Arrest Records in New Castle County
An arrest record begins at booking. The agency that made the arrest creates it. In New Castle County, the arresting agency is often a local police force, the Delaware State Police, or a campus or transit unit. The record holds the name, charge, date, booking number, and the agency. It does not prove guilt. It just shows that police took a person into custody on a stated charge. Mugshots and fingerprints belong to this file. So does the first set of personal data. The New Castle County Sheriff handles civil process, not a jail roster, so arrest data does not sit on a county sheriff page.
An arrest record is not the same as a criminal court record. It is also not a conviction record. After booking, the case moves to a court. JP Court takes the first look. From there, a misdemeanor may go to the Court of Common Pleas. A felony heads to the Superior Court. Juvenile matters route to Family Court. Each step builds the court file. For the full court file with motions, pleas, and rulings, see the New Castle County court records page. Conviction status shows up only after a plea or verdict.
How to Search New Castle County Arrest Records
Delaware does not publish one master arrest blotter for the county. The work is split. Custody status lives at the Delaware DOC inmate locator, which routes users to VINELink. Court charges live on CourtConnect. Police press blotters and news releases live with each agency. The smart path is to start with the court docket and then check custody. Most public users want to know two things. Is the person in custody? What charges did they face? Both questions take a few minutes once you know where to look.
- Open the Delaware CourtConnect search page and pick the name search or case-ID option.
- Enter the full last name and first name. Use a date of birth if known. The system covers Superior Court, Court of Common Pleas, JP Court, and Family Court dockets to the extent each is public.
- Open the case to see the charge list, court dates, and docket entries. Note the case number for any follow-up.
- For custody, open the DOC Locate an Inmate page and follow the link to VINELink. Pick Delaware. Register for alerts if needed.
State criminal history searches go through the Delaware State Bureau of Identification. That route is for a full statewide criminal history report, not a casual lookup. It requires fingerprints and a fee. Use it for employment, licensing, or expungement work. For a quick public-records check, the CourtConnect docket plus DOC custody status is enough. Statute 11 Del. C. § 8513 sets the rules on who can receive criminal history record information.
Arrest Records vs. Criminal Court Records
The two files exist for different reasons. An arrest record is a police product. It starts the moment officers book a person. Names, charges, booking photos, and fingerprints go in. A criminal court record is a clerk product. It starts when the prosecutor files charges in court. Pleadings, motions, hearing dates, orders, and the final disposition all sit in the court file. A person can be arrested and never charged. A person can also be charged later by summons without an arrest. So the two files do not always match. Each file is needed for a full picture.
| Arrest Record | Criminal Court Record | |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Sheriff / Police | Court Clerk |
| Created When | Booking | Charges filed |
| Contents | Booking info, charges, mugshot | Pleadings, motions, disposition |
Charges vs. Convictions
A charge is an accusation. A conviction is a final ruling. The two often get confused in news reports and casual talk. Being charged means the Delaware Department of Justice filed a formal document with the court. The state has not proven the case yet. A conviction means the case ended with a guilty plea, a guilty verdict, or a no-contest plea accepted by the court. Many charges never become convictions. They get dropped, dismissed, reduced, or beaten at trial. Treat arrest and charge data with care. Both stay in public records, but neither alone equals guilt.
| Charge | Conviction | |
|---|---|---|
| Stage | Accusation | Verdict or plea |
| Burden of Proof | Probable cause | Beyond reasonable doubt |
| Public Record | Yes, unless sealed | Yes, unless expunged |
| Where to Find | Police agency / news release | CourtConnect docket / court file |
Delaware criminal procedure adds one more wrinkle. Under 11 Del. C. § 8513, criminal history record information has its own dissemination rules. A casual CourtConnect docket is not a certified background check. A formal criminal history report from the State Bureau of Identification is. The two serve different needs.
Sealed vs. Expunged Records
Sealing and expungement both limit public access to a criminal record. They are not the same. Sealing keeps the record in place but blocks public view. Expungement goes further. In Delaware, expungement under 11 Del. C. §§ 4372-4374 removes the record from ordinary public disclosure and treats the case as if it never happened for most legal purposes. Two paths exist. Mandatory expungement covers some non-conviction outcomes and qualifying low-level offenses. Discretionary expungement asks a judge to weigh the case. Each path has filing rules, waiting periods, and proof needs.
| Sealed | Expunged | |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | Hidden from ordinary public access | Removed from ordinary public access; treated as never having occurred |
| Law Enforcement | May still view in many cases | Very limited, set by statute |
| Delaware Path | Court order, statute, or rule | 11 Del. C. §§ 4372-4374 (mandatory or discretionary) |
| Effect on Disclosure | Record exists; access limited | Most agencies must not disclose |
New Castle County Expungement Process
Expungement work in Delaware follows a set path. The petitioner needs the case number, charge details, and the disposition. A certified criminal history from the State Bureau of Identification is often required. The court or the SBI then reviews the request. Mandatory cases move faster. Discretionary cases get a judicial hearing. The state may oppose. The petitioner may need a lawyer or a self-help packet. The Delaware Office of Defense Services does not handle civil expungements, but legal aid groups do. Plan for time, paperwork, and proof of eligibility.
- Pull a certified criminal history record from the Delaware State Bureau of Identification.
- Confirm eligibility under 11 Del. C. § 4372 (mandatory) or § 4373 (discretionary).
- Complete the Delaware expungement petition forms and gather case-disposition proof.
- File with the court that handled the original case (JP, CCP, Family, or Superior).
- Pay the filing fee or request a fee waiver.
- Serve the Delaware Department of Justice for review and possible response.
- Attend a hearing if the court schedules one for discretionary review.
- If granted, get the order and submit it to the SBI and reporting agencies.
Note: Expungement does not erase private copies that news sites or data brokers may already hold, so follow-up requests to those sites are often needed.
Mugshots and Booking Photos
Booking photos belong to the agency that made the arrest. In New Castle County, that may be a local police force or the Delaware State Police. Mugshots are not always posted to a public web page. Some agencies publish them in press releases. Others release them only on request. The Delaware Department of Correction does not publish a public mugshot gallery for in-custody people. Custody pictures are kept inside DOC records and used for facility identification. A media outlet may have a copy of an older booking photo if the case was newsworthy. Even when public, a mugshot does not show guilt. Treat it as a snapshot of a single moment.
Statewide Criminal Records Search
Statewide criminal history work in Delaware runs through the Delaware State Bureau of Identification under the Delaware State Police. The SBI uses fingerprints to pull a full record. The request goes by mail or in person and carries a fee. Employers, licensing boards, and some legal cases need this full report. A CourtConnect docket pull or a VINELink custody check does not equal an SBI criminal history. For prosecution data and public news on cases, see the Delaware DOJ site. For court dockets across all four trial courts, use courts.delaware.gov and the linked search tools.
Background Check Considerations
A casual public records lookup is not a legal background check. The Fair Credit Reporting Act sets the rules for any background report used for jobs, housing, credit, or insurance. Only an FCRA-compliant consumer reporting agency can give that kind of report. Court dockets and DOC custody data are public, but using them for an employment screen creates legal risk. Delaware also has its own ban-the-box style rules for state hiring and licensing. Casual lookups are fine for personal use or research, but stop short of any FCRA-regulated purpose.
Important: This is not a consumer reporting agency under the FCRA, and the data here may not be used for employment, tenant, credit, or insurance screening.
Prosecutors and Defense in New Castle County
Delaware does not use a county district attorney. The Delaware Department of Justice handles prosecution statewide, led by the Attorney General. Criminal divisions in Wilmington serve New Castle County. Victim services, consumer protection, and civil work also sit inside the DOJ. On the defense side, indigent defense goes through the Delaware Office of Defense Services. ODS includes the Public Defender, conflict counsel, and related services. Eligibility runs on financial review and case type. Anyone facing criminal charges in JP Court, the Court of Common Pleas, the Superior Court, or Family Court should ask the court about ODS eligibility at the first hearing.
Restricted Criminal Records in New Castle County
Some criminal records do not appear in public search tools. Juvenile delinquency files in Family Court are restricted. Sealed cases and expunged cases drop out of the public docket. Investigative files held by police are not public during an active case. Grand jury records stay secret as a matter of law, though an indictment becomes public once filed. Victim addresses and witness identities get redacted in many filings. Adoption and child-welfare files have their own confidentiality rules. A blank or missing CourtConnect result does not always mean nothing exists. It often means the file is restricted by statute or court order.