HB 59: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO RELEASE AND PUBLICATION OF THE NAME AND PHOTOGRAPH OF INDIVIDUALS CHARGED WITH CRIMES OR DELINQUENCY.
HB 59 status: Enacted — Signed by Governor (updated Jul 23, 2026).
What this bill does
Overall score
Bill summary
OfficialThis Act extends certain limitations on the publication by law-enforcement of the name and photograph of crime suspects. Currently the Code prohibits the publication of the name and photograph of a juvenile suspect unless the juvenile is charged with a violent felony and the publication is necessary to protect the publ...
Key analysis
Impact analysis
Environment
Benefits
- no direct environmental impact
Risks
- no direct environmental impact
Economy
Benefits
- potential reduction in costs associated with data management of public records
Risks
- minimal impact on economic activity
Society
Benefits
- prevents permanent digital stigma for individuals not convicted of serious crimes
- strengthens privacy protections for individuals before trial
Risks
- may complicate public monitoring of low-level criminal proceedings
- could create information gaps for local communities regarding minor arrests
How trustworthy & consequential it is
Source
LegiScan
Confidence
highhigh
Analysis status
LegiScan full bill text
the lack of a concrete legal definition for 'necessary to protect public safety' may lead to inconsistent implementation across jurisdictions
applies only to law-enforcement agency releases, not private media outlets or third-party databases
Where it stands
Introduced
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CompleteHow it affects your district
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