DE SB146

Amends § 1017 to allow courts to order immediate expungement of juvenile felony, misdemeanor, or violation cases when terminated in favor of the child, either sua sponte or upon party request, after reviewing a Delaware criminal background check.

Courts may waive the one-year waiting period for expungement eligibility under § 1017(a)(2) when ordering immediate expungement, though courts retain discretion to deny immediate expungement.

Expungement orders for felonies, misdemeanors, or violations are stayed for 30 days and may be vacated by the Attorney General within that period; the stay does not toll the applicable appeal period.

Requires the State Bureau of Identification to be notified of all expungement orders and mandates removal of arrest records within 60 days, with courts and police agencies required to provide written confirmation of expungement completion.

Preserves law enforcement's ability to retain and use photographs and fingerprints from arrests solely for investigating criminal activity by law-enforcement officers in lawful performance of their duties.