Delaware Code Title 10. Courts and Judicial Procedure § 7201. Purpose

Sexual violence is heinous.  Perpetrators of sexual violence inflict humiliation, degradation, and terror on victims.  Rape is recognized as a significantly under reported crime.  Victims who do not report the crime of rape or other sexual violence nevertheless desire safety and protection from future interactions with the perpetrator of the rape or other sexual violence.  The purpose of this chapter is to provide a civil remedy to a victim of a rape or other sexual violence which requires the offender to stay away from the victim.  This civil remedy is available only for petitioners who would not qualify for a protection from abuse order because there is no family or dating relationship between the victim and perpetrator and where the respondent is at least 18 years of age.