What are Wilmington Public Records?
According to the Wilmington Freedom of Information Act, Wilmington public record is any type of information owned, created, used, received, composed, compiled, or filed by a public body in relation to the public interest or public business. Public records may exist as physical or digital materials, such as books, memoranda, notes, drafts, symbols, architecture plans, audio files, emails, videotapes, photographs, and SMS. Nevertheless, not all public documents are accessible to the public. Public agencies in Wilmington may redact portions or whole documents under these categories:
- Medical or personnel files, the disclosure of which would lead to an invasion of personal privacy;
- Adoption or child custody files which are compiled for civil or criminal law enforcement purposes;
- Investigatory files, such as pretrial or presentence files collated for civil or criminal law enforcement purposes;
- Confidential financial or commercial information obtained from business owners or top business officials;
- Criminal records and files, the disclosure of which would constitute an invasion of privacy;
- Public documents specifically exempt from disclosure by common law or statutes;
- Documents on collective bargaining or labor negotiations;
- Documents on pending litigations or files which are not part of court records;
- Documents providing the name and contact details of persons with a permit to carry a concealed deadly weapon. However, these records are open to law enforcement agencies;
- Public library records detailing the names of users and the library books or materials which a user has used;
- Investigative files collated by the Victims’ Compensation Assistance Program;
- Postmortem examination documents, such as audio recordings and photographs in the custody of the Division of Forensic Science;
- Emails exchanged between the Members of the Delaware General Assembly and their employees;
- Furthermore, documents in the custody of the Department of Corrections are exempt from inmates currently incarcerated in the state's correctional facilities.
Public city records may also be accessible from third-party websites. Record seekers may use these non-governmental platforms to search for a specific record or multiple city records. However, users will need to provide enough information to assist with the search, such as:
- The address of the requestor;
- A case number or file number (if known);
- The location of the document or person involved;
- The name of the subject involved in the record (not juvenile);
- The last known or current address of the registrant.
Government agencies do not sponsor third-party sites. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
Wilmington Crime Statistics
The Wilmington City Police Department is the custodian of arrest records and crime reports. Furthermore, it creates annual crime statistics for all of the documented index crimes in the city. Record seekers can find Wilmington crime statistics on the FBI Uniform Crime Report. Per the FBI UCR, Wilmington City recorded 4,208 index crimes in 2019.
The overall figure consists of 1,058 violent crimes and 3,150 property crimes. Furthermore, the listed index crimes in the report include 24 murders, 19 rapes, 326 robberies, 689 aggravated assaults, 569 burglaries, 2,121 larceny thefts, 460 motor vehicle thefts and two arson cases. In contrast, the City reported 4,829 index crimes in 2016. Therefore, index crime rates fell by 13 percent within three years (2016 to 2019).
Are Wilmington Criminal Records Public?
Obtaining a Wilmington criminal record will depend on the type of information stored in the record. Although most residents can obtain non-confidential police reports and arrest records, Delaware state law restricts access to criminal records that contain information that may violate the personal privacy of individuals or entities. For example, public bodies redact portions of criminal documents containing the names and addresses of crime victims, complainants, and witnesses. Furthermore, juvenile criminal documents are not publicly-accessible and are released to only the record subject and other authorized persons.
The Delaware Court of Common Pleas is the record custodian of all Wilmington criminal documents. Record seekers may choose to search for criminal records in-person at:
Leonard L. Williams Justice Center (formerly New Castle County Courthouse)
500 North King Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
Phone: (302) 255-0900
Alternatively, record seekers may obtain Wilmington criminal records online via the State of Delaware Courts Judicial Database. Record seekers may opt to obtain the records using one of these search options:
- Search by case type, individual or business name;
- Search by judgment against individuals or businesses;
- Search by docket report.
How to Obtain Wilmington Police Reports and Arrest Records
Record seekers can obtain Wilmington police reports and arrest records by contacting the Wilmington Police Department. As the custodian of police reports and arrest records, the Wilmington Police Department maintains records of arrests, incidents, and accidents documented by law enforcement personnel. Furthermore, it provides access to Wilmington police reports and arrest records via online or offline means.
Victims of crimes and record subjects can obtain Wilmington incident or crime reports can visit the Police Department at:
300 North Walnut Street
Phone: (302) 576-3607
On the other hand, Wilmington collision reports are accessible via mail requests to the Wilmington Police Department. Interested persons may send mail a written request along with a $20 check or money order payable to the Wilmington Police Department in a self-addressed envelope to:
Wilmington Police Department
Attention: Records Unit
300 North Walnut Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19801
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Wilmington City
Record seekers can find Wilmington sex offenders' information via the Delaware Sex Offenders Registry. To obtain sex offender data, record seekers may select one of the search criteria:
- Offender search;
- Neighborhood search;
- Search for all homeless offenders.
The neighborhood search criteria enable record seekers to find sex offenders on a map interface. In contrast, record seekers using the "offender search" option must fill out details such as the offender's full name, street prefix and number, and county.
How to Find Wilmington Inmate Records
The Delaware Department of Corrections maintains an online database of all current and paroled inmates in Wilmington City. Thus, interested persons can find Wilmington inmate records via the online database.
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Wilmington City Jail
Professional and non-professional visitors may visit inmates at:
The Howard R. Young Correctional Facility
1301 East 12th Street
Wilmington, DE 19802
Phone: (302) 429-7700
The Howard R. Young Correctional Facility is open to visitors all week at:
8:30 a.m, 9:30 a.m, 10:30 a.m, 11:30 a.m, 12:30 p.m, 1:30 p.m, and 2:30 p.m.
Visitors must schedule visits at least one week in advance by visiting the scheduling desk from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. In addition, visitors can schedule a visitation by calling (302) 575-0330. Most importantly, visitors must provide the date of birth or SIB number of the inmate when scheduling a visit.
Furthermore, the Correctional Facility allows a maximum of two adults and two children per visit. An adult must always accompany children below 18 years old.
What are Wilmington Vital Records?
Vital records in Wilmington comprise all life events documented or recorded by designated public agencies. Birth, death, marriage, and divorce events are classified as vital records in Wilmington City. Therefore, persons or entities interested in obtaining vital records must send an online or offline request to the record custodian. In some cases, record seekers may include a valid photo ID to access certified copies of Wilmington vital records. The New Castle County Family Court is the custodian of Wilmington divorce records. Conversely, the New Castle County Clerk of the Peace maintains all marriage records. Meanwhile, Wilmington birth and death records are obtainable via the Delaware Office of Vital Statistics.
Where and How to Obtain Wilmington Divorce Records
The New Castle Family Court has jurisdiction over all Wilmington divorce records. Furthermore, it issues copies of divorce records from 1978 to the present. Divorce records created before 1978 are publicly accessible at:
New Castle County
Prothonotary
Superior Court
500 North King Street
Wilmington, DE 19801.
Record seekers may obtain copies of Wilmington divorce records from the Family Court by mail or in-person request. To receive copies of divorce certificates in person, record seekers must present a valid photo ID to the Records Department at:
Records Department
Family Court
500 North King Street
Suite 110
Wilmington, DE 19801
Phone: (302) 255-2222
In addition, record seekers must provide the Clerk with their name and birth date to obtain divorce records. It costs $4 to obtain a certified copy of Wilmington divorce documents, while additional copies cost $1.
To use the mail request option, record seekers must send a written request detailing the specifics of the divorce documents along with a money order or check for the required fee to:
Records Department
Family Court
500 North King Street
Suite 110
Wilmington, DE 19801.
Where and How to Get Wilmington Marriage Records
City residents and non-residents can get Wilmington marriage records through the New Castle Clerk of the Peace. As the custodian of marriage records in the County, the Clerk of the Peace allows access to the files in-person or via mail orders. For instance, requesters ordering marriage certificates in-person must provide a valid government-issued ID to:
Clerk of the Peace
800 North French Street
Second Floor
Wilmington, DE 19801
Phone: (302) 395-7780
If ordering for a marriage record via mail, requesters must send a written request and a certified check or money order payable to the Clerk of Peace in a self-addressed envelope to:
Clerk of the Peace
800 North French Street
Second Floor
Wilmington, DE 19801
The mail request must include:
- Names of both record bearers;
- A $25 check or money order bearing the name of one of the record subjects;
- Date of marriage event;
- Type of marriage license;
- Applicant's signature.
Where and How to Find Wilmington Birth Records
The Delaware Office of Vital Statistics is the statewide custodian of all birth records generated in the state. Record seekers may get certified copies of Wilmington birth certificates from the Vital Statistics Office via mail or in person. To order Wilmington birth records through mail, record seekers must send:
- A completed request form detailing the record subject's name. birthplace, and time of the birth event;
- A check or money order payable to the Office of Vital Statistics
- Photocopy of a government-issued photo ID;
Send the request in a self-addressed envelope to:
Office of Vital Statistics
Jesse S. Cooper Building
Dover, DE 19901
Phone: (302) 744-4549
For in-person requests, requesters must present a completed request form at any of these locations:
Belvedere State Service Center
310 Kiamensi Road
Wilmington, DE 19804
Phone: (302) 892-5972 (DSSC)
Northeast State Service Center
1624 Jessup Street
Wilmington, DE 19802
Phone: (302) 552-3500 (DSSC)
Westend Neighborhood House
710 North Lincoln Street
Wilmington, DE 19805
Phone: (302) 888-5480 (DPH)
Winder Laird Porter State Service Center
509 West 8th Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
Phone: (302) 777-2800 (DSSC)
Phone: (302) 777-2830 (DSS)
Phone: (302) 777-2860 (DPH)
Where and How to Get Wilmington Death Records
Record seekers can get Wilmington death certificates by sending a mail or in-person request to the State Office of Vital Statistics. To receive copies of Wilmington death certificates in-person, record seekers must visit any of these locations:
Belvedere State Service Center
310 Kiamensi Road
Wilmington, DE 19804
Phone: (302) 892-5972 (DSSC)
Northeast State Service Center
1624 Jessup Street
Wilmington, DE 19802
Phone: (302) 552-3500 (DSSC)
Westend Neighborhood House
710 North Lincoln Street
Wilmington, DE 19805
Phone: (302) 888-5480 (DPH)
Winder Laird Porter State Service Center
509 West 8th Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
Phone: (302) 777-2800 (DSSC)
Phone: (302) 777-2830 (DSS)
Phone: (302) 777-2860 (DPH)
Record seekers must present a completed death certificate application form and a valid photo ID to the Vital Statistics Office within business hours.
To order Wilmington death records through mail, record seekers must send:
- A completed request form detailing the deceased's name and other specifics of the preferred document;
- A check or money order payable to the Office of Vital Statistics
- Photocopy of a government-issued photo ID;
Send the required documents in a self-addressed envelope to:
Office of Vital Statistics
Jesse S. Cooper Building
Dover, DE 19901
Phone: (302) 744-4549
