New Castle County Busted Mugshots
New Castle County busted mugshots come from the county police, the city departments inside New Castle County, and the state police. To search New Castle County busted mugshots, you can pull arrest data from the New Castle County police records unit, the New Castle County DOC inmate locator, or the DELJIS warrant tool. The Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in Wilmington holds most New Castle County mugshot records for people in custody. Each city in New Castle County also runs its own arrest log. Use the New Castle County links and offices below to find the right place for your New Castle County mugshot lookup.
New Castle County Overview
New Castle County Police and Mugshots
The New Castle County Police Department is the lead law enforcement agency for unincorporated parts of the county. The department books arrests, holds incident reports, and posts records under Delaware FOIA. Headquarters sits at 3601 North DuPont Highway in New Castle. The main line is (302) 573-2800. To see the full department, head to the New Castle County Police home page.
The New Castle County police work alongside the city departments in Wilmington, Newark, Middletown, Delaware City, and the City of New Castle. The New Castle County Records Unit handles FOIA requests for arrest reports and accident reports. Fees apply for certified copies.
The Records Unit takes calls between 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. at (302) 395-8070. Major case and fatal accident reports cost $60 each. All other arrest and incident reports cost $20 each. Photo fees run $18 for an 8x10 print. Video and audio copies cost $50 per disc. Browse the full fee schedule on the New Castle County Police Records page.
The Records Unit also handles requests for body-worn camera footage and dash camera files. Computer-generated stat reports cost $25 each. Pay by check or money order made out to New Castle County.
Note: Picture ID is required for in-person record requests at the New Castle County Police Department in New Castle.
New Castle County Sheriff's Office
The New Castle County Sheriff's Office handles court security, civil process service, prisoner transport, and warrant execution. The office is at 87 Reads Way in New Castle. Call (302) 395-8450 for service questions. While the sheriff does not run patrol, they keep records tied to warrant service and can point you to the right agency for a mugshot. Visit the New Castle County Sheriff page for hours and contacts.
The New Castle County sheriff also operates under the Delaware Freedom of Information Act, codified at 29 Del. C. § 10001. Wanted person info from the office can show up on the public DELJIS portal too.
The New Castle County Courthouse, also known as the Leonard L. Williams Justice Center, sits at 500 N. King Street in Wilmington. The main court line is (302) 255-0800. The Court of Common Pleas runs out of the same building at (302) 255-0900. Both courts hear cases tied to New Castle County arrests.
New Castle County Criminal Records
New Castle County criminal records cover arrest reports, court files, conviction history, and time served. The records are kept under Title 11, Chapter 85 of the Delaware Code. The county jail, Howard R. Young Correctional Institution, processes booking photos and intake info. Look up New Castle County case data on Delaware CourtConnect.
County criminal records sit with several agencies. The county police hold patrol-level data. The Superior Court holds felony case files. The Court of Common Pleas holds misdemeanor case files. DELJIS, located at 820 N. French Street in Wilmington, holds the central state index for warrants and criminal history.
Felony case files for capital crimes are kept forever. Class A and B felony files are kept 25 years after a case closes. Class C through G felony files are kept 15 years. Misdemeanor files are kept 7 to 10 years. The Delaware Public Archives sets the retention rules under Title 29, Chapter 5 of the Code.
- Arrest reports - apprehension and booking data
- Court records - charges, pleas, and trials
- Conviction records - final judgments
- Inmate records - time served and release
- Mugshots - booking photos when on file
New Castle County Arrest Record Lookup
Arrest records in New Castle County are public under Delaware FOIA, but some files stay closed. Active investigations, juvenile records, expunged records, and sealed court files are off limits. Standard arrest records list the person's name, date of birth, physical description, address, mugshot, fingerprints, time and place of the arrest, charges, bond info, and current custody status. File a request through the Delaware FOIA portal to get a full New Castle County arrest file.
To pull an arrest record, you can file a written FOIA request with the arresting agency, contact the New Castle County Sheriff, or ask the State Bureau of Identification at 1441 N. DuPont Highway in Dover, (302) 739-5901. The DELJIS Wanted Persons site lets you check active warrants from a phone or laptop.
Online tools for New Castle County mugshots and arrests include Delaware CourtConnect for case info, the DELJIS warrant search, and the Department of Correction inmate locator. Free in-person terminals also sit at the New Castle County courthouse and at most public libraries in the county.
Cold Case Unit and Crime Tips
The New Castle County Police runs a Cold Case Unit inside the Criminal Investigations Unit. The unit takes tips on unsolved homicides going back decades. Call (302) 395-8110 or email Coldcase@Newcastlede.gov to share what you know. Delaware Crime Stoppers pays anonymous tips up to $5,000 for info that leads to an arrest. Call 1-800-TIP-3333 or use the P3 Tips app. The State Police also publish ongoing case news at the DSP arrest archive.
The New Castle County Victim Services Unit takes calls at (302) 395-8000. They help victims get court accompaniment, crisis aid, and referrals. Recent cold case work in New Castle County includes the 1996 Theresa Johnson homicide at Lafayette Apartments in New Castle. The unit uses modern forensic methods and works with the FBI on older New Castle County cases.
Active investigations stay closed under FOIA exemptions. Some New Castle County mugshot files may be held back if they could affect a pending case.
New Castle County Jail and Booking
Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in Wilmington serves as the main lockup for New Castle County. Most New Castle County arrests pass through Howard R. Young for booking, fingerprints, and the mugshot. The Department of Correction inmate locator pulls custody data from this New Castle County jail and shows charges, bond, and housing. Look up a New Castle County booking on the DOC inmate search.
The Baylor Women's Correctional Institution also sits inside New Castle County. Female arrests in the county may be routed there after intake. Both Howard R. Young and Baylor are part of the same statewide DOC network used by the New Castle County booking process.
Cities in New Castle County
New Castle County holds five major Delaware cities, each with its own police department. Pick a city to find local arrest record offices and mugshot resources for that area.
Other Delaware Counties
The other two Delaware counties share the same state court and corrections systems. If your case may sit in one of them, check the local sheriff and court contacts.