Opinion ID: 2304352
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Delaware's Probation Regulations

Text: In Delaware, the legislative authority that permits probation and parole officers to effect searches of the individuals they supervise is title 11, section 4321(d) of the Delaware Code. [12] Under that statutory authority, the Department of Corrections has adopted regulations governing warrantless searches of probationers. [13] Those regulations provide that, absent exigent circumstances, a probation and parole officer must obtain the approval of a supervisor, manager or director before conducting a search. [14] The officer and the supervisor must hold a case conference using the Search Checklist as a guideline [15] unless exigent circumstances exist forcing the officer into action. [16] Generally, the following factors should be considered when deciding whether to search: [1] The Officer has knowledge or sufficient reason to believe [that] the offender possesses contraband; [2] The Officer has knowledge or sufficient reason to believe [that] the offender is in violation of probation or parole; [3] There is information from a reliable informant indicating [that] the offender possesses contraband or is violating the law; [4] The information from the informant is corroborated; [5] Approval for the search has been obtained from a Supervisor. [17] Under those regulations, a probation and parole officer must have personal knowledge or sufficient reason to believe or must have received information from a reliable informant that the probationer or parolee possesses contraband, is in violation of probation or parole, or is violating the law. Thus, Delaware law does not permit suspicionless searches of probationer or parolee residences.