Free Delaware Parole Search (Look Up Anyone)

Free Delaware Parolee Lookup
Find out if someone you know or love was released from prison on parole in Delaware, free of charge.

Conduct a free Delaware parole search in the blink of an eye using this streamlined resource.

Parole and probation are both forms of supervised release; probation is a court-ordered alternative to incarceration, while parole occurs before the completion of fully sentenced time and is typically contingent upon good behavior or meeting specific conditions.

This resource covers the primary sources offering parole searches in Delaware, equipping individuals with a clear and efficient means of obtaining parolee-related information. This streamlined article also covers the precise steps for retrieving parole records in the First State.

How To Conduct a Free Delaware Parole Search (Check Anyone’s Status)

When conducting a free parolee lookup in the state of Delaware, the primary place to visit is the Department of Corrections (DOC) section of the state’s official website.1 Delaware utilizes the online tool VINELink to assist anyone seeking information on offenders in the state.

The specific parameters for a parole search can be selected using the drop-down menu options in the search area of the VINELink website. These include:

  • Status as “Offender”
  • Location in Delaware
  • First Name
  • Last Name

This will produce basic results featuring court records matching the name, case number or ID entered. Options to select a partial name and whether the results should also show an offender photo are both available.

The system requires a free account in order to see the birth date and ID number, but it will provide:

  • The first five digits of the case number
  • The open/closed status of the case
  • An option to be notified of updates or changes to the record
  • A link to the record details, which includes the court events

In addition to resources available at the DOC website, the Delaware Board of Parole can be contacted directly. It may be able to provide more specific assistance or offer direction to the appropriate resources.

Under Delaware’s Freedom of Information Act, Title 29, Chapter 100 of the state code, individuals may submit requests to the Department of Correction using the online FOIA request form.2

A screenshot showing a FOIA request form with information to fill out such as public body, name, mailing address including city, state and ZIP code, phone number and email address from the Delaware’s Government website.
Source: Delaware’s Government2

A fillable PDF version of the form can be emailed to [email protected], or it can be printed and mailed to:

Department of Correction
Attn: Legal Services Administrator
345 McKee Road
Dover, DE 19904

Should individuals wish to submit the form in person, they can go to the DOC Administration Building at the above address.

No matter which method is chosen, individuals should always respect the privacy of the person’s record being searched and be thorough in the investigation, especially when it comes to potential business and professional relationships. Public records level the playing field when it comes to the disclosure of information and help ensure an equal measure of trust can be established.

See Who Has Absconded or Violated Parole in Delaware

Parole Board records are privileged and not to be disclosed; however, if the requesting party making the parole search has a proper interest as deemed by judgment of the court, an inquiry may be made to request certain information.3

Only limited details are available for public access. These include:

  • Defendant’s offense and sentence
  • Sentencing date
  • Parole eligibility date
  • Any scheduled hearing date
  • Approval or denial of a defendant’s case

The Truth-in-Sentencing Act of 1989 abolished parole for all offenses committed after June 30, 1990, but when an incarceration sentence for a duration of more than 1 year is issued, modifications may be made on an individual basis.4

Since parole violators are often classified as criminals, actions taken while on parole may become part of a permanent record. Should that happen, criminal history can be located through the agencies that hold the records. There are some exceptions to certain records, such as:

  • Records under current investigation
  • Invasion of privacy situations
  • Juvenile records
  • Anything already expunged from the courts

Third party sites often compile additional guidance in regard to criminal and arrest records. Their aim is to minimize the frustration often involved in locating personal records. Answers can now be just a few clicks away.

How To Find Inmates in a Delaware State Prison

As alternatives to state prisons, the state of Delaware operates several community corrections centers in its effort to help reduce crime and match training programs to the needs of offenders. Each corrections center offers access to inmate records through the Department of Correction and VINELink. Searches can be conducted using:

  • Name
  • Case number
  • ID number

Should an individual be found as someone incarcerated in one of Delaware’s correctional facilities, scheduled visitations can be made and money can be sent to inmates.5 Personal checks aren’t accepted, but cash and money orders can be sent or hand-delivered at a scheduled visit.

Each correctional facility should be contacted individually regarding its procedures and permissions for receiving money addressed to inmates. Money orders need to be directed to the specific facility and require the inmate’s name, State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) number and the name of the person sending the funds.

Inbound phone calls aren’t permitted, but a prepaid phone account can be used for outbound calls from any inmate. When sending mail, please refer to the Delaware DOC mail procedures.6

There are four main correctional facilities in Delaware, and each has its own guidelines or procedures for visitations of inmates. A parole search may yield results stating that an inmate can be found at one of the following institutions:

  • Howard R. Young Correctional Institution
  • James T. Vaughn Correctional Facility
  • Sussex Correctional Institution
  • Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution

Review the Delaware DOC’s Visit an Inmate Page to see the specific visitation rules and limitations.

How To Verify When a Delaware Parole Hearing Will Be & Find Supervising Officer Details

The Delaware Court of Common Pleas oversees the trials and sentencing of defendants with charges against them.7 Prior to a trial, individuals receive an arraignment date to determine if and when a hearing will take place.8

Delaware Parole Board records aren’t disclosed to the public, but the court may make exceptions if the inquirer is deemed to have a vested interest in the case. Family members or victims may contact the Board of Parole at:

Delaware Board of Parole
Carvel State Office Building
820 North French Street, 5th Floor
Wilmington, DE 19801

Phone: (302)-577-5233
Fax: (302)-577-3501

Access to victim services and the ability to report concerns or problems are also available via telephone in each county, as listed below.

New Castle: (302)-577-2055
Kent: (302)-739-4211
Sussex: (302)-853-5352

In most instances, contact with a specific parole officer is limited to the offender on parole. Reporting instructions are provided to the individual, but direct family members and those responsible for the parolee might also have access to this information. When the assigned officer is unavailable, a Duty Officer and Supervisor are assigned at every reporting location.

How To See if Someone Is on Probation Throughout Delaware: Free

Although this resource primarily pertains to individuals on parole in Delaware, there are instances when official offices, courts or entities interchange probation for parole.

Probation typically occurs prior to incarceration and provides alternatives to spending time in jail, often through community service. Parole is a designation for more serious offenses, assigned to inmates released from prison prior to completing their full jail sentences.

The Delaware Department of Correction partners with VINELink to search for offenders and retrieve any criminal records. The Superior Court maintains all criminal case information through the Delaware Courts, and the majority of court records are available to the public.9

A screenshot displaying a person/case type search results showing information such as case ID number, name or corporation, address and case details, party type and end date, filing date and case status.
Source: Delaware Courts Judicial Branch9

Record requests are made to the custodian of the records and referred to the Court Administrator.10

A screenshot showing a supreme court application for access to administrative records with details to fill out such as full name, daytime telephone, address, city, state, ZIP code and email address.
Source: Delaware Courts Judicial Branch11

Specific individuals in the state of Delaware who’ve violated their probation are typically sent to the Sussex Violation of Probation Center in Georgetown.12 The center can be reached at:

Sussex Violation of Probation Center
23207 DuPont Boulevard
Georgetown, DE 19947

Phone: (302)-856-5790

Performing a lookup of Delaware parolee information requires the use of authorized resources, such as the Department of Correction website. The availability of free tools represents a commitment to transparency on behalf of the state, and this helps contribute to a safe and secure society.

When a Delaware parole search is pursued with any state or local government agency, privacy laws should always be respected.


References

1Delaware Department of Correction. (2024). Locate an Inmate. Retrieved February 28, 2024, from <https://doc.delaware.gov/views/inmate_locator.blade.shtml>

2Delaware’s Government. (n.d.). FOIA Request Form. Retrieved February 28, 2024, from <https://delaware.gov/foia/?subj=GOV>

3Delaware Board of Parole. (n.d.). Contact Information. Retrieved February 28, 2024, from <https://boardofparole.delaware.gov/contact-information/>

4Delaware General Assembly. (n.d.). Chapter 130 – Formerly Senate Bill No. 58. Retrieved February 28, 2024, from <https://legis.delaware.gov/SessionLaws/Chapter?id=21933>

5Delaware Department of Correction. (n.d.). Visit an Inmate. Retrieved February 28, 2024, from <https://doc.delaware.gov/views/visit_inmate.blade.shtml>

6Delaware Department of Correction. (n.d.). Mail to Inmate. Retrieved February 28, 2024, from <https://doc.delaware.gov/views/mail_to_inmate.blade.shtml>

7Delaware Courts Judicial Branch. (n.d.). Court of Common Pleas. Retrieved February 28, 2024, from <https://courts.delaware.gov/commonpleas/>

8Delaware Courts Judicial Branch. (n.d.). Arraignment in the Court of Common Pleas. Retrieved February 28, 2024, from <https://courts.delaware.gov/help/proceedings/ccp_crarraignment.aspx>

9Delaware Courts Judicial Branch. (2024). Civil Case Search. Retrieved February 28, 2024, from <https://courts.delaware.gov/docket.aspx>

10Delaware Courts Judicial Branch. (n.d.). Policy on Public Access to Judicial Records. Retrieved February 28, 2024, from <https://courts.delaware.gov/help/recordaccess.aspx>

11Delaware Courts Judicial Branch. (n.d.). Delaware Administrative Office of the Courts. Retrieved February 28, 2024, from <https://courts.delaware.gov/forms/download.aspx?id=83628>

12Delaware Department of Correction. (n.d.). Sussex Community Corrections Center. Retrieved February 28, 2024, from <https://doc.delaware.gov/views/sussexccc.blade.shtml>