4201(c) of this title, shall receive a minimum sentence of ½ of the statutory maximum penalty provided elsewhere in this title, unless the maximum statutory penalty is life in which case the minimum sentence shall be 30 years, for the subsequent felony which forms the basis of the States petition to have the person declared to be an habitual criminal, up to life imprisonment, unless the felony conviction allows and results in the imposition of capital punishment. (c) Any person who has been 2 times convicted of a felony under the laws of this State, and/or any other state, United States or any territory of the United States, and 1 time convicted of a Title 11 violent felony, or attempt to commit such a violent felony, as defined in § 4201(c) of this title under the laws of this State, and/or any comparable violent felony as defined by another state, United States or any territory of the United States, and who shall thereafter be convicted of a subsequent Title 11 violent felony, or attempt to commit such a violent felony, as defined by § 4201(c) of this title, shall receive a minimum sentence of the statutory maximum penalty provided elsewhere in this title for the fourth or subsequent felony which forms the basis of the State’s petition to have the person declared to be an habitual criminal, up to life imprisonment, unless the felony conviction allows and results in the imposition of capital punishment. (d) Any person who has been 2 times convicted of a Title 11 violent felony, or attempt to commit such a violent felony, as defined in § 4201(c) of this title under the laws of this State, and/or any comparable violent felony as defined by another state, United States or any territory of the United States, and who shall thereafter be convicted of a third or subsequent felony which is a Title 11 violent felony, or an attempt to commit such a violent felony, as defined in § 4201(c), shall receive a minimum sentence of the statutory maximum statutory penalty provided elsewhere in this title for the third or subsequent Title 11 violent felony which forms the basis of the State’s petition to have the person declared to be an habitual criminal, up to life imprisonment, unless the felony conviction allows and results in the imposition of capital punishment. (e) Notwithstanding any provision of this title to the contrary, any minimum sentence required to be imposed pursuant to subsection (b), (c), or (d) of this section shall not be subject to suspension by the court, and shall be served in its entirety at full custodial Level V institutional setting without the benefit of probation or parole, except that any such sentence shall be subject to the provisions of §§ 4205(h), 4381 and 4382 of this title. For purposes of the computation of good time under § 4381 of this title, a life sentence imposed pursuant only to this section shall equate to a sentence of 45 years. (f) Notwithstanding any statute, court rule or regulation to the contrary, beginning January 1, 2017, any person sentenced as an habitual criminal to a minimum sentence of not less than the statutory maximum penalty for a violent felony pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, or a life sentence pursuant to subsection (b) of this section prior to July 19, 2016, shall be eligible to petition the Superior Court for sentence modification after the person has served a sentence of incarceration equal to any applicable mandatory sentence otherwise required by this section or the statutes describing said offense or offenses, whichever is greater. Absent extraordinary circumstances, the petitioner may only file 1 application for sentence modification under this section. A Superior Court Judge upon consideration of a petition filed pursuant to this subsection may modify, reduce or suspend such petitioner’s sentence, excepting any minimum or mandatory sentence required by this section or the statutes describing said offense or offenses. If a Superior Court Judge modifies such petitioner’s sentence, the Judge may impose a suspended sentence that includes a probationary term. Nothing in this section, however, shall require the Court to grant such a petitioner a sentence modification pursuant to this section. For the purposes of this subsection, the “applicable mandatory sentence’' shall be calculated by reference to the penalties prescribed for the relevant offense or offenses by this Code as of July 19, 2016, unless said offense has been repealed, in which case the penalties prescribed by this Code at the time of the act repealing said offense shall be controlling. The Superior Court shall establish rules to implement this subsection which are consistent with the statute, and those rules shall also provide that all petitions filed pursuant to this subsection where the felony establishing an inmate as a habitual offender was a Title 16 offense are heard first, followed by all petitions filed pursuant to this subsection where the felony establishing an inmate as a habitual offender was a crime against property, followed by all other petitions. Nothing in the rules or this subsection shall prohibit the Superior Court from hearing any petition without regard to this preferred sequence when the Department of Justice, through the personal authorization of the Attorney General, Chief Deputy Attorney General, State Prosecutor, or the Chief Prosecutor of a particular county, in response to a request authorized by the Chief Defender, Chief Deputy Defender, or Chief Conflicts Counsel, or private counsel if a petitioner is not represented by the Office of Defense Services, consents to the hearing of that petition and the Superior Court determines it is in the interest of justice to do so. The rules shall also provide for an initial review, including review of a formal response by the Department of Justice after consulting with the victim or victims, of sentence modification petitions involving crimes against persons or property, for the purpose of ensuring that victims are not inconvenienced by petitions that should be denied based upon the documents submitted; in cases not denied in this manner, all victims shall be given an opportunity to be heard. The Superior Court’s review of any petitions filed pursuant to this subsection shall include a review of the applicant’s prior criminal history, including arrests and convictions, a review of the applicant’s conduct while incarcerated, and available evidence as to the likelihood that the applicant will reoffend if released, including a formal, recent risk assessment. The Superior Court shall articulate on the record the results of its review and its rationale for granting or denying a petition. In all cases where sentence modifications are granted, modified sentences should provide for step-down provisions to ensure successful reintegration of persons into the community. By January 1, 2017, the Department of Correction shall notify any criminal defendant whose Level V sentence was imposed under a statutory sentencing regimen which was subsequently changed in a manner that reduced the sentence applicable to the defendant’s convictions, including any criminal defendant who received a minimum mandatory sentence that no longer exists by virtue of the enactment of 80 Del. Laws, c. 28. The Department of Correction shall similarly notify the attorney of record, and if the attorney of record is unavailable to receive notice, the Office of Defense Services. 11 Del. C. 1953, §  4213; 58 Del. Laws, c. 497, §  2 ; 59 Del. Laws, c. 547, §§  19-21 ; 65 Del. Laws, c. 159, §  1 ; 66 Del. Laws, c. 269, §  7 ; 67 Del. Laws, c. 350, §  37 ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1 ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 477, §  2 ; 71 Del. Laws, c. 285, §§  15, 16 ; 72 Del. Laws, c. 34, §  4 ; 72 Del. Laws, c. 43, §  7 ; 72 Del. Laws, c. 197, §  8 ; 74 Del. Laws, c. 346, §  1 ; 77 Del. Laws, c. 318, §  15 ; 78 Del. Laws, c. 13, §§  11, 12 ; 78 Del. Laws, c. 252, §  11 ; 78 Del. Laws, c. 406, §  3 ; 79 Del. Laws, c. 89, §  1 ; 80 Del. Laws, c. 321, § 1 ; 81 Del. Laws, c. 6, §§ 1-3 ; 81 Del. Laws, c. 313, §  1 ; § 4215 Sentence of greater punishment because of previous conviction. (a) If at the time of sentence, it appears to the court that the conviction of a defendant constitutes a second or other conviction making the defendant liable to a punishment greater than the maximum which may be imposed upon a person not so previously convicted, the court shall fully inform the defendant as to such previous conviction or convictions and shall call upon the defendant to admit or deny such previous conviction or convictions. If the defendant shall admit the previous conviction or convictions, the court may impose the greater punishment. If the defendant shall stand silent or if the defendant shall deny the prior conviction or convictions, the defendant shall be tried upon the issue of previous conviction; provided, however, that the foregoing procedure shall not apply in cases of fourth offenders liable to sentence of life imprisonment under § 4214 of this title. (b) If, at any time after conviction and before sentence, it shall appear to the Attorney General or to the Superior Court that, by reason of such conviction and prior convictions, a defendant should be subjected to § 4214 of this title, the Attorney General shall file a motion to have the defendant declared an habitual criminal under § 4214 of this title. If it shall appear to the satisfaction of the Court at a hearing on the motion that the defendant falls within § 4214 of this title, the Court shall enter an order declaring the defendant an habitual criminal and shall impose sentence accordingly. 11 Del. C. 1953, §  4214; 58 Del. Laws, c. 497, §  2 ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1 ; § 4215A Sentence of greater punishment because of previous conviction under prior law or the laws of other jurisdictions. (a) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, if a previous conviction for a specified offense would make the defendant liable to a punishment greater than that which may be imposed upon a person not so convicted, that previous conviction shall make the defendant liable to the greater punishment if that previous conviction was: (1) For an offense specified in the laws of this State or for an offense which is the same as, or equivalent to, such offense as the same existed and was defined under the laws of this State existing at the time of such conviction; or (2) For an offense specified in the laws of any other state, local jurisdiction, the United States, any territory of the United States, any federal or military reservation, or the District of Columbia which is the same as, or equivalent to, an offense specified in the laws of this State. (b) This section shall apply to any offense or sentencing provision defined in this Code unless the statute defining such offense or sentencing provision or a statute directly related thereto expressly provides that this section is not applicable to such offense or sentencing provision. 74 Del. Laws, c. 62, §  1 ; § 4216 Transition provisions. (a) Where an inmate is serving a sentence to Level V (incarceration) imposed not under the Truth in Sentencing Act of 1989 and receives a subsequent sentence to Level V under the provisions of the Truth in Sentencing Act, serving of the earlier sentence shall be suspended and the inmate shall serve the new Level V sentence until it is completed and then resume serving the original sentence. (b) Where an inmate is serving a “nonmandatory” Level V (incarceration) sentence and is subsequently sentenced to a mandatory term of incarceration, serving of the earlier sentence shall be suspended and the inmate shall serve the new mandatory Level V sentence until it is completed and then resume serving the earlier sentence. (c) Where an inmate is serving Level V (incarceration) sentence or sentences imposed not under the Truth in Sentencing Act of 1989, and is subsequently sentenced to Level V under the provisions of the Truth in Sentencing Act and had less than an aggregate 3 years remaining on the prior sentence or sentences, the court at the time of sentencing under the Truth in Sentencing Act may in its discretion suspend the remainder of the prior non-Truth in Sentencing Level V sentence or sentences, unless such sentence was a statutory mandatory term. (d) Any individual convicted of a crime on or after January 1, 1990, which crime occurred prior to June 30, 1990, may elect to be sentenced under the provisions of the Truth in Sentencing Act of 1989 rather than under the prior provisions of this title. 67 Del. Laws, c. 130, §  14 ; 67 Del. Laws, c. 350, §§  3, 28 ; § 4217 Jurisdiction over sentence retained; sentence modification process. (a) (1) For purposes of this section, “person” means an individual serving an aggregate sentence of incarceration at Level V in excess of 1 year. (2) If a court imposes an aggregate sentence of incarceration at Level V in excess of 1 year, the court retains jurisdiction over the person to modify the sentence to reduce the level