Find Delaware Arrests & Criminal Records for Free: All DE Counties

Free Delaware Arrest Records & Criminal Records Search
Access Delaware Records: background checks, warrants, probation and parole, court records, and all criminal and arrest records.

Find Delaware criminal and arrest records for free and with ease by following the guide below or searching their first and last name using online resources.

This free guide provides tools and information so citizens can check if someone they know, love or work with has a criminal history, has been arrested and more. This information is made publicly accessible due to the Freedom of Information Act, but oftentimes it’s difficult to find since the process differs for each DE county.

For this reason, Delaware Records Page has compiled government resources and databases, so looking up someone’s past or current situation is just a click away.

Additionally, readers will learn how to:

  • Look up Delaware court records has a have criminal history, and how to obtain copies of criminal proceedings
  • See if someone is on probation or parole in Delaware
  • Expunge or seal DE criminal records (if applicable)
  • Check county arrest records for inmates, mugshots and figure out the bail process
  • Find and contact prisoners in state and federal penitentiaries
  • Perform a Delaware background check for professional or personal reasons
  • See if there are sexual predators nearby
  • Navigate and interpret Delaware anti-discrimination and public records laws

Are Delaware’s Criminal Records & Arrest Records Available for the Public To View?

In general, Delaware criminal records and arrest records in Delaware are considered public records per the state’s Freedom of Information Act, Title 29, Chapter 100 of the state code. This means that the general public can access most records generated by law enforcement or the courts in the state.

There are some exceptions to what can be released per the statute to protect certain populations such as juveniles or victims.1 These exceptions regarding criminal records include the following:

  • Investigatory files where the matter is still pending or those in which a criminal complaint is never filed. This includes arrest reports where the matter is still being investigated.
  • Criminal files or records that would be an invasion of privacy to individuals mentioned in the file (such as victims or witnesses). These files may be released with information about victims, witnesses, investigators (especially those undercover), informants, and investigative aids used in the case removed from the public record.
  • Law enforcement intelligence gathering files.
  • Juvenile records, mental health records or otherwise protected files.
  • Any records sealed or expunged by the court.

The FOIA laws provides guidance to agencies that serve as the Delaware public records repository so these agencies know what they can disclose and how they can make the matter available.

What Shows Up on Delaware Criminal Records vs Arrest Records Searches

When conducting a records search for a Delaware resident, it’s important to know the difference between arrest records and criminal records.

Arrest records in Delaware will contain the location the person is being housed, age and gender of offender, offender race and status of case or custody status. It does not include information on the charges that lead to arrest, but does include upcoming court dates. Arrest records also do not contain disposition since arrests occur prior to court hearings.2

Criminal records are much more comprehensive and Delaware requires official, certified criminal history requests be fingerprint-based searches. These records include state and national misdemeanor and felony convictions, pending charges, license revocations, child or vulnerable adult abuse, and sex offender status.

Daily arrests may be part of the record as pending court matters, but arrests in and of themselves do not typically appear on Delaware criminal records. The report also includes an FBI rap sheet or background check.3

Find Out How To Find Recent Arrests & Why Someone Is in Jail in Delaware (DE) for Free

Delaware has a unified corrections system meaning the correctional facilities in the state house both pre-trial arrestees and post-trial convicted inmates in centralized facilities. When searching for an arrestee in one of these facilities, it is necessary to know the subject’s name, when that person was arrested and where they were arrested.

The paragraphs below provide information on how to find recent arrests.

How To Find DE Mugshots & Jail Inmates (Arrest Records Search for All Delaware Counties)

Searching for recent arrest records in Delaware means understanding the state’s unified system. Because of this type of corrections system, each of the three counties in the state do not have their own jail which complicates how to find out if someone is in jail, or how to find out if someone was arrested.

The Delaware Department of Corrections maintains the facilities used to house pre- and post-trial inmates, and uses VINELink as the official, state-sanctioned method of searching for incarcerated individuals in the state. VINELink is the only state government endorsed third-party vendor to search for arrest records in Delaware and can help searchers find out who’s in jail.

Mugshots can be published in adult cases in Delaware, but there is no central mugshot database for the state, so even when a search can find recent arrests the record may not include a mugshot. Juvenile mugshots can be published only if the juvenile is charged with a violent felony and release of the photo is necessary for public safety.

If an inmate’s information cannot be found on VINELink, a call to the facility may generate the needed information on whether a person is in jail or has been released. The table below lists the four correctional facilities in the state along with a link to the prison’s website and phone number for the facility:

Correctional Institution County Jail or Sheriff’s Office Phone Number Shows Mugshots?
Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution 302-577-3004 X
Howard R. Young Correctional Institution 302-429-7700 X
James T. Vaughn Correctional Center 302-653-9261 X
Sussex Correctional Institution 302-856-5280 X

To search for a Delaware arrestee and find out if a loved one is in custody using VINELink do the following:

  1. Navigate to the official Delaware Department of Corrections site and click on the image that says VINE
  2. Once you’re on Delaware’s VINElink page, select name from the drop-down menu on the left-hand side of the screen to set the search parameters.
  3. Enter the full last name and a minimum of the first two letters of the first name.
  4. Check the boxes to include partial name search and photos if available.
  5. Confirm the searcher is not a robot and click search.
  6. Review the list of search returns to match the record with the subject of the search.
A screenshot from the official website of the state of Delaware locate an inmate page with arrows pointing at vinelinks.
Source: Delaware Department of Correction11

Details can be obtained by clicking record details for each search hit; however, details only show where the person is in custody and the next court date, not offense information. How to find out what someone was arrested for, or how to find out someone’s charges in jail involves calling the arresting agency to see why the person was taken into custody.

How To Look Up Recent Arrests in Delware’s City Jails

Because Delaware has a unified corrections system, there are no city jails in the state. When someone is taken into custody by municipal law enforcement, the arrestee is taken to one of the four correctional facilities in the table above.

These inmates can be found using the same steps to find county arrestees through VINELink.

If an arrested person cannot be located in VINELink, individuals can call the police department that made the arrest to locate the person. The table below lists the city municipal police departments along with contact information:

City Police Department Address Phone Number
Bethany Beach PD 214 Garfield Pkwy
Bethany Beach, Delaware 19930
302-539-1000
Blades PD 20 W 4th St
Blades, Delaware 19973
302-629 -7329
Bridgeville PD 302 Market Street
Bridgeville, Delaware 19933
302-337-8302
Camden PD 1783 Friends Wy
Camden, Delaware 19934
302-698-9232
Cheswold PD 691 Main St
Cheswold, Delaware 19936
302-734-2202
Clayton PD POB 1130
Clayton, Delaware 19938
302-653-8186
Dagsboro PD 33134 Main St
Dagsboro, Delaware 19939
302-732-3777
Delaware City PD 407 Clinton Street
Delaware City, Delaware 19706
302-836-6344
Delmar PD* 102 South Pennsylvania Avenue
Delmar, Maryland 21875
410-896-3131
Dewey Beach PD 105 Rodney Avenue
Dewey Beach, Delaware 19971
302-227-1110
Dover PD 400 S. Queen Street
Dover, Delaware 19904
302-736-7111
Ellendale PD 300 McCaulley Avenue
Ellendale, DE 19941
302-422-6727
Elsmere PD 11 Poplar Ave
Elsmere, Delaware 19805
302-998-1173
Felton PD 24 E. Sewell Street
Felton, DE 19943
302-284-9365
Fenwick Island PD 800 Coastal Hwy
Fenwick Island, Delaware 19944
302-539-2000
Frederica PD 14 East David St
Frederica Delaware 19946
302-335-5100
Georgetown PD 335 North Race Street
Georgetown, Delaware 19947
302-856-6613
Greenwood PD 100 West Market St
Greenwood, Delaware 19950
302-349-4822
Harrington PD 10 Mechanic St
Harrington, Delaware 19952
302-398-4493
Kenton PD 284 South Main St
Kenton, Delaware 19955
302-389-8270
Laurel PD 201 Mechanic St
Laurel Delaware19956
302-875-2277
Lewes PD 114 East 3rd Street, Number 2
Lewes Delaware 19958
302-645-6264
Middletown PD 130 Hampden Rd
Middletown Delaware 19709
302-376-9950
Milford PD 400 Northeast Front Street
Milford Delaware 19963
302-422-8081
Millsboro PD 307 Main St
Millsboro Delaware 19966
302-934-8171
MIlton PD 101 Federal St
Milton, Delaware 19968
302-684-8547
New Castle City PD 1 Municipal Blvd
New Castle, Delaware 19720
302-322-9800
New Castle County PD 407 Clinton St.
Delaware City, DE 19706
302-573-2800
Newark PD 220 S Main St
Newark, Delaware 19711
302-366-7111
Ocean View PD 201 Central Ave, Floor #1
Ocean View, Delaware 19970
302-539-1111
Rehoboth Beach PD 229 Rehoboth Ave
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
302-227-6181
Seaford PD 414 High St
Seaford, Delaware 19973
302-629-9173
Selbyville PD 1 West Church St
Selbyville, Delaware 19975
302-436-8314
Smyrna PD 325 West Glenwood Avenue
Smyrna, Delaware 19977
302-653-9217
South Bethany PD 402 Evergreen Rd
South Bethany, Delaware 19930
302-539-3653
Wilmington PD 300 North Walnut St
Wilmington, Delaware 19801
302-576-3940
Wyoming PD 120 West Camden
Wyoming Delaware 19934
302-697-2966

*City limits expand into a neighboring state

Can You Run a Statewide Public Arrest Record Search in State?

The state of Delaware does not have an online directory or public portal through either the Delaware State Police or the state court system to search for arrests in the state. To conduct a statewide arrest record search, the individual must use VINELink as discussed above.

A statewide arrest search may be included in a certified criminal background check, which requires written consent of the subject if running a search on another person, fingerprinting, and paying a fee in the amount of $52 to $65 depending on the type of search.3

How To Contact an Inmate in Jail & Bail Them Out

Contacting an inmate in a Delaware facility depends on the policies set by the Delaware Department of Corrections, and can be found on the agency website. To find out how to visit or contact a loved one in jail and start the process to bail them out, do the following:

  1. Go to Delaware’s Department of Corrections website.
  2. Click the offender info link to see the drop-down menu and click the links to see how contact can be made such as visitations, mail or phone calls. Offenders can make calls out, but the public cannot call in, so it is important to set up a prepaid phone or prepaid video account for the inmate to contact family and friends regarding posting bail.
  3. Click the link for each individual facility under the visitation tab to see when visits can occur, how to schedule a visit and any limitations.
A screenshot from the official website of the state of Delaware visit an inmate page.
Source: Delaware Department of Correction12

There are four types of bail or bond in Delaware listed below.  The list below gives a brief explanation of each and how bail can be posted:

  • Release on own recognizance: This simply means the judge or court officer has determined the person is not a flight risk or risk of harm to the community and can be released based on the person’s written promise to appear for the court hearing at a later date.
  • Unsecured bail/bond: Similar to release on own recognizance, the defendant signs a bond agreeing to appear at a later date. If the person doesn’t appear in court, then they must pay a predetermined amount to the court.
  • Secured bail/bond: The defendant (or a friend, family member or bail bondsman) secures the person’s release by posting a cash bond or property that covers the amount of bail. If the person fails to show up for court, the amount paid or property used is forfeit, meaning the court can seize the property or keep the cash amount and a new bond can be set or the person can be held without bond.
  • Cash only bail: The only way to get the arrestee released is by posting cash in the amount of the bail along with a signature promising to appear at a later date. Property cannot be used to secure pretrial release when the bond states cash only.

Bail can be posted at the courthouse where the defendant’s case will be tried, meaning family and friends can go to the courthouse where the arrest was made to secure release. A bail bondsman can help if individuals are having difficulty meeting the bail requirements.

A bail bondsman is not required to get someone released from jail, but they can be very helpful. The Delaware State Courts maintains a list of approved bail bondsmen in the state on the Delaware Court’s website.

Another way to contact an arrested person in jail is through an attorney. As with bail bondsmen, an attorney is not required when trying to contact or locate an inmate, but can be very valuable in helping establish a connection, getting bail lowered or removed, and building a defense for the upcoming hearing.4

How To Look Up DE Criminal Records (Delaware Criminal Record Search)

The state court system maintains records of all criminal charges and the disposition in each case, and here searches can learn how to look up court records and how to search those records with links to access official state websites. To look for Delaware criminal records through the court system it is necessary to go to the clerk of court’s office where the matter was tried or set for hearing.

A screenshot from the state of Delaware courts judicial case database website's person or case type search page showing an empty form.
Source: Delaware Court Connect13

Civil cases can be searched online using Delaware’s Court Connect and for criminal offenses, searchers can check in-person with the courthouse where the charges will be disposed of. To view the phone number and locations of courts that handle criminal prosecution check the:

How To Search Someone’s Criminal History Using Delaware County’s Court Cases

Criminal court records must be searched in person at the courthouse in the prothonotary’s office. The prothonotary is called the superior clerk of court in other states and is responsible for the filing and maintaining of court records.

A screenshot from the state of Delaware courts judicial case database website's docket report page showing an empty form to search and display case information and activities.
Source: Delaware Court Connect14

Each prothonotary’s office has means for the public to view criminal records except for those that are sealed, expunged or otherwise excluded from release. The Delaware Judicial Branch website outlines the laws and regulations regarding release of records, and the prothonotary enforces these policies when the public searches court records.

There are three county courts in Delaware. The table below lists the county courthouse prothonotary’s address and phone number:

County Prothonotary’s Office Address Phone Number
Leonard L. Williams Justice Center (New Castle County) 500 N King St
Wilmington, Delaware 19801
302-255-0777
Kent County Courthouse 414 Federal St
Dover, Delaware 19901
302-735-1910
Sussex County Courthouse 1 The Cr, Ste 2
Georgetown, Delaware 19947
302-854-6959

Going to the courthouse is the best way to search criminal court records in Delaware, but these are not considered certified official records. They can serve as personal records for non-commercial use.

Delaware’s Statewide Criminal Record Search Through the Delaware State Police

The Delaware State Police, State Bureau of Investigation, is the official source for a statewide, certified criminal history report, and here is how to access records through DSP. DSP requires that anyone seeking a criminal history also submit fingerprints, and written authorization is needed to run a background check on a third-party.

There are three offices for certified copies of Delaware criminal records. The table below lists each SBI office, address and phone number:

Delaware SBI Office Address Phone Number
Kent County 600 South Bay Rd, Ste 1
Dover, Delaware 19901
302-739-5871
Sussex County 546 South Bedford St, Rm 202
Georgetown, Delaware 19947
302-739-2528
New Castle County 100 LaGrange Ave
Newark, DE 19702
302-739-2528

Learn How To Get a Copy of Criminal Records in Delaware

If someone needs a criminal history report for employment, housing or licensure, they can learn how to obtain a copy of a statewide Delaware criminal record by doing the following:

  1. Visit the Delaware State Police website.
  2. Click the county name for the closest SBI office to the searcher’s location to get the address (or use the table above).
  3. Read the directions on obtaining a criminal history to see if an appointment is required or if that county is accepting walk-ins, as well as the operating hours for the records center.
  4. Go to the center on the date of the appointment or as a walk-in along with searcher’s identification and a signed release if the record is for someone other than the person requesting it.
  5. Pay the fee for the record. A Delaware state-only record is $52 and a state and federal record is $65 as a check, money order, cash (except for Sussex County), credit/debit card, or official company check for businesses requesting the record. Costs may be slightly more for specific record checks such as long-term care providers or educators.3

Records include both felony and misdemeanor convictions and non convictions, so current arrests and charges that did not result in conviction will still appear on a background screening but will show the person was not convicted or sentenced, but is not considered a felony registry. Sentencing on a background check will also show if the disposition included probation or incarceration.

How To Determine if Someone Is on Probation or Parole in Delaware?

Probation and parole are part of the Bureau of Community Corrections in the Delaware Department of Corrections. Officers with the BCC supervise individuals placed on pre-trial diversions, direct probation, parole, and pretrial house arrest or other supervision as part of bail conditions.

Here, individuals can learn to navigate the Delaware probation and parole system.

To illustrate just how many people are on probation and parole, the following image shows the combined total of probationers and parolees in Delaware, along with their ethnicities.

An image showing the map of the Delaware state presenting the population of adults in probation and parole by ethnicities.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics

As with locating someone who has been arrested in the state, finding someone supervised by the Delaware Bureau of Community Corrections means using VINELink which indicates if the person is on community supervision. To find someone on probation or parole or learn who is on community supervision in your area, do the following steps:

  1. Go to Delaware’s VINElink page.
  2. Set the search to a name based search.
  3. Key in the full last name and at least the first two letters of the first name.
  4. Include partial name search and photos when available.
  5. Complete the confirmation that the searcher isn’t a robot.
  6. Find the subject’s record in the search results and click the name to see more details.
  7. The record will show if the person is in custody (in prison) or out of custody (probation or parole).5

This search will only show those that are currently on community supervision or incarceration. If the searcher needs a probation or parole record for a sentence that has already been completed, they will need to request a criminal history record, which will only show those items that have not been sealed or expunged.

How Do You Seal or Expunge a Criminal Record in Delaware?

Sealed or expunged cases will not show up on a Delaware criminal record check. This also means arrest records in Delaware for cases that have been expunged or sealed will not appear on the record.

Learn how to seal or expunge records in the state below.

There are two main types of expungement in Delaware: mandatory and discretionary. Mandatory expungements occur when any of the  following  three conditions happen and are handled by the state following a written request by the defendant to expunge the record:

  • Person was arrested for a felony or misdemeanor and the case was terminated (dropped or otherwise) in the defendant’s favor.
  • The person has been convicted on violations (infractions) related to one case and three years has passed since the successful completion of sentencing conditions. The defendant must have no prior or subsequent violations on record.
  • The defendant has been convicted of one or more violations or misdemeanors in the same case and five years have passed since successful completion of the sentence. The person must also have no prior or subsequent convictions.
  • Defendant was convicted of a single crime listed in Title 16, Section 4764 of the Delaware Code prior to 18 December 2015.
  • Matters for mandatory expungement must fall under Titles 4, 7, 11, 16 or 23 of the Delaware Code.6

In these matters, the Delaware State Bureau of Investigation takes action to expunge these records upon request of the defendant. If it is determined the matter is eligible for mandatory expungement, no further action is required.6

A screenshot of an empty form of Delaware petition for expungement.
Source: Delaware Courts15

The other type of expungement is a discretionary expungement which means the court rules on a petition to determine if a matter can be expunged. The process for a discretionary expungement is outlined in the steps below:

  1. Navigate to the Delaware State Courts page.
  2. Make sure the required time frame has passed to petition the court for an expungement. The waiting period is 3-7 years for misdemeanor convictions or release from incarceration or supervision, 7 years for felony offenses for a single felony (except those excluded from consideration for expungement) and the person has been released from incarceration or supervision with no subsequent convictions.
  3. Click the link to open the petition for expungement of an adult record under the superior court section.
  4. Complete and print the petition, then take the petition to a notary public and sign it in the presence of the notary. Do sign the petition until the notary is present to witness the signature and verify the identity of the person signing.
  5. File the petition with the court where the matter was tried and pay the $75 filing fee. For example, if it was in Superior Court, the petition will be filed in Superior Court, but if it was the Court of Common Pleas, the petition will be filed with the prothonotary in that district.
  6. The petition will be forwarded to the Attorney General’s Office. The AG can take up to 120 days to file a response. Once this is filed, the defendant has 30 days to make a rebuttal or statement.
  7. The court will determine if the record constitutes manifest injustice. This simply means the court will determine if the conviction is preventing the person from obtaining employment or housing and is creating an undue hardship on the defendant. This may be done in an administrative action (no hearing) or in a hearing where the defendant will be required to appear.
  8. If the expungement is granted, the notice is sent to all agencies that hold records of the incident with an order to destroy the record. This will remove it from public view and the record will not appear on a background check.

While expungement is available for many types of criminal activity, there are some charges or convictions that are ineligible for expungement. These include:

  • Domestic violence related misdemeanors
  • Crimes where the victim was a child or vulnerable adult
  • Bribery
  • Unlawful influence
  • Misconduct by government agents or officials
  • Perjury
  • False official statements
  • Tampering with or intimidating a juror
  • Juror misconduct
  • Criminal contempt
  • Sexual assaults
  • Organized criminal activity
  • Violent felonies such as homicide
  • Hate crimes
  • Resisting arrest
  • Prostitution related offenses.

Pardons can be granted by the governor of the state, but a pardon does not remove the matter from the record. Individuals who receive a pardon can petition the court to expunge the record unless the conviction was for:

  • Manslaughter
  • Murder (1st and 2nd degree)
  • Rape (1st and 2nd degree)
  • Child sexual abuse

When seeking an expungement, an attorney is not required to petition the courts or SBI; however, an attorney can be a valuable resource in making sure the petitioner is eligible, fills out the forms correctly and properly presents the case for an expungement to the court.7

How To Find Someone in a Delaware State Prisons & Federal Offenders Transferred Elsewhere

Delaware does not have a federal prison so federal inmates may be shipped out of state. To check all federal prisons, use the Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator.

On the other hand, Delware is home to a unified state system that includes pretrial detainees and those sentenced to prison in one of the four holding facilities in the state.

The steps to locating an offender are outlined above in the sections on how to locate someone in jail or someone on probation or parole which lists the steps to using VINELink for actively incarcerated individuals. There is not an online parolee database, instead this information is included in the listing on VINELink for community corrections in Delaware.8

How To Run a Delaware Warrant Search on Yourself or Someone

Warrants are considered public record in Delaware, and it’s important to know how to run a warrant search on someone. Follow these steps to see if you or someone in your area is wanted by the police:

  1. Go to the Delaware State Police Wanted Status page.
  2. Click the first link in the instructions on the page to go to the search page.
  3. Enter at least the person’s last name and confirm the searcher is not a robot.
  4. A warrant list will populate with individuals matching that name to an active warrant for their arrest.
  5. Click select beside the name to get more details about the individual, including person’s race and gender, date of birth and why they are wanted by the police.,
A screenshot from the official website of the state of Delaware criminal justice information system online wanted person review page showing an empty search wanted person list by name.
Source: State of Delaware Website16

Information on the website may be outdated, so searchers should not rely solely on the database to provide the most current data about a person. Law enforcement encourages those with a warrant out for their arrest to review the databases and turn themselves in to resolve the matter if they are being sought.

The database can also answer the question: how do I know if I have been charged with a crime?9

A Summary of Background Checks in Delaware

The reasons and agencies that conduct or require background checks in Delaware vary. The table below lists the agencies that provide or require a background check to work or hold licensure in the state:

Agency That Performs or Requires Background Checks Screening Reasons
Delaware State Police
  • Employment
  • Firearms
  • Personal Use
  • Security Guards (Armed and Unarmed)
  • Private Investigators
  • Armored Car Employees
  • Alarm/Security System Employees
  • Bail Bondsmen
Division of Professional Regulation
  • Accountants
  • Acupuncturists
  • Medical Administrators
  • Adult Entertainers
  • Architects
  • Art Therapists
  • Athletic Trainers
  • Audiologists
  • Barbers
  • Drug Therapists
  • Chiropractors
  • Cosmetologists
  • Mental Health Counselors
  • Firearms Dealers
  • Dentists
  • Dieticians
  • Electricians
  • Funeral Home Workers
  • Genetic Counselors
  • Home Inspectors
  • HVAC Contractors
  • Surveyors
  • Landscapers
  • Magistrates
  • Manufactured Home Installers
  • Marriage/Family Therapists
  • Massage Therapists
  • Midwives
  • Medical Professionals
  • Mental Health Workers
  • Nail Technicians
  • Nurse Aides
  • Nutritionists
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Optometrists
  • Paramedics
  • Pharmacists
  • Physical Therapists
  • Pilots
  • Plumbers
  • Podiatrists
  • Psychologists
  • Real Estate Agents
  • Respiratory Care Therapists
  • Social Workers
  • Speech/Language Pathologists
  • Veterinarians
Delaware Department of Education
  • School Administrators
  • Teachers
  • Teacher Aides
  • School Support Staff
  • Volunteers
  • Childcare Workers
Department of Services for Children, Youth and Families
  • Foster Care Parents
  • Adoptions

Each agency has its own policies and procedures about what information can act as a disqualifying offense for that position or license. For example, a conviction for a crime that might disqualify someone from working in a school may not disqualify them for working as a HVAC installer or other profession.

A prime example of a disqualifying offense for most professions is conviction of a sex offense.

How To View the Delaware Sex Offender Registry To Check for Nearby Sexual Predators

Every state has a sex offender registry designed to keep track of convicted sex offenders and allow the public to see if there is a registered offender in their neighborhood, and this section tells how to locate and search the registry along with a link to the official registry.

A screenshot from the official website of the first state, state of Delaware, Delaware sex offender central registry page showing the homeless offenders section with faces and description of four different men.
Source: Delaware Sex Offender Registry17

To search the Delaware Sex Offender Registry, do the following:

  1. Open up the Delaware Sex Offender Registry.
  2. Searches can be conducted by name, neighborhood, homeless offenders, and those who are wanted for non-compliance with the court’s order.
  3. To do a name-based/offender search, click the tab for offender search and enter the person’s last name (minimum) and first name. Other information that can be included to narrow the search is address of offender, workplace, and state of conviction is outside Delaware.
  4. Mugshots are available on the state registry, so review the search return mugshots to make sure the record matches the search subject.
  5. Clicking the homeless offenders tab shows all registered sex offenders without a permanent address.
  6. Selecting wanted offenders produces a list of all those in violation.
A screenshot from the official website of the first state, state of Delaware, Delaware sex offender central registry page showing an empty search criteria.
Source: Delaware Sex Offender Registry18

As with all records, sex offender registry information must remain in compliance with all state laws regarding public criminal records.

Criminal Records & Arrest Records Laws of Delaware

Delaware became a ban the box state with the passage of House Bill 167 in 2014. This bill prohibits public employers from asking about a person’s criminal history during the application phase, and cannot make inquiries about a person’s history until after an interview has been completed.

The only exceptions are public safety positions where a criminal history would automatically disqualify someone from the position such as correctional officers or police officers.

All labor laws are outlined under Title 19 of the Delaware Code which includes guidance on use of background checks when making hiring decisions. Chapter 7 of this title further expands on the ban the box statute by stating criminal record should be weighted by the nature of the offense, how long ago it occurred and whether or not it directly relates to the job duties.10

Under Delaware Code Title 11, expunged records cannot be included in a commercial background check and cannot be used to disqualify an applicant from employment. Federal laws also prohibit commercial search sites from disclosing records that would be excluded from public view under state laws.

Delaware Code Title 29, Chapter 100 outlines what Delaware criminal records and arrest records are public and which are excluded from disclosure as part of the state’s Freedom of Information Act. Most adult records are considered eligible for public disclosure.

When looking at background check laws, it’s also important to distinguish whether the record is being used for professional reasons such as employment or housing or personal reasons such as checking the background of a dating interest. State laws outline what can and cannot be disclosed to the public, and federal laws expand on these to provide additional guidance.

Federal laws also protect individuals from unlawful use of criminal record to disqualify an applicant. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission enforces federal anti-discrimination laws and provides guidance to employers on how to use criminal records when making hiring decisions.

Fair Credit Report Act (FCRA) limits credit and non-conviction background history to a seven year lookback period, and Delaware has adopted a similar lookback period for most positions in the state. FCRA guidelines apply to all commercial people finder websites that provide personal and professional background screening services.

Delaware’s system can be complex, but with the information in this free guide, searchers can easily locate Delaware criminal records and arrest records in Delaware and use these records to make informed decisions on hiring, housing or personal life situations.


References

1Delaware Code Online. (n.d.). Delaware Code Online. Retrieved January 2, 2023, from <https://delcode.delaware.gov/title29/c100/index.html>

2Home. (n.d.). VINELink. Retrieved January 2, 2023, from <https://vinelink.vineapps.com/person-detail/offender/25665586;tabIndexToSelect=0>

3Obtaining a Certified Delaware Criminal History – Delaware State Police – State of Delaware. (n.d.). Delaware State Police. Retrieved January 2, 2023, from <https://dsp.delaware.gov/obtaining-a-certified-criminal-history/>

4Phillips, R. (2019, September 28). Bail In Delaware. Law Offices Of Murray, Phillips & Gay. Retrieved January 2, 2023, from <https://www.murrayphillipslaw.com/bail-in-delaware/>

5VINELink Search Results. (n.d.). VINELink. Retrieved January 2, 2023, from <https://vinelink.vineapps.com/search/persons;limit=20;offset=0;showPhotos=true;isPartialSearch=false;siteRefId=DESWVINE;personFirstName=James;personLastName=Daniels;stateServed=DE>

6Expungement of an Adult Record Two Types of Adult Expungement. (n.d.). Delaware Courts. Retrieved January 2, 2023, from <https://courts.delaware.gov/forms/download.aspx?ID=118548>

7Wilmington, DE Pardons & Expungements Attorney. (n.d.). The Law Office of Richard Zemble. Retrieved January 2, 2023, from <https://zemblelaw.com/service_index/expungements/>

8Locate an Inmate – Department of Correction – State of Delaware. (n.d.). Delaware Department of Correction. Retrieved January 2, 2023, from <https://doc.delaware.gov/views/inmate_locator.blade.shtml>

9Wanted Persons. (n.d.). Delaware Criminal Justice Information System. Retrieved January 2, 2023, from <https://pubsrv.deljis.delaware.gov/WantedPublic/Default.aspx>

10Delaware Code Online. (n.d.). Delaware Code Online. Retrieved January 2, 2023, from <https://delcode.delaware.gov/title19/index.html>

11Locate an Inmate – Department of Correction – State of Delaware.” Delaware Department of Correction. Accessed 3 May 2023. <https://doc.delaware.gov/views/inmate_locator.blade.shtml>

12Visit an Inmate – Department of Correction – State of Delaware.” Delaware Department of Correction. Accessed 3 May 2023. <https://doc.delaware.gov/views/visit_inmate.blade.shtml>

13Person/Case Type Search.” Delaware Court Connect. Accessed 3 May 2023. <https://courtconnect.courts.delaware.gov/cc/cconnect/ck_public_qry_cpty.cp_personcase_setup_idx>

14Docket Report.” Delaware Court Connect. Accessed 3 May 2023. <https://courtconnect.courts.delaware.gov/cc/cconnect/ck_public_qry_doct.cp_dktrpt_setup_idx>

15Delaware State Courts Expungement/Pardon of Criminal Record – Help & Support – Delaware Courts – State of Delaware.” Delaware Courts. Accessed 3 May 2023. <https://courts.delaware.gov/help/expungements.aspx>

16State of Delaware Website. Accessed 3 May 2023. <https://pubsrv.deljis.delaware.gov/WantedPublic/Default.aspx>

17homeless.” Delaware Sex Offender Registry. Accessed 3 May 2023. <https://sexoffender.dsp.delaware.gov/?/Search/SearchType/homeless>

18Delaware Sex Offender Registry. Accessed 3 May 2023. <https://sexoffender.dsp.delaware.gov/>