Delaware News

Attorney General’s Office applauds new tool to encourage witness testimony

Criminal Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Thursday, June 18, 2009



The Delaware Attorney General’s office announced that it will now be
easier to secure witness testimony under legislation drafted by the Delaware Department of Justice and
signed into law Tuesday by Governor Markell. This new law provides incentives for those with
information to offer testimony during a criminal investigation and trial.

“Witness testimony is often a critical element in solving crimes and obtaining convictions,”
said State Prosecutor Richard Andrews. “This new law gives prosecutors new tools to secure
testimony and evidence from witnesses and others so that we can hold offenders accountable.”
House Bill 109 allows the Attorney General’s office to seek to modify, reduce or suspend the
sentence, including a minimum mandatory sentence, of a person convicted of a state crime who
provides “substantial assistance” in the identification, arrest, or prosecution of another person for state
or federal offenses. The new statute replaces a substantial assistance provision that was limited to drug
trafficking offenses.

This legislation was sponsored by Representative John L. “Larry” Mitchell Jr., and cosponsored
by Senator Brian J. Bushweller.
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Attorney General’s Office applauds new tool to encourage witness testimony

Criminal Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Thursday, June 18, 2009



The Delaware Attorney General’s office announced that it will now be
easier to secure witness testimony under legislation drafted by the Delaware Department of Justice and
signed into law Tuesday by Governor Markell. This new law provides incentives for those with
information to offer testimony during a criminal investigation and trial.

“Witness testimony is often a critical element in solving crimes and obtaining convictions,”
said State Prosecutor Richard Andrews. “This new law gives prosecutors new tools to secure
testimony and evidence from witnesses and others so that we can hold offenders accountable.”
House Bill 109 allows the Attorney General’s office to seek to modify, reduce or suspend the
sentence, including a minimum mandatory sentence, of a person convicted of a state crime who
provides “substantial assistance” in the identification, arrest, or prosecution of another person for state
or federal offenses. The new statute replaces a substantial assistance provision that was limited to drug
trafficking offenses.

This legislation was sponsored by Representative John L. “Larry” Mitchell Jr., and cosponsored
by Senator Brian J. Bushweller.
# # #

image_printPrint


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.