Wilmington Arrest Records
Wilmington arrest records come from the Wilmington Police Department, which keeps its records unit at 400 N. Orange Street. Arrests in Wilmington also end up at the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on East 12th Street for booking and detention. Search Wilmington arrest records through the Wilmington FOIA request portal, the Delaware State Police newsroom, or the state's CourtConnect case lookup. This guide explains where to file, what it costs, and how to get a copy of your own report in Wilmington.
Wilmington Overview
Wilmington Police Department Records
The Wilmington Police Department sits at 400 N. Orange Street, Wilmington, DE 19801. Call (302) 576-3600 for non-emergency needs or (302) 576-3607 to reach the Records Unit. The Records Unit handles all requests for incident and crime reports and for collision reports. The Wilmington PD page is at wilmingtonde.gov/government/wilmington-police-department.
Crime victims can get a Wilmington arrest or incident report for free. Visit the Wilmington Police Department at 300 North Walnut Street in person. Bring a photo ID. The service is free for victims listed on the report.
Collision reports have a $20.00 fee. Parties to a crash, their lawyers, and their insurance carriers can request a copy. Send a written request, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a check or money order to: Wilmington Police Department, Attention: Records Unit, 300 North Walnut Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801. Vehicle releases are now handled by the Department of Finance.
The Wilmington PD also offers a secure video evidence portal at WilmingtonDE.gov/Footage. Residents can share private camera footage with investigators through a one-time Axon Evidence.com link. Each upload is reviewed by the Technical Resource Unit. Filing a video does not replace a police report.
Note: Under 29 Del. C. § 10002(l)(4), a person may obtain their own Wilmington arrest record upon proof of identity, even where third-party access is limited.
Wilmington FOIA Public Records Portal
The City of Wilmington runs an online FOIA Request Portal through GovQA. Submit requests for Wilmington police reports, incident reports, or other public records at wilmingtonde.gov/how-do-i/request-public-records. The portal runs under the Delaware Freedom of Information Act, 29 Del. C. ch. 100.
Response times follow the state FOIA rule of 15 business days. Fees may apply for copies. Anonymous requests may not be filled, and proof of identity may be needed. The portal tracks the status of each filing. The ACLU of Delaware has filed past suits over WPD's response to FOIA requests.
The Delaware State Police newsroom also posts fresh Wilmington arrests. View press releases at dsp.delaware.gov/newsroom/?s=Wilmington. Each story lists the suspect name, charges, bail, and the detective's contact info.
Howard R. Young Correctional Institution
The Howard R. Young Correctional Institution sits at 1301 East 12th Street, Wilmington, DE 19802. Call (302) 429-7700. The site is the main booking and detention desk for New Castle County, including all Wilmington arrests. Adult male inmates are held here, and bookings for the northern Delaware region flow through the building.
Inmate lookups run through the Department of Correction inmate locator. You can search by name or offender ID. The DOC also runs VINELink for victim alerts on custody status. Facility details are at doc.delaware.gov/facilities/hry.shtml.
Visitation needs advance booking through the facility. Bond and bail info is handled through the Leonard L. Williams Justice Center in downtown Wilmington. Medical, mental health, and programming services are given to all inmates.
Wilmington Court Records
Wilmington court records sit at the Leonard L. Williams Justice Center, 500 N. King Street, Wilmington, DE 19801. The building holds the Superior Court, Court of Common Pleas, Family Court, and the Justice of the Peace Courts for New Castle County. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Public access terminals are open by appointment only. Call (302) 255-0740 or email to book a slot. Superior Court handles felony cases and civil matters over $50,000. The Court of Common Pleas covers civil cases from $15,000 to $50,000 plus landlord-tenant files. Criminal court records must be read at the courthouse, not online.
Delaware CourtConnect at courtconnect.courts.delaware.gov lets you search Wilmington civil cases from any web browser. Trellis Law also indexes New Castle County dockets at trellis.law/coverage/delaware/newcastle.
The Delaware Court of Chancery, famous for corporate litigation, also sits in Wilmington. It handles complex business disputes and runs under its own rules.
Wilmington Background Checks and Criminal History
For a full Wilmington criminal history, use the State Bureau of Identification. SBI runs the state's only master print and arrest file. The fee is $72 for a Delaware-only report or $85 for a combined state and federal record. SBI has print sites in Wilmington and Newark for area residents.
Prints run through IdentoGO at uenroll.identogo.com. You need a service code from the hiring agency. Photo ID is required, and juveniles must come with a parent. Per the SBI page, the fee for the Driving Privilege Card check is $72.
To check for active warrants on someone arrested in Wilmington, use the DELJIS Online Wanted Person Review at deljis.delaware.gov. You enter a first and last name for free. Sex offender data lives at sexoffender.dsp.delaware.gov, free and open to the public.
How to Request a Wilmington Arrest Record
When filing a records request with Wilmington PD or any Delaware agency, include:
- 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 agency must reply within 15 business days. Fees for copies and staff time may apply. For a Victim's Copy of a crime report, come in person with photo ID. For insurance requests, send a $25.00 written request with details of the claim.
Delaware's Clean Slate law from 2021 wipes many Wilmington arrest records for people who stay crime-free. Read about the law at aclu-de.org/en/csde. Under 11 Del. Code § 4372, you need not disclose an expunged arrest on job or school forms.
Tip: For a traffic ticket paid to the Wilmington PD, call the Voluntary Assessment Center at (302) 739-6911 before a court date is set.
Nearby Cities in New Castle County
Wilmington sits in New Castle County along with Newark, New Castle, Middletown, and Delaware City. Each has its own police force. Pick one below for records tips in that area.
For countywide info, visit the New Castle County page.