§ 4210 — Arrest and disposition of intoxicated persons

(a) Any intoxicated person taken into custody for a violation of § 1315 of this title shall immediately be taken to a detoxification center where the person shall be admitted as a patient.

(1) The arresting officer shall leave a summons for such intoxicated person with the chief medical officer of the detoxification center ordering such intoxicated person to appear before a justice of the peace at a date not to exceed a period of 5 days from the date of admission to the center.

(2) The intoxicated person shall be given a physical examination to determine the possible existence of any disease or ailment which threatens the health or safety of such individual; and upon a finding of any such disease or ailment, the medical staff of the detoxification center shall give such treatment as it deems necessary and practicable.

(b) Upon regaining sobriety and being informed of the person’s physical condition, the person in custody shall inform the chief medical officer of the detoxification center as to whether, until such time as the person is to appear for trial, the person wishes to remain a patient or be released from custody.

(c) Should the person in custody validly consent to remain as a patient and to undergo testing procedures, the person shall be tested to determine if the person is a chronic alcoholic. A diagnosis of chronic alcoholism shall serve as an affirmative defense to violations of § 1315 of this title.

(d) Should it be shown to the satisfaction of the court that the person accused of intoxication suffers from chronic alcoholism, the person shall be acquitted of the charge of drunkenness and:

(1) Released from custody; or

(2) Temporarily released from custody under such conditions of treatment as the court may prescribe; such period of temporary release shall not exceed 1 year after which defendant shall be unconditionally released.

Legislative History

11 Del. C. 1953, § 4210; 58 Del. Laws, c. 497, § 2 ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1