Bill Sponsor
Delaware House Bill 153
Session 153
An Act To Amend Title 11 Of The Delaware Code Relating To Arrest And Detention.
Became Law
Became Law
Signed by Governor on Jul 14, 2025
Origin Chamber
House
Type
Bill
Bill Number
153
State
Delaware
Session
153
Sponsorship by Party
Democrat
Primary
Democrat
Primary
Republican
Primary
Republican
Primary
Democrat
Primary
Democrat
Primary
Democrat
Primary
Democrat
Primary
Unknown
Sarah McBride
Primary
Democrat
Primary
Democrat
Primary
Summary
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 Title 11; and to detain a person suspected of unlawful acts with a video lottery machine by a video lottery agent or any of its officers, employees or agents under § 1474 of Title 11. This Act also deletes two outdated provisions of Chapter 65 of Title 11 that reference the exercise of arrest by private detectives. At the present time, private investigators do not have authority to make arrests in Delaware.
Actions (9)
07/14/2025
Office of the Governor
Signed by Governor
06/30/2025
Senate
Passed By Senate. Votes: 17 YES 4 NO
06/30/2025
Senate
Lifted From Table in Senate
06/25/2025
Senate
Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits
06/17/2025
Senate
Assigned to Judiciary Committee in Senate
06/17/2025
House
Passed By House. Votes: 24 YES 12 NO 5 ABSENT
06/17/2025
House
Amendment HA 1 to HB 153 - Passed In House by Voice Vote
05/21/2025
House
Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in House with 4 Favorable, 2 On Its Merits
05/01/2025
House
Introduced and Assigned to Judiciary Committee in House
Sources
Record Created
May 1, 2025 4:08:49 PM
Record Updated
Mar 17, 2026 8:25:53 PM