Restoring Civil Rights After a Felony in Delaware

How Delaware law treats restoring rights after a felony, from the state code and official state agencies.

Short answer: Voting returns after the full sentence (including probation and parole) is discharged, except for the disqualifying felonies (murder/manslaughter, bribery-type offenses, sexual offenses). Del. Const. art. V, § 2, art. VII, § 1; 10 Del. C. § 4509(b)(6); 11 Del. C. § 1448(d)

Restoring rights after a felony	Voting returns after the full sentence (including probation and parole) is discharged, except for the disqualifying felonies (murder/manslaughter, bribery-type offenses, sexual offenses). Jury service: convicted felons are disqualified until their civil rights are restored. Firearms: a felony conviction makes a person a 'person prohibited' with no end date in § 1448; the 5-year sunset in § 1448(d) applies only to people prohibited solely because of a non-felony conviction. Pardons are granted by the Governor, but only on the written recommendation of a majority of the Board of Pardons after a full hearing; the constitution lists a pardon as one way the voting disqualification is removed. Jury: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title10/c045/index.html ; firearms: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title11/c005/sc07/index.html ; voting: https://delcode.delaware.gov/constitution/constitution-06.html . Source: Del. Const. art. V, § 2, art. VII, § 1; 10 Del. C. § 4509(b)(6); 11 Del. C. § 1448(d)

Restoring rights after a felony

Voting returns after the full sentence (including probation and parole) is discharged, except for the disqualifying felonies (murder/manslaughter, bribery-type offenses, sexual offenses). Jury service: convicted felons are disqualified until their civil rights are restored. Firearms: a felony conviction makes a person a 'person prohibited' with no end date in § 1448; the 5-year sunset in § 1448(d) applies only to people prohibited solely because of a non-felony conviction. Pardons are granted by the Governor, but only on the written recommendation of a majority of the Board of Pardons after a full hearing; the constitution lists a pardon as one way the voting disqualification is removed.

Jury: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title10/c045/index.html ; firearms: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title11/c005/sc07/index.html ; voting: https://delcode.delaware.gov/constitution/constitution-06.html .

Source: Del. Const. art. V, § 2, art. VII, § 1; 10 Del. C. § 4509(b)(6); 11 Del. C. § 1448(d)

More Delaware criminal law

FAQ

How do you restore your rights after a felony in Delaware?

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.