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An Act to Amend Title 11 of the Delaware Code Relating to Arrest and Detention.

It became law on Jul 14, 2025.

DE HB 153 · House Bill · 153

Stage
Became law
Started in
House
Sponsors
12
Latest action
Jul 14, 2025

What it does

This Act prohibits arrest or detention by any person who does not have explicit statutory authority to carry out an arrest or detention. The intent of this provision is to eliminate any doubt that a “citizen’s arrest” is not permitted in Delaware. Peace officers have statutory authority to make arrests, as do federal law enforcement agents and out-of-state police under some circumstances. There is also limited authority to detain a person suspected of shoplifting provided to a merchant, store supervisor, agent or employee of a merchant in § 840 of Title 11; to detain a person suspected of unlawful recording by a motion picture theater owner, supervisor, agent or employee under § 858 of…

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Where it stands

This bill passed and is now law.

  1. Introduced (Done)

  2. Committee (Done)

  3. Floor (Done)

  4. Law (Done)

    Jul 14, 2025

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Who is involved

Sponsors

The lawmakers who put their names on it, lead sponsors first.

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Where it goes next

Once a bill is decided, the questions are about what is done with it in Delaware.

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AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ARREST AND DETENTION. | 52