Section 1015 - Filing an expungement petition(a) Persons eligible to petition for expungement. A child, through his or her parent, guardian, guardian ad litem, or attorney, or upon becoming an adult, may file a petition seeking to expunge part or all of the child's juvenile arrest record. For the purposes of §§ 1016-1019 of this title, the child or person seeking an expungement is deemed "the petitioner." A petition for expungement may include all cases for which the petitioner is eligible for expungement under § 1017(a) or § 1018(a) of this title.(b) Prohibitions to expungement. Except for cases eligible for expungement under § 1017(a)(1) through § 1017(a)(2) of this title, all of the following apply: (1) No person who has been adjudicated delinquent of first-degree murder (§ 636 of Title 11), second-degree murder (§ 635 of Title 11), first-degree kidnapping (§ 783A of Title 11), manslaughter (under either § 632(2) or (5) of Title 11), rape in the first degree (§ 773 of Title 11), rape in the second degree (§ 772 of Title 11), arson in the first degree (§ 803 of Title 11), or an attempt to commit any of the offenses listed in this paragraph (b)(1) is eligible for a juvenile expungement under § 1017 or § 1018 of this title.(2) No person who has an adult conviction is eligible for a juvenile expungement.(3) No person is eligible for an expungement while such person has pending criminal charges.(4) Offenses under Title 21 are not eligible for expungement and are not considered an adjudication or conviction for purposes of this statute. However, a felony conviction for driving a vehicle while under the influence is considered a conviction for purposes of this statute.(c) Jurisdiction: All such petitions shall be filed in the Family Court in the county where the most recent case was terminated, disposed of, or concluded, even if the petition includes cases from more than one county.
(d) Contents of Petition: (1) The petition shall set forth the relevant facts and request expungement of the police records and court records, and all indicia of arrest, including any electronic records, relating to the charge or charges.(2) For discretionary petitions filed pursuant to Section 1018, the petition shall also specifically set forth relevant facts demonstrating that the continued existence and possible dissemination of information relating to the arrest and, where applicable, adjudication, of petitioner causes, or may cause, circumstances which constitute a manifest injustice to the petitioner.(3) Except as permitted by the Court pursuant to 1017(c), the petitioner shall attach a copy of that petitioner's criminal history as maintained by the State Bureau of Identification to any petition filed pursuant to this subchapter. The State Bureau of Identification may charge a reasonable fee in providing a certified copy of the petitioner's criminal history. The Court shall summarily reject any petition for expungement that does not include the petitioner's criminal history.(e)(1) The Family Court shall consider the entire criminal history as maintained by the State Bureau of Identification in granting or denying the petition, consistent with §§ 1017 and 1018 of this title.(2) The Court shall either grant the petition, ordering the expungement of part or all of the petitioner's juvenile criminal history, including all indicia of arrest, except for Title 21 offenses, or deny the petition. The Court may not order that only a portion of the petitioner's juvenile criminal history be expunged, unless any of the following apply:a. The State, under § 1018(f) of this title in the interests of justice, petitions the Court to expunge an arrest that would otherwise not qualify for immediate and mandatory expungement under this subchapter.b. A case is eligible for expungement under § 1017(a)(1) through § 1017(a)(2) of this title.(3) The Court may order expungement of charges originating in a different county.Amended by Laws 2021, ch. 266,s 1, eff. 1/1/2022.Amended by Laws 2017, ch. 42,s 1, eff. 6/20/2017.Amended by Laws 2015, ch. 414,s 1, eff. 9/6/2016. 78 Del. Laws, c. 188, § 2; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 78 Del. Laws, c. 343, § 1.;