Delaware § 780 Female genital mutilation

Delaware Statutes

§ 780 — Female genital mutilation

Delaware § 780

JurisdictionDelaware

Title11

PartDelaware Criminal Code

Ch. 5SPECIFIC OFFENSES

Subch.Offenses Against the Person

This text of Delaware § 780 (Female genital mutilation) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Delaware primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Del. Code tit. 11, § 780 (2026).

Text

(a)A person is guilty of female genital mutilation when:

(1)A person knowingly circumcises, excises or infibulates the whole or any part of the labia majora, labia minora or clitoris of a female minor; or

(2)A parent, guardian or other person legally responsible or charged with the care or custody of a female minor allows the circumcision, excision or infibulation, in whole or in part, of such minor’s labia majora, labia minora or clitoris.

(b)Female genital mutilation is a class E felony.

(c)It is not a defense to a violation that the conduct described in subsection (a) of this section above is required as a matter of custom, ritual or standard practice, or that the minor on whom it is performed or the minor’s parent or legal guardian consented to the procedure.

(d)A surgical p

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(a) A person is guilty of female genital mutilation when:

(1) A person knowingly circumcises, excises or infibulates the whole or any part of the labia majora, labia minora or clitoris of a female minor; or

(2) A parent, guardian or other person legally responsible or charged with the care or custody of a female minor allows the circumcision, excision or infibulation, in whole or in part, of such minor’s labia majora, labia minora or clitoris.

(b) Female genital mutilation is a class E felony.

(c) It is not a defense to a violation that the conduct described in subsection (a) of this section above is required as a matter of custom, ritual or standard practice, or that the minor on whom it is performed or the minor’s parent or legal guardian consented to the procedure.

(d) A surgical procedure is not a violation of this section if the procedure is:

(1) Necessary to the health of the minor on whom it is performed and is performed by a licensed physician under § 1720 of Title 24 or a physician-in-training under the supervision of a licensed physician; or

(2) Performed on a minor who is in labor or who has just given birth and is performed for medical purposes connected with that labor or birth by a licensed physician under § 1720 of Title 24 or a physician-in-training under the supervision of a licensed physician, or a licensed midwife under § 3336 of Title 18.