AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO BURGLARY.

This Act aims to make the burglary section of Delaware’s Criminal Code simpler and fairer. The Act consolidates the crime of home invasion with existing burglary statutes. Furthermore, this Act recognizes the sanctity of the home and the varied schedules of 21st century homeowners by treating the burglary of an occupied dwelling the same whether the crime occurs during daytime or nighttime hours.

The Act removes minimum mandatory sentences for some conduct, but preserves for home invasion a 6 year minimum mandatory sentence and a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. Finally, the Act eliminates sentence enhancements based on prior convictions and the age of victim. The ability to impose lengthier sentences for subsequent conduct or for crimes against vulnerable victims rests with the discretion of sentencing judges.