DE HB220

Requires peace officers to consciously consider issuing a civil citation instead of criminal charges for qualified juvenile offenders (those with no prior adjudications and no diversion referrals within the past year)

Mandates that officers document in the Delaware Criminal Justice Information System (DELJIS) their reasons for charging rather than citing qualified juveniles for 12 specific offenses, including shoplifting, theft, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, and harassment

Requires every law enforcement agency to submit an annual report to the Police Officer Standards and Training Commission detailing their use of juvenile civil citations, including all instances where qualified juveniles were charged instead of cited

Adds mandatory training on the Juvenile Civil Citation Offender Program to police officers' required in-service training conducted every 2 years

Takes effect 18 months after enactment