Lewes Arrest Records
Lewes arrest records are kept by the Lewes Police Department and backed up by Delaware State Police Troop 7, which covers the coastal Sussex County area. Lewes is the "First Town in the First State," and its police force handles both year-round residents and summer beach visitors. Search Lewes arrest records through Lewes PD, the DSP Troop 7 news page, or the Sussex County Courthouse. This page walks through each source of Lewes arrest data and what a records request in the city will look like.
Lewes Overview
Lewes Police Department Records
The Lewes Police Department serves the City of Lewes and the nearby beach areas. The department keeps records of arrests, incident reports, and accident reports. These records are open under the Delaware Freedom of Information Act, 29 Del. C. ch. 100. Learn more at ci.lewes.de.us/police-department.
Lewes PD works with Delaware State Police on regional cases. Recent Lewes arrests have covered assault, weapons charges, and disorderly conduct matters. The summer season brings in extra officers for beach patrol and public events.
For a records request, call the department or visit the headquarters. Emergencies go to 911. Lewes PD joins multi-jurisdictional task forces on drug and theft cases that cross city limits.
Note: Under 29 Del. C. § 10002(l)(4), a person may obtain their own Lewes arrest record on proof of identity, even where third-party access is blocked.
Lewes Public Records Access
Lewes sits in Sussex County and falls under the Sussex County Superior Court. The Sussex County Courthouse is at 1 The Circle, Georgetown, DE 19947. Court records are reached through online case lookup portals or in-person requests.
For Lewes arrest records, Lewes Police keep the city-level files. Vital records go to the Sussex County Clerk of the Peace. Property records are kept by the Sussex County Assessor. The Delaware State Police hold the state criminal repository, and the State Bureau of Identification issues certified criminal history reports.
Business licenses are managed by the City of Lewes. Emergency services are coordinated with Sussex County and state agencies. Public records requests fall under Delaware FOIA, Title 29, Chapter 100 at delcode.delaware.gov/title29/c100. Under § 10003, Lewes agencies must reply to a records request within 15 business days.
Lewes has been the "First Town in the First State" since colonial times. The town served as the county seat of Sussex County for much of its early history, and the Delaware Public Archives keeps historical court and ordinance records for Sussex County.
Delaware State Police Troop 7 in Lewes
Delaware State Police Troop 7 serves Lewes and the coastal Delaware area. Troopers respond to residential communities and businesses in Lewes. Recent arrests tied to Lewes have covered burglary, assault on law enforcement, and weapons charges.
DSP press releases on Lewes arrests go to dsp.delaware.gov/newsroom/?s=Lewes. Each post lists suspect names, charges, and the investigating trooper's contact info. Victim Services runs 24/7 at 1-800-VICTIM-1. Tips go to Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333.
Troopers also investigate crashes in the Lewes area on state highways and Route 1. The DSP Traffic Unit at dsp.delaware.gov/traffic-unit handles crash report copies. Standard reports cost $25 and fatal reports cost $60. Mail the request with a collision info exchange form to DSP in Dover.
Sussex County Courts for Lewes Cases
Lewes cases end up at the Sussex County Courthouse in Georgetown. The building holds Superior Court, Court of Common Pleas, Family Court, and the Justice of the Peace Courts. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The Rehoboth Beach Alderman's Court handles some low-level Lewes-area cases.
Delaware CourtConnect at courtconnect.courts.delaware.gov lets you search civil cases and some criminal filings. Full Lewes criminal case files must be read at the Georgetown courthouse. Copy fees run $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 after.
For a warrant check, use the DELJIS Online Wanted Person Review at deljis.delaware.gov. Inmate status runs through the DOC inmate locator. The Sussex Correctional Institution in Georgetown is the main detention site for Lewes arrests.
Sex offender data lives at sexoffender.dsp.delaware.gov, searchable by name or zip code. Free email alerts are offered for new names added.
How to Request Lewes Arrest Records
To file a records request in Lewes, send the following info:
- Full name of the person arrested
- Date of birth or age
- Date of arrest, or a close guess
- Case number, if known
- Arresting agency, if known
Under § 10003, the reply must come within 15 business days. Fees may apply for copies. For a certified criminal history, SBI charges $72 state-only and $85 state plus federal. The Georgetown SBI print site handles Lewes residents. Prints run through uenroll.identogo.com. Delaware's Clean Slate law at aclu-de.org/en/csde wipes many Lewes arrests for people who stay crime-free.
Tip: Summer brings far more arrest activity to the Lewes beach area. Expect longer waits on records requests from July through Labor Day.
Nearby Cities in Sussex County
Lewes sits on the Delaware coast in Sussex County. Milford and Seaford are nearby Sussex County cities with their own records units.
See the Sussex County page for more on the courthouse and sheriff.