Key Highlights
- Residency Restrictions: Delaware law sets no statewide residency restrictions; however, local laws or supervision terms may govern where a registrant can live; see 11 Del. C. § 4121.
- Presence / Proximity Rules: The state imposes no general proximity restrictions near schools, parks, or child areas; municipal ordinances or probation rules may establish their own limits; see 11 Del. C. § 4121.
- Duration of Registration: Registration lasts 15 years for Tier I, 25 years for Tier II, and life for Tier III, unless shortened by court order; see 11 Del. C. § 4121(e).
- Tiering / Level System: Delaware’s Tier I–III system ties offense severity to verification frequency and duration—annual, semiannual, or quarterly; see 11 Del. C. § 4121 and Delaware State Police Registry.
At a Glance
- Who: Adults with qualifying convictions and certain juveniles must register; see 11 Del. C. § 4120 and juvenile provisions at § 4123.
- Initial deadline: Deadline: If sentenced to Level IV or V custody, complete registration 45–90 days before release; uncertain release → within 48 hours of determining the date; non-custodial sentences register by sentencing; see § 4120(b)–(c).
- Verification: Verification: Tier III every 90 days for life; Tier II every 6 months; Tier I annually; homeless registrants verify more often; see § 4120(g).
- Primary method: Method: In person with Delaware State Police (DSP) or designated locations; public search via the DSP Sex Offender Central Registry at sexoffender.dsp.delaware.gov and statutory access rules in § 4121.
- ⚠️ Report name, address, employment, or school changes in person within 3 business days; see § 4120(f).
- ⚠️ Having multiple residences means registering each address; see definition in § 4120(f)(7).
- ⚠️ Homeless verification is far more frequent (weekly/30/90 days by tier); see § 4121(l).
- ⚠️ There is a $30 annual administrative fee, due by January 31 at verification; see § 4120(g)(3)–(70).
- ⚠️ Moving, working, or studying out of state triggers duties there too; written notices explain multi-state compliance; see § 4120(f)(4)–(5).
Official Links
What this means in practice
- If Delaware law says you must register, do it on time and in person.
- Prison cases register 45–90 days before release; probation/home confinement register at sentencing.
- After that, you must verify in person on a schedule tied to your tier (every 3 months, 6 months, or yearly).
- Use the official DSP website to see what the public can view.
Watch-outs
- Missing a verification or change-of-address deadline can be a felony.
- If you’re homeless, you must verify much more often.
- Working or studying in another state can create new registration duties there.
Summarized from Delaware Code § 4120 and § 4121; public site is sexoffender.dsp.delaware.gov.
Who Must Register & Duration
Scope: Persons convicted/adjudicated of offenses listed in § 4121(a)(4) must register under § 4120; juvenile rules are in § 4123.
Duration: Registration lasts 15 years for Tier I, 25 years for Tier II, and life for Tier III, unless shortened by court order; see 11 Del. C. § 4121(e).
What this means in practice
- Adults convicted of listed sexual offenses must register.
- Juveniles can be required to register, but Family Court has discretion in many cases.
Watch-outs
- Repeat offenses can raise your tier and extend duties.
See offense coverage in § 4121(a)(4) and registration triggers in § 4120; juvenile rules in § 4123.
Deadlines & Reporting Triggers
- 45–90 days pre-release for Level IV/V sentences; 48-hour fallback when release date is set late; see § 4120(b).
- At sentencing for Level III-and-below probation/home confinement/fines; see § 4120(c).
- Within 3 business days in person after any name, residence, employment, or school change; see § 4120(f)(1)–(2).
- New Delaware residents / temporary residents: register within 3 business days of establishing residency; see § 4120(e).
What this means in practice
- Level IV/V: register 45–90 days before release (or within 48 hours if notice comes late).
- Level III-and-below/probation/home confinement/fine-only: register at sentencing.
- After any change to your name, residence, job, or school, go in person within 3 business days.
Watch-outs
- If you have more than one residence, you must register each address.
Deadlines and change rules are in § 4120(b)–(c) and § 4120(f).
Verification & In-Person Requirements
- Tier cadence: Tier III every 90 days (in person); Tier II every 6 months; Tier I every 12 months; see § 4120(g).
- Homeless cadence: Tier III weekly, Tier II every 30 days, Tier I every 90 days; see § 4121(l).
- Public site updates: registry must be updated at least every 3 months; see § 4121(i)(2)f.–g..
What this means in practice
- Tier III verifies every 90 days (for life); Tier II every 6 months; Tier I every 12 months.
- If you are homeless, your check-ins are weekly/30/90 days depending on tier.
Watch-outs
- Bring ID and expect the registry to collect/update detailed info.
Cadence in § 4120(g); homeless cadence in § 4121(l); public update floor in § 4121(i)(2)g..
Residency, Presence, & Loitering Restrictions
Presence & thresholds: “Temporary resident” includes >7 days in a year or >30 days aggregate for work, and students attending school; no statewide residency-distance ban in statute; see § 4120(a)–(b).
What this means in practice
- Delaware uses a presence threshold to decide when short-term stays count.
- Workers present >7 days (or >30 days total/year) and students are covered.
Watch-outs
- There is no statewide distance ban in the statute; always check supervision orders.
‘Temporary resident’ and thresholds are defined in § 4120(a).
Employment, Education, & Internet Use
- School notice: registrants must inform the principal upon enrollment; see § 4120(b)(3).
- Data required: email(s), Internet identifiers, employers, schools, vehicles, licenses, phones, and more; see § 4120(d)(2).
What this means in practice
- You must give employer and school info; if you enroll, tell the principal.
- You must report emails and Internet identifiers, vehicles, licenses, and phones.
Watch-outs
- Leaving out an email/username can be treated as non-compliance.
See required data in § 4120(d)(2) and school notice in § 4120(b)(3).
Public Website Exposure
- Public access: searchable by name and geography via DSP Central Registry; update floor is every 3 months; see § 4121(i)(2)f.–g. and site at sexoffender.dsp.delaware.gov.
What this means in practice
- The public can search by name or location on the official DSP registry.
- The website is updated regularly with a 3-month minimum update cadence.
Watch-outs
- Victim identity and some sensitive data are not displayed.
Public access/updates in § 4121(i)(2)f.–g.; official site is sexoffender.dsp.delaware.gov.
Travel & Relocation (Interstate Moves)
- Move/work/school out-of-state: Delaware’s written notice warns you must comply with the new state’s law, in addition to registering changes with DSP; see § 4120(f)(4).
What this means in practice
- If you move, work, or study in another state, you must follow that state’s law as well.
- Delaware’s written notice explains multi-state registration.
Watch-outs
- Deadlines vary by state; missing them can create new charges.
Multi-state duty appears in § 4120(f)(4)–(5).
Visiting or Traveling in the State
- Short-term presence: Delaware defines temporary resident (work >7 consecutive days or >30 aggregate in 12 months; or student); crossing those thresholds triggers Delaware registration; see § 4120(a).
What this means in practice
- Crossing Delaware’s temporary-resident thresholds can create a duty to register here.
Watch-outs
- Count your days if you’re working in Delaware intermittently.
Thresholds for workers/students in § 4120(a).
Compliance & Enforcement
Penalties: Failure to register, re-register, or provide verification as required is a Class G felony; warrants issue on missed dates; see § 4120(k) and related duties in § 4121.
What this means in practice
- Missing registration, re-registration, or verification can bring a Class G felony and a warrant.
Watch-outs
- Courts and police share data quickly; keep dated receipts.
Penalty and warrant language in § 4120(k).
Relief Paths
- Tier duration & petitions: Tier III lifetime; Tier II 25 years; Tier I 15 years; redesignation/relief petitions available under § 4121(e).
- Juveniles: Family Court may order registration, reduction, or relief under § 4123.
What this means in practice
- Tier durations are life/25/15 years (III/II/I).
- You may ask the court to redesignate or relieve duties after statutory time, treatment, and clean-record showings.
- Juveniles may get Family Court relief under updated law.
Watch-outs
- Some offenses and victim ages bar relief; read carefully.
Adult redesignation in § 4121(e); juvenile reforms in 84 Del. Laws ch. 239 (HB 186).
Special Populations
Costs & Payments
- $30 annual administrative fee payable by January 31 at verification; see § 4120(g)(70).
Recent Changes & Litigation
- Statute: HB 186 (84 Del. Laws ch. 239) — 152nd General Assembly; effective 2024 (juvenile registry reforms). Amended [§ 4123] to narrow mandatory juvenile placement and expand Family Court discretion on registration and tiers. link
- Statute: SB 66 — 153rd General Assembly; effective Pending (Introduced Mar. 6, 2025). Modernizes school/child-care notification practices and clarifies public access to DSP online registry; see synopsis. link
- Statute: SB 162 — 153rd General Assembly; effective Pending (Introduced May 22, 2025). Would require registrants to disclose if children reside in their residence and allow notice to non-custodial parents. link
Compliance Checklists & Scripts
New Arrival: First 30 Days
- Confirm your tier and next verification due date from your paperwork (§ 4120(g)).
- If coming from out of state and now a permanent or temporary resident, register with DSP within 3 business days (§ 4120(e)).
- If on Level IV/V, ensure pre-release registration was done 45–90 days before release; if not, resolve immediately (§ 4120(b)).
- Collect required data: emails/Internet IDs, employer/school, vehicles, licenses, phones (§ 4120(d)(2)).
- Note your fee obligation ($30 by Jan 31) and keep proof of verification (§ 4120(g)(70)).
Moving Out / Traveling
- Before moving, re-register within 3 business days of an address change in person with DSP (§ 4120(f)(1)).
- Follow the new state’s registration law; Delaware’s written notice explains multi-state duties (§ 4120(f)(4)–(5)).
- Confirm whether your tier/verification schedule changes under the new jurisdiction.
Records Request Template
To: Delaware State Police – Sex Offender Central Registry. Subject: Registry record confirmation. Request: Please confirm my current registry record (name/aliases, DOB, tier, last verification date, next due date) under 11 Del. C. § 4120/§ 4121. I authorize release to me and will present ID as required.Relief Petition Outline
Caption in Superior Court (tiers) or Family Court (juveniles). Sections: (1) Background & offense; (2) Tier & duration per § 4121(e); (3) Treatment completion; (4) Clean record since release; (5) Risk & community safety showing; (6) Prayer for redesignation/relief and registry update under § 4120/§ 4121.Tips for using these checklists
- Use the checklists to time first registration, changes, and moves; save stamped receipts.
- For relief, align your petition with § 4121(e) or § 4123 and attach proof of treatment/compliance.
Checklist timing and petition elements derive from § 4120 and § 4121/§ 4123.