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Delaware

State Overview - State Summary - State Projects
Available Reports - Sample Data Collection Forms - Available Data - Links

State Overview

Domestic Violence Legislation:	Yes (Title 10:9:III, §1041)
NIBRS Status:	Certified
Additional Data Elements	Yes
Law Enforcement DV System:	Incident-based
Service Provider DV System:	Summary
Service Provider SA System:	Summary

State Summary

In 2007, the state's definition of domestic violence was expanded to include dating and same sex couples. In 2008, the state passed legislation enhancing the harassment and stalking statutes. A fee was also added for certified copies of marriage license certificates to be used to make grants to programs providing direct services to victims of domestic violence. In 2009, additional legislation was passed that redefines the witnessing of domestic violence by children to include by sound as well as sight and a Teen Dating Violence Task Force was established to evaluate and make recommendations on policy.

The state is NIBRS-certified and in addition to the required NIBRS elements collects name and date of birth information. Law enforcement agencies submit NIBRS data to the Delaware State Police State Bureau of Identification Uniform Crime Reporting Section. The data are also shared with the Delaware Criminal Justice Information System (DELJIS), which networks the criminal justice system data in the state, including protection orders.

The Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence and CONTACT Lifeline, which houses the Sexual Assault Network of Delaware, do not collect data from local service providers. The Coalition Against Domestic Violence does not offer services, only provides resources and referrals to local providers. CONTACT Delaware maintains the Rape Crisis Center and does collect information on clients seen at its facility. The Criminal Justice Council collects aggregate totals from local service providers that receive federal family violence or victims of crime grants. The information is compiled into an annual report to fulfill the Council's grant requirements. A yearly public report is also available upon request.

The Domestic Violence Coordinating Council does not directly collect data, but does receive data from the State Bureau of Identification, Family Court, and from service providers that are used in an annual report. The Delaware Attorney General's Office collects statistics for Violence Against Women Act prosecutors in Kent and Sussex Counties. Although no reports are produced, the information is available upon request.

State Projects

Firearms and Domestic Violence
The Office of Management and Budget's Statistical Analysis Section is working on a domestic violence firearms study as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods. Staff will analyze offender to victim relationship for all 2005 firearm offenses.

Domestic Violence Prevention Enhancement and Leadership Through Alliances (DELTA)

Thanks to funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence (DCADV) has worked with state advocates and community partners to build their capacity to provide services in the community. Delaware is one of 14 states to participate in this national collaborative since 2002, and is currently charged with doing work nationally, on a state-level, within the Coalition's organization, and with local communities to cultivate prevention efforts using a public health approach.

Committee for Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender Concerns

The Committee for Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender Concerns (CLGBTC) of the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence (DCADV) works to raise public awareness about the incidence, prevalence, and seriousness of partner abuse in same-sex relationships and to advocate for improved criminal justice and social service response to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender domestic violence.

Women of Color Task Force

The Task Force is organized by the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence (DCADV). It was established in 1999 and meets monthly to discuss and develop strategies regarding the outreach and delivery of domestic violence services to communities of color. It strives to increase public awareness of domestic violence through support, education and training.

Available Reports

General Crime

Delaware Statistical Analysis Center. (Annual). Publications - Crimes and Corrections. State of Delaware Executive Department Office of Management and Budget.
Delaware Statistical Analysis Center. (2010). Delaware Major Crimes 2005 Thru 3rd Quarter 2010. State of Delaware Executive Department Office of Management and Budget.
O'Connell, J. P. (2010). Crime in Delaware 2003 - 2008. State of Delaware Office of Management and Budget, State Bureau of Identification.
Cahill, J. E., Harris, R. J., Hicklin, B. J., and O'Connell, Jr., J. P. (2007). Crime in Delaware 2000 – 2005. State of Delaware Office of Management and Budget, Statistical Analysis Center.
Gannon, B. A., Harris, R. J., Hicklin, B. J., and O'Connell, Jr., J. P. (2004). Crime in Delaware 2002. State of Delaware Office of Management and Budget, Statistical Analysis Center.
Violent Crimes Compensation Board. (2003). Annual report, fiscal year 2002.

Domestic Violence

Child, Inc. (Annual). Annual program service report.
Domestic Violence Coordinating Council. (Annual). Annual report.
Domestic Violence Coordinating Council. (Annual). Fatal incident review report.
National Network to End Domestic Violence. (2008). Domestic violence counts 07: Executive summary for Delaware.
National Network to End Domestic Violence. (2007). Domestic violence counts: Executive summary for Delaware.
*Keilitz, S., Efkeman, H. S., and Hannaford, P. L. (1997). Civil protection orders: The benefits and limitations for victims of domestic violence. NCJ 172223. Washington, DC: United States Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice.

Sexual Assault

CONTACT Lifeline. (2009). 2009 Program Report.
Division of Public Health. (2009). First Delaware Data Released on Sexual Assault Among Adult Women, 2005. Delaware Health and Social Services.
CONTACT Lifeline. (2008). 2008 Program Report.
Weidlein-Crist, P. J. and O'Connell, Jr., J. P. (2008). Delaware sex offenders: Profiles and criminal justice system outcomes. State of Delaware Office of Management and Budget, Statistical Analysis Center.
CONTACT Lifeline. (2007). 2007 Program Report.
Huenke, Jr., C. J., O'Connell, Jr., J. P., Price, S. B. and Weidlein-Crist, P. J. and (2007). Recidivism of Delaware adult sex offenders released from prison in 2001. State of Delaware Office of Management and Budget, Statistical Analysis Center.

Sample Data Collection Forms

The Criminal Justice Council collects annual aggregate statistics from local service providers using these forms:

Child Inc. collects New Castle County aggregate counts using this form:

Domestic Violence Collection Form

Available Data