Search Delaware Felony Records
Delaware felony records cover the most serious criminal cases filed in the state. Superior Courts in New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties hear these cases. You can search Delaware felony records online through CourtConnect, the state's main court portal. You can also request copies from the State Bureau of Identification, which holds the central criminal history file for Delaware. This guide walks you through where to look for felony court files, plus the offices that keep inmate data, sex offender data, and arrest reports. Delaware runs a mix of state and county tools for felony records. Pick the source that fits your search.
Delaware Felony Records Overview
Where to Find Delaware Felony Records
Delaware keeps felony records in three main places. The Superior Court is the trial court with power over all felony cases in the state. Court of Common Pleas handles misdemeanors and holds preliminary hearings for felony cases. Justice of the Peace Court takes early appearances and bail hearings. Each court keeps dockets and case files in its own clerk's office.
The State Bureau of Identification is the central hub for Delaware criminal history. SBI runs fingerprint checks, issues rap sheets, and houses the statewide felony records file. Its main office sits at 1407 N. DuPont Highway in Dover. You can also book a print session at nine other sites across Delaware, including Wilmington and several State Police Troops. The phone line is (302) 739-5880. For court dockets, you can pull data straight from Superior Court records through the online CourtConnect system.
Local police also keep arrest and incident reports. Each city records unit takes requests from victims and the public. Some records are free to victims who bring valid ID. Others require a fee or a court subpoena. The rules change from one city to the next.
Delaware CourtConnect for Felony Records
CourtConnect is the free online portal for Delaware court records. The site covers Superior Court felony cases, Court of Common Pleas cases, and Justice of the Peace Court filings. You can search by party name, business name, case type, or case number. The Delaware case ID format looks like N21A-CR-001234. Guest access is free, and you do not need an account to run a basic search.
The screenshot below shows the public search page from CourtConnect, the state judiciary's online docket tool.
From this page, you can run a party search for Delaware felony records, pull up a case docket, and see hearing dates. The system shows filings, case status, and the judge on record.
What CourtConnect shows for each case:
- Case number, filing date, and current status
- Plaintiff, defendant, and attorney names
- Docket entries in order
- Scheduled hearings and trial dates
- Judgment details when entered
Driver's license numbers, Social Security numbers, and witness addresses are redacted. Sealed cases do not show up. Juvenile records are not in the public portal. For certified copies or full documents, you must contact the court clerk in the county where the case was heard.
Note: CourtConnect is free for guest use, but downloading full court documents may carry a per-page fee set by the court clerk.
Delaware State Bureau of Identification
The State Bureau of Identification is the place to get an official Delaware criminal history. SBI is part of the Delaware State Police. It keeps the central file of felony convictions, select misdemeanors, and arrest data from across the state. A fingerprint-based check from SBI is what most jobs and licensing boards want when they ask for a Delaware rap sheet.
Fees for a Delaware background check are set by law. A state-only check runs $72. A combined state plus FBI check runs $85. Extra certified copies are $5 each. You pay by money order or certified check made out to Delaware State Police. Learn more on the Delaware State Police public page.
The screenshot below is from the Delaware State Police site, where SBI services sit under the public information section.
The SBI page lists all nine fingerprint sites, the hours for each, and the forms you need. You can call (302) 739-5880 to book an appointment.
What a Delaware SBI rap sheet covers:
- All Delaware felony convictions with case disposition
- Select misdemeanors as defined in the Delaware Code
- Pending charges and arrests from the past year
- Sex offender tier and registration status
- Active warrant flags, with limited detail
Sealed and expunged records are not on the SBI rap sheet. Juvenile records run on a separate track and do not show up on an adult check. For records from another state, you need the FBI check or a check from that state.
DELJIS and Delaware Felony Records
DELJIS is the Delaware Criminal Justice Information System. It is the central repository that law enforcement, courts, corrections, and probation use to share data on felony records. The full DELJIS database is not open to the public. Agencies with direct access can pull warrants, criminal history, protection orders, and inmate info in real time.
The image below shows the DELJIS public portal, which links to public-facing tools and record request forms.
From DELJIS, the public can find forms, fee details, and steps for a criminal history request through SBI.
DELJIS data feeds the Delaware sex offender registry and the DOC inmate lookup. If you want felony records, the public path runs through SBI for rap sheets, through CourtConnect for dockets, and through DOC for inmate data. DELJIS is the back end that ties it all together.
Delaware Department of Correction Inmate Records
The Delaware Department of Correction runs the inmate locator for anyone in state custody. You can search by name or by DOC offender ID. The system shows the current facility, custody level, and the projected release date. DOC also lists visitation rules for each facility.
The page below is from doc.delaware.gov, the main site for Delaware inmate records and felony sentencing info.
The DOC site also covers probation and parole, reentry services, and press releases on significant felony cases.
Delaware's main adult felony facilities:
- James T. Vaughn Correctional Center, Smyrna (max and medium males)
- Sussex Correctional Institution, Georgetown (Sussex County males)
- Howard R. Young Correctional Institution, Wilmington (pre-trial detention)
- Baylor Women's Correctional Institution (female inmates)
Current inmates and recent releases show up in public search. Older historical records may take a formal public records request. Probation and parole data live in a separate track and are not always on the public site.
Delaware Sex Offender Registry
The Delaware Sex Offender Registry is open to the public. You can search by name, by address, or by city and county. Each offender has a tier level that drives how long they must stay on the list. Tier 1 is low risk with a 15-year term. Tier 2 is 25 years. Tier 3 is lifetime.
The site below is the Delaware Sex Offender Registry, run by the Delaware State Police.
Each offender profile lists the conviction type, the current registered address, any registered vehicle, and a photo. The registry links tie back to the felony records that triggered the listing.
Note: Verification schedules vary by tier, so some listings update quarterly while others update once a year under Delaware law.
Delaware FOIA and Felony Records Requests
Delaware's Freedom of Information Act sits in 29 Del. C. Chapter 100. It lets any person ask for public records held by a state or local agency. The standard response window is 15 business days. An agency can take a 30-day extension for large or complex requests.
The screenshot below is from the Delaware FOIA page at the Attorney General's office.
The page lists each agency FOIA coordinator, sample request forms, and the steps to file an appeal if your request is denied.
FOIA does not open every file. Active criminal investigation records, intelligence files, and personnel records are all exempt. Juvenile court matters are off limits to the public. Attorney-client and trade secret data are also blocked. If your request is denied, you can petition the Attorney General within 60 days or file a civil action in Superior Court.
Delaware Code for Felony Records
The Delaware Code holds all the laws that cover felony records. Title 11 is the Crimes and Criminal Procedure book. Chapter 85 at 11 Del. C. § 8501 set up the State Bureau of Identification as the criminal history repository. Chapter 86 at 11 Del. C. § 8601 lays out how Delaware handles expungement.
Title 10 covers courts and judicial procedure. Section 1911 deals with public access to court records, and § 1706 sets record retention rules. Superior Court Rule 10.2 also governs access to court documents for Delaware felony records.
The image below is the Delaware Code website, where you can pull the full text of any statute.
You can also view the Delaware Courts forms portal for expungement petitions and other forms tied to felony case records.
Expungement rules sort Delaware felony records into two groups. Mandatory expungement is for acquittals, dismissals, and nolle prosequi dispositions. Discretionary expungement is for some convictions after a waiting period. Waiting times run five years for most misdemeanors and seven or more years for felonies. Violent felonies, sex offenses, and DUIs are not eligible.
Note: Record retention for serious Delaware felony cases like murder, rape, and kidnapping is permanent at the Superior Court.
Delaware Courts Forms for Felony Records
The Delaware Judicial Branch hosts a forms portal with every standard form used in state courts. Criminal forms cover motions, pleadings, and sentencing matters. Expungement has more than 25 forms for sealing a felony record. Form ADM_ADM_03_A is the Application for Access to Court Records, which you file if you want to see a file that is not open online.
The site below is the Delaware Courts forms page.
You can filter the list by court and by case type, which makes it quicker to find the right Delaware felony records form.
Delaware Court Locations for Felony Records
Felony cases in Delaware move through the Superior Court in the county where the case was filed. Each county has its own courthouse with a clerk's office that takes records requests.
The Delaware Judiciary locations page lists every court address and phone number.
The three county courthouses below handle all adult felony records in Delaware.
Key Delaware courthouses:
- Leonard L. Williams Justice Center, 500 N. King Street, Wilmington (New Castle County)
- Kent County Courthouse, 414 Federal Street, Dover
- Sussex County Courthouse, 1 The Circle, Georgetown
Each courthouse keeps public access terminals in the clerk's office. Appointments may be needed in New Castle County, where demand is higher. Staff cannot give legal advice, but they can point you to the right form or clerk.
Delaware Felony Records by County
Delaware has three counties, and each one handles its own felony court files. Pick a county below for local court info, clerk contacts, and tools for felony records in that area.
Delaware Felony Records in Major Cities
Each Delaware city has its own police records unit. Pick a city below for the local police department, records contact, and the county court that hears felony cases for that area.