Delaware § 8704 - Powers and duties.

§ 8704. Powers and duties.

The Council shall:

(1) Continuously study the administration of justice in this State and develop and implement policies and programs for improving the effectiveness of the criminal justice system in this State;

(2) Receive, consider and, at its discretion, investigate criticisms and suggestions pertaining to the administration of justice in the State;

(3) Submit to the General Assembly each January a program of recommended legislation to improve the criminal justice system;

(4) Recommend to the Governor and criminal justice agencies and courts of the State or political subdivisions thereof, either upon request or upon the Council’s own motion, such changes in rules, organization or methods of operation as it may deem advisable;

(5) Review any application for federal funds by any criminal justice agency or court of the State or political subdivision thereof, prior to the submission of said application or request to the Delaware State Clearinghouse Committee, and provide the Clearinghouse Committee with any comments the Council deems appropriate;

(6) Allocate among the criminal justice agencies and courts of the State or political subdivisions thereof all federal funds for the improvement of the state criminal justice system if such funds are provided by the federal government in the form of a block or categorical grant;

(7) Have the authority to collect from any state or local governmental entity information, reports, statistics or other such material which is necessary to carry out the Council’s function;

(8) Provide training and technical assistance to criminal justice agencies;

(9) Perform such other duties as may be necessary to carry out this chapter;

(10) Allocate funds resulting from the certified copy fees for marriage license/certificates, pursuant to § 3132(b) of Title 16. Moneys resulting from the copy fees shall constitute The Domestic Violence Fund. The Fund shall be administered by the Criminal Justice Council and shall be used to make grants to programs providing direct services to victims of domestic violence and submit an annual report each fiscal year to the General Assembly delineating how and where the funds collected were spent. The Criminal Justice Council shall publish a Domestic Violence Fund, Request for Proposals, once a year and provide annual grants to eligible programs. The Domestic Violence Coordinating Council will participate in the review of grant applications. To be eligible to receive funds under this section, a domestic violence program must meet the following requirements:

a. It shall have been in operation on the preceding July 1 and shall continue to be in service;

b. It shall offer direct victim services; and

c. It must be a nonprofit corporation; and

(11) Oversee the Delaware Anti-Trafficking Action Council, established under § 787(k) of this title. The Criminal Justice Council shall have the duties and authorities with respect to the Delaware Anti-Trafficking Action Council that are necessary to carry out this paragraph (11).

61 Del. Laws, c. 495, §  2;  64 Del. Laws, c. 407, §  2;  76 Del. Laws, c. 375, §  4;  83 Del. Laws, c. 389, § 2;