Delaware Arrest Records Search | Criminal Records 2026

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Delaware · Statewide Arrest & Criminal Records Guide

Search Delaware Arrest History, Certified Criminal Records, Court Files and Custody

Delaware does not offer one free public website where anyone can type a name and retrieve a complete statewide arrest history. A proper search depends on what you actually need: the State Bureau of Identification provides certified Delaware criminal-history records through fingerprinting, Delaware courts maintain individual case files, law-enforcement agencies maintain incident and arrest reports, and the Department of Correction directs custody searches through VINELink.

This guide explains all four systems in one place, including current fingerprint fees, SBI service codes, court-record routing, New Castle–Kent–Sussex courthouse contacts, DOC custody levels, correctional facilities, police-report requests, expungement and Clean Slate basics, public-defender contacts and the difference between an arrest record and a conviction.

Certified statewide history requires fingerprints
Delaware courts cannot issue a consolidated criminal history
DOC uses a unified statewide correctional system
Police reports remain with the agency that created them
Get Certified Criminal History Locate Delaware Offender Court Record Access DSP Public Records
Certified DE history $72
DE + federal history $85 when legally required
SBI main office 600 S. Bay Road, Dover
DOC main line 302-739-5601
Official review August 18, 2026
The most important Delaware search rule

There Is No Single Public Delaware Arrest-Records Name Search

Do not confuse a court search, inmate locator or news release with a certified statewide criminal history. Delaware Courts expressly state that they cannot provide a consolidated Delaware criminal history. Certified Delaware criminal histories are obtained through the Delaware State Police State Bureau of Identification.
Need complete certified Delaware history? Use SBI fingerprint-based criminal-history services.
Need a particular criminal case? Contact or review the Delaware court that handled the case.
Need the police narrative? Request the report from Delaware State Police or the municipal agency that created it.
Need current custody? Use Delaware DOC’s VINELink offender-locator route.
Arrest does not equal conviction: An arrest can remain part of a criminal-history record even when a charge is dismissed, dropped or ends in an acquittal unless the record is later expunged or otherwise lawfully removed.
Choose by desired answer

Four Delaware Systems Handle Different Criminal Records

State Bureau of Identification

  • Certified Delaware criminal history
  • Fingerprint-based identification
  • Personal history reports
  • Employment/licensing histories
  • Expungement history review
  • Clean Slate processing

Delaware Courts

  • Filed criminal cases
  • Charging documents
  • Court dates
  • Orders and judgments
  • Disposition
  • Expungement petitions

Police Agency

  • Incident report
  • Arrest report
  • Crash report
  • Investigative material
  • Agency FOIA records
  • Report-specific records

Department of Correction

  • Current custody
  • VINELink notifications
  • Correctional facility
  • Sentence level
  • Central Offender Records
  • Release / supervision status
Why this matters: Searching the wrong system can produce an incomplete answer. A court file is not a statewide criminal history, and a DOC custody result does not describe every prior Delaware arrest.

Choose the Delaware Criminal-Record Task You Need

Get my own certified Delaware history Register with IdentoGO using the personal-history service code and complete fingerprinting.
Check current incarceration Use Delaware DOC’s offender-locator page and continue to VINELink.
Find a criminal court case Identify the county and court level, then contact the appropriate clerk or records office.
Request an arrest or incident report Identify which law-enforcement agency created the record and use its public-record procedure.
Correct or clear a record Begin with SBI’s expungement review and determine whether Clean Slate, mandatory, discretionary or court relief applies.
Get legal help after arrest Contact the Delaware Office of Defense Services if incarceration is possible and the defendant cannot afford counsel.

Delaware Arrest and Criminal Records Guide

Statewide certified criminal record

How to Get a Certified Delaware Criminal History

The Delaware State Police State Bureau of Identification maintains Delaware’s central criminal-history repository. Certified Delaware criminal-history reports are fingerprint based rather than a simple public name search.

Identify why the report is required. Employment, professional licensing, volunteering, personal review and legally mandated federal checks may use different service codes.
Get the correct service code. The agency or organization requiring the background check should provide the appropriate code. Using the wrong code can require another fingerprint appointment and another payment.
For your own personal Delaware report, use service code 27RVGT. SBI states that this code is for a personal certified Delaware Criminal History issued only to the requesting citizen.
Register through IdentoGO. Use the registration system linked by Delaware State Police to schedule fingerprinting or follow the available mail-in process.
Bring acceptable photo identification. SBI requires photo ID such as a valid driver license or state identification card.
Complete fingerprint capture. Fingerprints are used to match the person to the Delaware criminal-history repository.
Pay the applicable fee. A standard certified Delaware criminal history is currently listed at $72.
Review the report carefully. Compare arrests, charges and disposition information. Do not assume two similar names refer to the same person.
Use the correct correction or expungement route when necessary. An inaccurate entry and a legally valid record that may qualify for expungement are two different problems.
Service code Select the exact background-check purpose.
Photo ID Bring an accepted government identification document.
Fingerprints Biometrics verify identity.
SBI review Delaware history is researched and compiled.
Certified report Retain the completed official record.
You do not need a Social Security card or birth certificate just to obtain the certified Delaware criminal-history fingerprint service. SBI says photo identification is required.
Open Official Delaware Criminal-History Instructions Confirm the service code, current fee, accepted ID and fingerprint-registration procedure before scheduling.
Current SBI published amounts

Delaware Criminal-History and Fingerprint Fees

Certified Delaware history
$72

Fingerprint-based Delaware criminal-history report.

Delaware + federal history
$85

Available when a combined federal check is mandated by law.

Printed fingerprint card only
$30

Service code 1111G2. This does not include an SBI criminal-history report.

Do not buy the wrong service: A printed fingerprint card is not the same thing as a certified criminal-history report.
Statewide fingerprint access

Where Delaware Criminal-History Fingerprints Are Taken

Delaware State Police currently directs applicants to IdentoGO scheduling and lists fingerprint service availability in Wilmington, Newark, Middletown, Dover, Milford, Georgetown and Seaford, including multiple locations in some cities.

SBI Main Office 600 S. Bay Road, Suite 1
Dover, DE 19901
SBI South Satellite Thurman Adams Center
546 S. Bedford Street
Georgetown, DE
Partner fingerprint sites Delaware State Police maintains a statewide network of partner locations in addition to SBI offices.
Special law-enforcement fingerprint requirement: If another jurisdiction specifically requires fingerprints to be taken by a law-enforcement agency, SBI says you must use the State Bureau of Identification location at 600 S. Bay Road in Dover. Ordinary applicants can use approved IdentoGO locations.

Verify the Person Before Using a Delaware Criminal Record

Full legal name Include middle name and suffix.
Date of birth Compare exact date.
SBI number Use when available.
Arrest date Separate different events.
Court case Follow filed charges.
Disposition Determine final outcome.
High-impact use: For employment, licensing, housing, immigration, professional screening or another consequential decision, use the record type required by the receiving organization rather than an informal web search.
Delaware’s unified correctional system

How to Find Someone in Delaware DOC Custody

Delaware differs from states that operate separate county jails. The Delaware Department of Correction administers a unified correctional system, and all state correctional facilities and institutions fall under DOC jurisdiction.

Official inmate-locator route: Delaware DOC directs people looking for incarceration information to VINELink, the online version of the VINE victim-notification network.
Open the Delaware DOC inmate-locator page. Use the official DOC route before following the VINELink search.
Select Delaware in VINELink. Search the offender using the identifiers requested by the service.
Confirm the person carefully. Match the available identifying information before relying on custody status.
Review custody information. The system can help identify current incarceration or correctional status.
Register for notifications when useful. VINE supports custody-status notifications by available channels.
Do not treat a release date as an absolute guarantee. DOC explains that good-time forfeiture, later supervision levels or another jurisdiction’s hold can affect an offender’s actual release status.
Open Delaware DOC Offender Locator Follow the official state route to VINELink for current custody information.

Delaware’s Five Correctional Supervision Levels

Level V 24-hour incarceration in a jail or prison setting.
Level IV Work release, home confinement, residential treatment or violation-of-probation programs.
Level III Intensive probation supervision.
Level II Standard probation.
Level I Administrative supervision.
Meaning of “jail” in Delaware DOC terminology: DOC describes Level V as 24-hour incarceration and notes that “jail” refers to offenders serving one year or less within the unified state system.
Major Delaware secure facilities

Delaware Prisons and Pretrial Custody Facilities

Facility Population / role Phone Practical note
Howard R. Young Correctional Institution Men; Level V; major pretrial-detainee facility in Wilmington. 302-429-7700 DOC says HRYCI processes about 60% of Delaware correctional admissions and houses the majority of detainees awaiting trial/sentencing or unable to make bail.
Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution Women; pretrial and sentenced adult population. 302-577-3004 Delaware’s only women’s prison; houses pretrial and sentenced adult females.
James T. Vaughn Correctional Center Men; Level V state prison near Smyrna. 302-653-9261 Delaware’s largest adult male correctional facility.
Sussex Correctional Institution Men; maximum, medium and minimum security. 302-856-5280 Located in Georgetown and operated as part of the statewide DOC system.
DOC main office 245 McKee Road
Dover, DE 19904
302-739-5601
Central Offender Records 302-857-5490
Victim Services 302-857-5440
Case file versus criminal history

How Delaware Criminal Court Records Are Organized

Delaware Courts cannot provide a consolidated Delaware criminal history. For a certified statewide history, use SBI. Court offices provide access to individual judicial records subject to the public-access policy of the court that handled the case.
Justice of the Peace Court Handles many criminal, traffic, initial appearance and bail matters.
Court of Common Pleas Handles criminal matters within its statutory jurisdiction and related appeals.
Superior Court Handles felony criminal cases and other matters within Superior Court jurisdiction.
Family Court Handles juvenile delinquency and other family-jurisdiction matters with stronger access restrictions.
Do not use Delaware CourtConnect as a statewide criminal-history substitute. Delaware Courts identify CourtConnect as an online civil-case search for Superior Court, Court of Common Pleas and Justice of the Peace Court civil matters.
Criminal records may require direct court access: Depending on the court, case and confidentiality rules, you may need to contact the clerk, Prothonotary or records office rather than relying on a public statewide online criminal-name search.
Superior Court record routing

Delaware Superior Court Criminal Records by County

New Castle County Leonard L. Williams Justice Center
500 N. King Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
302-255-0800
Mon–Fri: 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Kent County Kent County Courthouse
Main entrance: 414 Federal Street
Dover, DE 19901
302-735-1900
Mon–Fri: 8:15 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Sussex County Sussex County Courthouse
1 The Circle, Suite 2
Georgetown, DE 19947
302-855-7055
Public access begins at 8:30 a.m.
Kent mailing address: Superior Court’s Kent County mailing address is 38 The Green, Dover, DE 19901, while the public courthouse entrance is at 414 Federal Street.
County Criminal case contact Useful number
New Castle Superior Court Criminal Case Management / records routing 302-255-0693 / Court Records 302-255-0822
Kent Superior Court Criminal Case Management 302-735-1902
Sussex Superior Court Criminal Case Management 302-855-7046
Prepare before calling: Full defendant name, date of birth when known, county, approximate case year, charge, case number and the exact record you need.

How to Read a Delaware Criminal Case Record

Field or event What it means What to do next
Case number Unique judicial identifier for that court matter. Use it for copy requests and future docket checks.
Charge Offense formally associated with the case. Compare with the arrest record because charges can change.
Arraignment / appearance Court proceeding in the criminal process. Read subsequent docket entries rather than stopping there.
Bail Release conditions or financial security set by the court. Confirm later modifications and custody status.
Nolle prosequi / dismissal Prosecution may have ended without a conviction on that charge. Determine whether the arrest record may still remain and whether expungement is relevant.
Guilty / conviction A conviction was entered. Review sentence and later post-conviction or pardon activity.
Expungement order Court/SBI process may remove qualifying criminal-record information. Keep a copy of the order and verify that affected repositories update.
Incident narrative and arrest documents

How to Request a Delaware Arrest or Police Report

A statewide SBI criminal history does not replace the underlying police report. The police report belongs to the law-enforcement agency that investigated or documented the incident.

Delaware State Police arrest Use DSP’s public-record / FOIA process for qualifying State Police records.
Municipal police arrest Request the report from the city police department that created the incident.
Other agency Contact the exact public body identified on the citation, charging document, press release or court file.

Prepare these identifiers

  • Full legal name of arrested person
  • Date of birth when known
  • Approximate arrest or incident date
  • Incident location
  • Police agency
  • Incident or complaint number
  • Court case number if already filed
  • Exact report, audio, photograph or document requested
“I request the releasable incident and arrest records relating to [full name], date of birth [date if known], for the incident occurring on or about [date] at [location]. The known complaint, incident or court number is [number]. Please provide the releasable report and identify any portion withheld under an applicable public-record exemption.”
Delaware State Police records

Delaware State Police FOIA Requests

Delaware State Police directs public-record requesters to the State of Delaware FOIA Request Form when detailed DSP records are sought.

Submit electronically Use the official online Delaware FOIA request route linked by State Police.
Be record specific Ask for a named report, narrow date range, person and incident rather than “everything about this person.”
Expect lawful redactions Investigative, victim, juvenile, medical, personal or otherwise protected information can be withheld when applicable law requires it.
DSP FOIA Coordinator mailing location: 1441 N. DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 19901.
Open Delaware State Police FOIA Use the current state request form and review the agency instructions before submitting.
When a Delaware arrest still appears

Delaware Expungement and Criminal-Record Clearing

Delaware’s Superior Court glossary explains that an arrest can remain on a criminal record even when a person is found not guilty, the Attorney General drops the charges or the charges are dismissed. Expungement is the legal process used to erase qualifying criminal-record information.

1. Obtain history Begin with SBI so the full record can be reviewed.
2. Eligibility review SBI determines whether the matter may qualify for immediate, mandatory or discretionary processing.
3. Follow SBI instructions Some qualifying matters can be processed through SBI; others require court action.
4. File if required Court petitions are generally filed with the appropriate Superior Court Prothonotary under the applicable procedure.
5. Verify completion Keep the order and later confirm the affected criminal-history record has been updated.
Initial SBI expungement application
$72
Mandatory expungement after SBI qualification
$75

SBI instructs qualifying applicants to return signed paperwork within 30 days with the required payment.

Superior Court expungement petition
$75

Current Superior Court fee schedule.

Do not assume dismissal automatically erases the arrest. Determine whether the qualifying record has actually been expunged.
Delaware Court Expungement & Pardon Hub Find Superior Court, Family Court, Court of Common Pleas, Justice of the Peace and pardon resources. SBI Expungement Starting Point Review current SBI application fees and fingerprint requirements.
Automatic record-clearing review

Delaware Clean Slate

Delaware State Police states that its Clean Slate unit became effective August 1, 2024. Under the program, potentially eligible adult and juvenile charges are identified and reviewed for automatic expungement under the governing legislation.

Potentially eligible charges are identified Delaware’s justice-information system provides SBI with updated potentially eligible records.
SBI reviews eligibility Clean Slate personnel manually review charges to determine whether statutory requirements are satisfied.
Not every record qualifies A person should not assume that an older arrest has automatically disappeared simply because Clean Slate exists.
Practical verification: If a cleared record still appears where it should not, obtain the relevant SBI or court documentation before challenging a downstream database.

Expungement and Pardon Are Not the Same Thing

Expungement Addresses whether qualifying criminal-record information is erased or restricted under Delaware’s expungement statutes and procedures.
Pardon Is a separate form of relief involving the Delaware Board of Pardons and does not function identically to expungement.
After a pardon: Delaware court materials include a separate expungement process for certain records after a pardon. Do not assume the pardon itself automatically removes every criminal-history entry.
Legal help after arrest

Delaware Public Defender and Office of Defense Services

The Delaware Office of Defense Services provides criminal representation for qualifying indigent defendants. If a person remains incarcerated after arrest, ODS states that an intake investigator will interview the person and an attorney from the Public Defender’s Office or Office of Conflicts Counsel may be appointed.

New Castle County Office of Defense Services
302-577-5200
Kent County Office of Defense Services
302-739-4476
Sussex County Office of Defense Services
302-856-5310
Released after arrest? ODS instructs released defendants to call the appropriate office or request an intake interview. Adult eligibility generally requires a charge for which incarceration may be imposed and a finding of indigence.
Open Delaware Defense Services Eligibility Instructions Review current intake requirements and county contact information.
Custody notifications

Delaware VINE and Victim Custody Information

Delaware DOC encourages crime victims and concerned members of the public to use VINELink for custody information and notification services.

Custody search Use VINELink to look for incarceration information.
Status notifications Register through available phone, email, text or other supported notification options.
DOC Victim Services 302-857-5440
Release-date caution: DOC says release dates can be affected by good-time forfeiture, subsequent supervision levels or another jurisdiction’s hold.

Delaware Arrest and Criminal Record Troubleshooting

Problem What to do Best source
I want every Delaware arrest for one person Use a certified SBI fingerprint-based criminal history rather than a court or inmate name search. State Bureau of Identification
I only need a current inmate Use Delaware DOC’s VINELink offender-locator route. Department of Correction
I need the police narrative Identify the agency that created the report and submit its public-record request. DSP or municipal police
I need the final criminal-case result Contact the court that handled the case and obtain the relevant disposition or judgment. Delaware Courts
CourtConnect does not show my criminal case CourtConnect is presented by Delaware Courts as a civil case search; criminal access may require direct court contact. Court clerk / records office
Dismissed arrest still appears Determine whether the record was actually expunged. Dismissal alone does not automatically erase the arrest. SBI / Superior Court
Background report belongs to someone else Compare fingerprints or official identifiers and begin a correction process with the record custodian. SBI
Need federal history too Use the Delaware + federal service only when legally mandated and obtain the correct service code. SBI / requesting agency
Need fingerprints only Use service code 1111G2 for a printed fingerprint card; it does not include SBI criminal history. SBI
Need attorney after arrest Contact Delaware Office of Defense Services for eligibility screening. ODS
Need current court location Use Delaware Courts’ county and court location pages before traveling. Delaware Courts
Need an older offender record Contact Delaware DOC Central Offender Records if the person is no longer currently incarcerated. DOC Central Offender Records
Main statewide criminal-history office

Delaware State Bureau of Identification Map

Main SBI location: 600 S. Bay Road, Suite 1, Dover, Delaware. Schedule ordinary fingerprint services through the approved registration process rather than arriving without checking current appointment requirements.
Related record-search workflow

Why Delaware Statewide Records Work Differently From Local Arrest Searches

Delaware centralizes certified criminal history through SBI and correctional custody through a unified state DOC system. That is different from large counties where jail, sheriff and court databases are all maintained locally. For comparison, see our existing San Antonio arrest records guide, which shows how a city and county divide recent arrests, police reports, jail records and criminal courts.

Delaware statewide model SBI fingerprints + state courts + statewide DOC + arresting agency.
Large county/city model Municipal police + county sheriff/jail + county and district clerks.
Same verification rule Arrest data shows an allegation; court disposition determines the later legal outcome.
Official live actions

Delaware Criminal Records Action Center

Certified Criminal History Confirm fees, service codes and fingerprint rules. Fingerprint Registration Schedule the correct service using the required code. Locate an Offender Use Delaware DOC’s VINELink route. Court Record Access Review Delaware judicial-record policies. Find the Correct Court Route by court and county. DSP FOIA Records Request qualifying State Police records. Expungement & Pardon Review Delaware court relief options. Public Defender Help Check Office of Defense Services eligibility and contacts.
Title-specific answers

Delaware Arrest Records and Criminal Records FAQs

1. How do I search Delaware arrest records?

Delaware does not provide one free public statewide name-search portal for a complete arrest history. For a certified statewide Delaware criminal history, use the Delaware State Police State Bureau of Identification fingerprint process. Use DOC/VINELink for current custody, the appropriate Delaware court for a specific criminal case, and the arresting police agency for an incident or arrest report.

2. How much does a certified Delaware criminal-history check cost?

Delaware State Police currently lists the fee for a certified State of Delaware criminal history at $72. A combined Delaware and federal criminal history is currently $85 when the federal check is mandated by law.

3. Can I get a Delaware criminal history without fingerprints?

A certified Delaware criminal-history report from the State Bureau of Identification is fingerprint based. SBI requires photo identification and directs applicants to schedule through the approved fingerprint-registration process.

4. What service code do I use for my own Delaware criminal history?

Delaware State Police currently lists service code 27RVGT for a personal certified Delaware Criminal History report. The report is for the requesting citizen’s personal use and is not a substitute for a different background-check service code required by an employer, licensing agency or other organization.

5. How do I find someone currently incarcerated in Delaware?

The Delaware Department of Correction directs users to VINELink through its official offender-locator page. Delaware operates a unified state correctional system rather than separate county jail systems, so custody searches are routed through DOC.

6. Can Delaware Courts give me a complete statewide criminal history?

No. Delaware Courts explicitly state that the courts cannot provide a consolidated Delaware criminal history. Requests for a certified Delaware criminal history must be directed to the Delaware State Police State Bureau of Identification.

7. How do I get a Delaware arrest or police report?

Request the report from the law-enforcement agency that created it. For a Delaware State Police incident, use DSP’s FOIA/public-record process. For an arrest handled by a municipal police department or another agency, submit the request to that agency instead.

8. Does a dismissed Delaware arrest disappear automatically?

No. Delaware court guidance explains that arrest charges can remain on a criminal record even when the person is found not guilty, the Attorney General drops the charges or the case is dismissed. A qualifying record generally must be expunged or cleared through another applicable legal process before it is removed.

9. What is Delaware Clean Slate?

Delaware State Police says its Clean Slate unit became effective August 1, 2024 and reviews potentially eligible adult and juvenile charges for automatic expungement under Delaware law. Not every criminal record qualifies, so a person should verify whether a particular record was actually cleared.

10. Is a Delaware arrest record proof of conviction?

No. An arrest records an accusation and custody or enforcement event. Charges can later be amended, dismissed or resolved without a conviction. Use the appropriate Delaware court record and final disposition to determine the later legal outcome.

Official Sources and Verification Notice

Delaware State Police Criminal History Fingerprinting, service codes, fees and expungement starting information. State Bureau of Identification SBI responsibilities, offices, criminal-history and Clean Slate units. Delaware Court Record Access Judicial access policies and statewide-history limitation. Expungement / Pardon Court forms, instructions and filing routes. Delaware DOC Offender Locator VINELink custody-search route and notifications. Delaware Correctional Facilities State prison and community-corrections locations. Delaware State Police FOIA State Police public-record request route. Delaware Court Locations Statewide courthouse addresses and jurisdiction listings. Office of Defense Services Public-defender intake and eligibility.
Verified for this article: SBI fingerprint requirements, personal service code, state and federal background-check fees, fingerprint-card fee, SBI Dover location, expungement fees, Clean Slate status, Delaware Courts’ consolidated-history limitation, DOC unified correctional model, VINELink route, Level I–V supervision structure, major correctional facilities, Superior Court locations, DSP FOIA process and Office of Defense Services contacts.

Independent-site notice: County Arrest Records is an independent informational resource. It is not Delaware State Police, the State Bureau of Identification, Delaware Department of Correction, Delaware Courts, Office of Defense Services, IdentoGO, VINELink or a law firm.

Criminal-history fees, service codes, court access, facility status, addresses, record availability, expungement procedures and public-record rules can change. Confirm time-sensitive information with the responsible official agency before paying, filing, traveling or using a record for a consequential decision.

An arrest does not establish guilt. Every criminal defendant is presumed innocent unless guilt is established through the legal process.

Official-source review date: August 18, 2026.

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