Delaware Criminal Records

This guide explains how to find Delaware criminal records, arrest records, court records, inmate information, and the public sex offender registry, and how Delaware's background-check and record-clearing laws work. It was last reviewed in June 2026 using official Delaware sources, and it points you to the state and county agencies that hold each type of record. You can also start a name search using the tool on this page.

How do I look up a criminal record in Delaware?

There are three main ways to look up a Delaware criminal record:

• State Bureau of Identification (SBI) certified history. The Delaware State Police SBI is the central repository for all Delaware criminal history. Anyone can request a certified background check through SBI by scheduling a fingerprint appointment via IdentoGo (service code 27RVGT for a personal report). The fee is $72 for a state-only history or $85 for state and federal. Contact SBI at (302) 739-5884 or visit the Delaware State Police certified history page.
• Delaware CourtConnect. The judiciary's free online portal lets you search civil and criminal case index information for the Superior Court, Court of Common Pleas, and Justice of the Peace Court. See the CourtConnect person/case search.
• An online people-search tool like the one on this page, which compiles public-record data from many sources into one report. These tools are for personal knowledge only and are not a substitute for an official SBI check or an FCRA-compliant background check.

A fingerprint-based SBI search is the only way to confirm a record truly belongs to a specific person. A name-only search can return results that belong to someone else with a similar name.

Are criminal records public in Delaware?

It depends on which record. Delaware's statewide criminal history maintained by SBI is not fully open to the public in the way that some states allow - an official certified history requires fingerprints and a fee, and the detailed "rap sheet" is released mainly to the subject, law enforcement, and authorized employers. Court case records, on the other hand, are generally public under the Delaware Freedom of Information Act (Title 29, Chapter 100 of the Delaware Code). So while you cannot simply pull a full certified criminal history on another person for free, you can look up individual court cases using CourtConnect or by visiting the courthouse where the case was filed.

Where can I look up arrest records in Delaware?

Arrest records are kept by the agency that made the arrest, such as the Delaware State Police, a city police department, or a county sheriff. An arrest record is different from a criminal record: it shows that someone was taken into custody, not that they were convicted. Delaware State Police post recent newsroom releases about significant arrests, and county sheriffs sometimes post jail roster information. Arrests that were not followed by a conviction and that have been expunged will not appear in public searches. Third-party background reports may surface older arrest information, but the arresting agency or the SBI is the authoritative source.

How do I find court records in Delaware?

Delaware has a single statewide online portal: CourtConnect, which provides public access to case index information for the Superior Court (felonies and major civil cases), the Court of Common Pleas (misdemeanors and lesser criminal matters), and the Justice of the Peace Court (traffic, minor civil, and minor criminal matters). You can search by person name or case number. For family court records, juvenile records, or Chancery Court matters you generally need to contact those courts directly. To obtain copies of a specific case file, submit a written request to the clerk of the court where the case was filed - for New Castle County felony matters, that is the Superior Court clerk at the Leonard L. Williams Justice Center, 500 N. King Street, Wilmington (phone: (302) 255-0800).

How do I look up warrants in Delaware?

Warrants are issued by the courts, but the easiest place to check is usually the county sheriff's office or the clerk of the court where charges would be filed. Delaware State Police also post information about wanted individuals through their newsroom. Active outstanding warrants may surface in a CourtConnect case search for the relevant court. Third-party background reports can reflect warrant information, but the issuing court or local law enforcement agency is the authoritative source.

Do arrests show up on background checks in Delaware?

For employment, tenant, and credit screening conducted through a consumer reporting agency, the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) controls what can be reported. Under the FCRA, a non-conviction arrest generally cannot be reported once it is more than seven years old. Convictions can be reported indefinitely under federal law unless they have been expunged or sealed. Delaware's Clean Slate Act (signed into law and operative as of August 2024) adds another layer: mandatory-expungement-eligible records are automatically cleared by SBI on a monthly basis, so those records will no longer appear in official Delaware history checks once expunged. An arrest or charge that did not result in a conviction and that qualifies for expungement should eventually be cleared from the official record.

How far back does a background check go in Delaware?

Under the federal FCRA, a consumer reporting agency generally may not report most adverse items - including non-conviction arrests and dismissed charges - that are more than seven years old. For positions paying $75,000 or more per year, the FCRA's seven-year cap does not apply, and convictions can be reported going further back. Delaware does not currently have a separate state "ban-the-box" law that applies broadly to all private employers, though some municipalities have adopted their own rules. Key points:

• Non-conviction arrests are generally not reportable after seven years under the FCRA.
• Convictions can be reported indefinitely under federal law unless expunged.
• Records that have been expunged under Delaware law (Title 11, §§ 4373-4374) should not appear on official SBI history checks.
• The clock typically runs from the date of disposition or release, not when you finish probation.

How do I find someone in jail or prison in Delaware?

It depends on where the person is held:

• State custody. Use the Delaware Department of Correction's Inmate Locator, which connects to VINELink - the national victim notification network. You can search by name and receive custody status updates by phone, email, or text.
• County or local jail. Delaware operates a unified corrections system, so most sentenced inmates are in DOC facilities rather than county jails.
• Federal custody. For federal cases, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator rather than the DOC tool.

How do I find out if someone is on probation or parole in Delaware?

Probation and parole in Delaware are both administered by the Department of Correction's Bureau of Community Corrections. A person's supervision status is not posted publicly online, but it may appear in a DOC inmate locator record for recently released individuals. The sentencing court's records in CourtConnect are the best public source for confirming that a sentence included probation and its terms. For specific supervision questions, contact the Bureau of Community Corrections directly through the Delaware Department of Correction.

What crimes are felonies in Delaware?

Delaware uses seven felony classes under Title 11, Chapter 42, § 4205 of the Delaware Code. Class A is the most serious; Class G is the least serious. Sentences are served at Level V (state custody):

• Class A felony (e.g., first-degree murder, first-degree rape): not less than 15 years up to life imprisonment.
• Class B felony (e.g., first-degree robbery): not less than 2 years up to 25 years.
• Class C felony: up to 15 years.
• Class D felony: up to 8 years.
• Class E felony: up to 5 years.
• Class F felony: up to 3 years.
• Class G felony: up to 2 years.

All Class A felonies are treated as violent offenses. The remaining classes are divided between violent and nonviolent categories, which affects parole and expungement eligibility. See the full statute at Delaware Code Title 11, Chapter 42.

What crimes are misdemeanors in Delaware?

Delaware divides misdemeanors into two classes under Title 11. A Class A misdemeanor carries up to one year in jail; a Class B misdemeanor carries up to six months in jail. Common Class A misdemeanor examples include assault in the third degree and certain theft offenses under $1,500. Common Class B misdemeanor examples include disorderly conduct and minor in possession of alcohol. Unclassified misdemeanors also exist (such as certain traffic-related offenses) and carry specific penalties set by the underlying statute.

Are traffic violations crimes in Delaware?

Most routine traffic violations in Delaware are civil infractions handled by the Justice of the Peace Court and are not criminal offenses, so they carry fines but no jail time and generally do not appear on a criminal background check. More serious driving offenses are criminal. A first or second DUI (driving under the influence) is a misdemeanor; a third DUI within five years of two prior offenses is a felony. Penalties for a first-offense DUI include up to six months in jail, fines of $230 to $1,150, and an 18-to-30-month license revocation depending on blood-alcohol level, under Title 21 of the Delaware Code.

Is the sex offender registry public in Delaware?

Yes. Under Title 11, §§ 4120-4121 of the Delaware Code, the Delaware State Police SBI maintains a public sex offender registry. You can search it for free at sexoffender.dsp.delaware.gov by name, address, workplace, or on a map. The registry shows photos, offense history, physical descriptions, addresses, and employer information for moderate- and high-risk registrants. Low-risk (Tier 1) offenders are not publicly displayed online. An email-alert subscription service lets you receive notifications when registry information changes for offenders in your area.

Can someone be removed from the Delaware sex offender registry?

Delaware uses a three-tier classification. Tier 1 (low-risk) registrants must register for 15 years; Tier 2 (moderate-risk) for 25 years; and Tier 3 (high-risk) for life. After completing the required registration period and meeting certain conditions - including completing an approved treatment program and maintaining a clean record - registrants may petition Superior Court for a tier reduction or for removal from the registry. Tier 1 offenders may petition for removal after 10 years under those conditions. Eligibility is fact-specific and the most serious offenses remain lifetime (Tier 3), so an attorney should review the particular conviction before filing.

How do I clear or expunge my criminal record in Delaware?

Delaware's expungement law (Title 11, Subchapter VII, §§ 4373-4374) was significantly expanded by the Clean Slate Act (Senate Bill 111), which took effect in August 2024. There are two pathways:

• Mandatory expungement (§ 4373). SBI automatically processes eligible records on a monthly basis. Cases terminated in favor of the accused (acquittal, dismissal, nolle prosequi) qualify automatically with no waiting period. Misdemeanor convictions are eligible after a 5-year waiting period (no prior or subsequent convictions). Certain specified felonies - including forgery, unlawful use of a payment card, and possession of burglar's tools - are eligible after 10 years if there are no prior or subsequent convictions.
• Discretionary expungement (§ 4374). You petition the Superior Court or Family Court and must show by a preponderance of the evidence that manifest injustice would result from keeping the record. Waiting periods: standard misdemeanors (3 years), certain listed misdemeanors (7 years), and felonies (7 years from conviction or release), with no prior or subsequent convictions required.

Ineligible offenses include murder, rape, manslaughter, serious sex offenses against children, and most violent felonies listed in § 4201(c). The Office of Defense Services offers free expungement guidance at (302) 577-5142 and through their expungements page.

Do I need a lawyer to expunge my record in Delaware?

You are not required to hire a lawyer. Mandatory expungements happen automatically through SBI with no petition needed. For discretionary expungements, the Office of Defense Services provides free eligibility guidance, and the courts publish forms. That said, the eligibility rules are detailed - particularly for felonies and cases with prior convictions - and a procedural mistake can cost you the opportunity to clear the record. Many people consult an attorney or use the ODS expungement hotline at (302) 577-5142 before filing, especially for more complex situations.

How long does a felony stay on your record in Delaware?

A Delaware felony conviction stays on your record permanently unless you obtain expungement. There is no automatic deletion of a conviction from the official record based solely on time. Only the specific felony classes listed in § 4373 (mandatory) or qualifying felonies under § 4374 (discretionary, after a 7-year waiting period with no prior or subsequent convictions) are eligible for expungement. The seven-year FCRA rule discussed above limits what a consumer reporting agency may report in certain situations - it does not erase the underlying court or SBI record.

Are juvenile criminal records private in Delaware?

Juvenile records in Delaware are handled by the Family Court and are confidential - they are generally not available to the public or to ordinary employment background checks. Under § 1017A of Title 10 of the Delaware Code, juvenile records may be subject to mandatory automatic expungement. Courts, law enforcement, and certain agencies can still access juvenile records even when they are sealed. For the most serious juvenile offenses tried in adult court, the record may follow the adult-court rules. The Office of Defense Services provides a free online eligibility survey for juvenile expungements at their website.

New Castle County criminal records

New Castle County, home to Wilmington, is Delaware's most populous county with about 570,000 residents. Felony cases are tried in the Superior Court at the Leonard L. Williams Justice Center, 500 N. King Street, Wilmington, DE 19801, phone (302) 255-0800. Misdemeanor and lesser criminal cases are heard in the Court of Common Pleas and Justice of the Peace Court. Case index information for all three courts is searchable for free through CourtConnect. To request copies of a specific case file, submit a written request in person, by mail, or by email to the clerk of the court where the case was filed.

Official Delaware criminal record sources

• Delaware State Police SBI - certified criminal history - request a fingerprint-based official background check ($72 state / $85 state + federal).
• Delaware CourtConnect - person/case search - free public search of Superior Court, Court of Common Pleas, and Justice of the Peace Court case indexes.
• Delaware Sex Offender Registry - free public registry search by name, address, or map; maintained by SBI under Title 11, §§ 4120-4121.
• Delaware DOC Inmate Locator - find a person in Delaware state custody via VINELink; subscribe to custody-status notifications.
• Delaware Office of Defense Services - expungements - free eligibility guidance, hotline (302) 577-5142, and information about the Clean Slate Act.
• Delaware Code Title 11, Chapter 43, Subchapter VII (§§ 4373-4374) - the expungement statutes in full.
• Delaware Code Title 11, Chapter 42 (§ 4205) - felony classification and sentencing.
• Delaware Courts - official judiciary home - links to all Delaware courts, calendars, and self-help resources.

Disclosure: criminal.com may earn a commission when you use the people-search tool on this page, which is powered by a third-party background-check service. Results from such tools are for your personal knowledge only and may not be used to make decisions about employment, housing, credit, tenant screening, or any other purpose covered by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). A mugshot or arrest record is not proof of guilt. This page is general information about Delaware public records, not legal advice; for advice about your situation, consult an attorney. Information was last reviewed in June 2026 and laws may change.