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Delaware · Through 2026-08-10 (85 Del. Laws, c. 421, 424) · Newer source version available

11 Del. C. § 1244A: Obstruction of justice; class D felony; class G felony; class A misdemeanor.

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Where this section sits in the code
  1. Title 11. Crimes and Criminal Procedure
  2. Delaware Criminal Code
  3. CHAPTER 5. Specific Offenses
  4. Subchapter VI. Offenses Against Public Administration

(a) A person is guilty of obstruction of justice when the person corruptly intimidates, influences, obstructs, or impedes the administration of law, a law-enforcement investigation, or any other inquiry authorized by law, including criminal, civil, or administrative inquiries.

(b) Obstruction of justice is classified and punished as follows:

(1) Obstruction of justice is a class D felony if a person uses force, violence, or physical interference when the person commits or attempts to commit an act under subsection (a) of this section.

(2) Obstruction of justice is a class G felony if a person does any of the following when the person commits or attempts to commit an act under subsection (a) of this section:

a. Conceals, alters, or destroys material evidence.

b. Bestows money or any other benefit upon another person.

c. Commits a breach of official duty or creates an obstacle.

(3) If a person intentionally commits or attempts to commit any crime under the laws of this State, other than a crime enumerated under paragraphs (b)(1) or (b)(2) of this section, when the person commits or attempts to commit an act under subsection (a) of this section, obstruction of justice is 1 class higher than the underlying offense.

(4) All other violations under subsection (a) of this section are a class A misdemeanor.

(c) For purposes of this section:

(1) “Corruptly” means acting with an improper purpose, personally or by influencing another, including any of the following:

a. Making a false or misleading statement.

b. Withholding, concealing, altering, or destroying a document or other information.

(2) “Obstacle” means any effort or scheme intended to delay or interfere with a law-enforcement investigation or any other inquiry authorized by law, including criminal, civil, or administrative inquiries. An “obstacle” may be a threat, act, or physical object.

(d) This section does not apply to any of the following:

(1) Flight by a person charged with a crime.

(2) Refusal to submit to arrest.

(e) Superior Court has exclusive jurisdiction over violations of this section.

Collected 2026-09-05T23:02:13Z. Source file · JSON

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