Delaware Code

11 Del. C. § 1271A (2026)

Criminal contempt of a domestic violence protective order, lethal violence protective order, or sexual violence protective order; class A misdemeanor; class F felony

✓ current as of May 2026

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(a) (1) A person is guilty of criminal contempt of a domestic violence protective order when the person knowingly violates or fails to obey any provision of a protective order issued by: the Family Court; a court of any state, territory, or Indian nation in the United States, as long as such violation or failure to obey occurred in Delaware; or a court of Canada, as long as such violation or failure to obey occurred in Delaware.

(2) A person is guilty of criminal contempt of a lethal violence protective order or sexual violence protective order when the person knowingly violates or fails to obey any provision of a protective order issued by the Justice of the Peace Court or Superior Court, as long as such violation or failure to obey occurred in Delaware.

(b) Criminal contempt of a domestic violence protective order, lethal violence protective order, or sexual violence protective order is a class A misdemeanor, unless any of the elements set forth in subsection (c) of this section are met, in which case the offense shall be a class F felony.

(c) A person is guilty of felony criminal contempt of a domestic violence protective order, a lethal violence protective order, or a sexual violence protective order if:

(1) Such contempt resulted in physical injury.

(2) Such contempt involved the use or threatened use of a deadly weapon or firearm.

(d) A person found guilty of criminal contempt of a domestic violence protective order, lethal violence protective order, or sexual violence protective order shall receive a minimum sentence of 15 days incarceration if:

(1) Such contempt resulted in physical injury.

(2) Such contempt involved the use or threatened use of a deadly weapon or firearm.

(3) The defendant was convicted of criminal contempt of a domestic violence protective order, lethal violence protective order, or sexual violence protective order under this section on 2 or more prior occasions.

(e) The minimum sentence shall not be subject to suspension and no person subject to the minimum sentence shall be eligible for probation, parole, furlough, or suspended custody during the sentence.

(f) The Superior Court has exclusive jurisdiction over offenses under paragraph (a)(2) of this section.

69 Del. Laws, c. 160, § 4; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 71 Del. Laws, c. 179, § 1; 72 Del. Laws, c. 63, § 1; 76 Del. Laws, c. 117, §§ 1-4; 80 Del. Laws, c. 373, § 2; 81 Del. Laws, c. 274, § 2; 83 Del. Laws, c. 449, § 2;

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 3 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 2021–2025 · leading case: Cogan v. State (Del. 2021).

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Cogan v. State (Del. 2021). “Cogan then appealed to the Superior Court, which held a trial de novo before a jury.”

Cooling v. State (Del. 2023). “11 Del. C. § 1271A(b). App. to Opening Br.”

Ross v. State (Del. 2025). “11 (22) Ross also claims that he could not be convicted twice of criminal contempt based on the same incident, but the convictions arose from different 10 11 Del. C. § 1271A. 11 See supra ¶ 20. 9 incidents and did not violate the multiplicity doctrine.”

— 11 Del. C. § 1271A(b) — 1 case

Cooling v. State (Del. 2023). “11 Del. C. § 1271A(b). App. to Opening Br.”

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