Rep. Dukes introduces “Brock Cerklefskie’s Law”

Lisa Cerklefskie says, “A good person, really good person, kind to others, helpful…”

Cerklefskie was remembering traits of her son Brock in the senate chambers at Legislative Hall in Dover on Wednesday.

She buried him the day before his 31st birthday after he overdosed on heroin this past August. He’s just one of at least one-hundred and eighty people in Delaware that died in 2015 for the same reason.

She continues, “He was doing really good. Unfortunately he had a relapse and he lost that battle. He thought he could do it all on his own.”  

After Brock’s death, his family turned to the justice system for closure. They were hoping their son’s drug dealer would face charges. However, under current Delaware law there’s a loop hole that won’t allow that to happen.

Representative Tim Dukes says, “You can charge them with distributing, but you can’t charge them for someone’s death.”

That’s something state Representative Dukes is now desperately trying to change with House Bill 239, also known as Brock Cerklefskie’s law. It aims to hold drug dealers accountable. The bill would create a new crime called “drug dealing- resulting in death.”  It would be a class B felony and could potentially send someone to prison from 2 to up 25 years.

Supporters of the bill say this is just the first step in getting substance suppliers out of communities and addicts help.

Cerklefskie says, “One is better than none. Who knows that may lead to another and another and another. That may lead to saving other lives. That’s all we care about. We know Brock’s name won’t die in vain.”

Representative Dukes plans to get this bill passed and signed by the governor as soon as possible.