Search New Castle County Released Inmates
New Castle County released inmates records track inmates who move out of state custody and prison after a stint at one of the county correctional facilities or work release units. Most New Castle County inmates pass through the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in Wilmington, the main booking and detention site for inmates in the county. This page shows you how to look up a released inmate, pull inmate arrest records, reach local police, check inmate parole status, and file a public records request on an inmate. You can run an inmate name search for any released offender online in just a few clicks.
New Castle County Released Inmates Overview
New Castle County Released Inmates Facilities
Three main state prison units serve the county. Each one plays a role in the path an inmate takes from arrest to release. The largest is the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution at 1301 East 12th Street in Wilmington. It was once called Gander Hill Prison. The site holds close to 1,500 male inmates across low, medium, and high security tiers. Most pre-trial inmate detention runs through this prison, and staff there handle the bulk of inmate intake and custody prep for the county. Call the facility at (302) 429-7700 for inmate info. Programs inside the prison include school classes, drug treatment, trade skills, and reentry prep for inmates near release.
Baylor Women's Correctional Institution sits at 660 Baylor Boulevard in New Castle. It is the only all-female state prison in Delaware. Every female inmate in the state, including each female inmate from the county, moves through this facility. The prison holds both pre-trial inmates and sentenced inmates. Baylor can be reached at (302) 577-3004. Release plans for each female inmate run through Baylor staff before she steps out of custody. The unit also runs work release and reentry tracks for inmates near the end of their term.
The Plummer Community Corrections Center is at 38 Todds Lane in Wilmington. Plummer is a minimum-security site for inmates close to release. Work release and halfway house beds for released inmates mostly sit here. Call the center at (302) 577-3443. Juvenile inmates in the county go to the New Castle County Detention Center at 963 Centre Road in Wilmington, run by the Division of Youth Rehabilitative Services at (302) 633-2520.
For the full state guide to New Castle County inmate records and facility contacts, see the Delaware DOC Central Offender Records Unit page.
The state office handles each New Castle County inmate file, tracks sentence math, and processes inmate release paperwork from every county correctional facility.
How to Search New Castle County Released Inmates
There are a few fast ways to look up a county inmate online. Most users start with the state DOC Inmate Locator. It is free and open all day. You can run an inmate name search, pull current custody status, and check projected release dates for each inmate. The tool feeds from the VINELink data engine and refreshes every 30 minutes. Both male and female inmates held at Howard R. Young, Baylor, or Plummer show up in the results.
Start your released inmates search at the Delaware DOC Inmate Locator. Type the inmate first and last name. If you know the SBI number, the inmate match is faster. For inmates at Howard R. Young, results show the facility, custody tier, and release date if set. Under Title 11, Chapter 65, § 6541, the DOC must publish the names of inmates placed on work release, furlough, or supervised custody in each of the three Delaware counties. That same rule covers inmates from this county.
VINELink is the next inmate tool. The VINELink national network lets you set up inmate alerts for any prisoner in custody. Pick event types like release, transfer, parole, or escape. VINE pings you by phone, email, or text when the inmate status shifts. The inmate alert service is free. For court case info tied to a released inmate, use CourtConnect to pull inmate docket records across the Superior Court, Court of Common Pleas, and Family Court.
The full Delaware court system is online through the Delaware Courts main site.
The site links out to each court level and to inmate docket tools that cover released inmates, prisoners, and parole cases.
New Castle County Released Inmates Arrest Records
Arrest records in the county live with the agency that made the arrest. If the New Castle County Police or a city police unit made the arrest, that unit holds the inmate file. To get a copy, send a formal request to the arresting agency. You need the full name of the inmate, date of birth, date of arrest, case number if known, and the name of the agency that booked the inmate. The New Castle County Sheriff's Office at (302) 395-8450 can help point you to the right office.
You can also pull inmate arrest data through Delaware State Police or DELJIS. SBI at the Delaware State Police tracks every adult inmate arrest in the state. Under Title 11, Chapter 85, § 8510, the DOC has 48 hours after release to send inmate prints, photos, and names on each released inmate to SBI. That 48-hour rule means SBI files on each released inmate stay current. Certified inmate record copies run $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 each extra page.
For a deeper view on arrest records tied to released inmates, see the Delaware Criminal Justice Council FOIA page for the county.
The page walks you through the FOIA request steps for arrest records on any released inmate and lists each state agency that holds inmate copies.
Local Police Departments in New Castle County
Most inmate arrests in New Castle County start with a local city or town police unit. Each unit files the arrest report, books the suspect, and sends the inmate to Howard R. Young for custody. Some rural parts of New Castle County fall under New Castle County Police at 3601 N. DuPont Hwy., New Castle, DE 19720, phone 302.395.8171. The agency patrols the unincorporated parts of New Castle County and books each inmate into state custody.
Here are the main local police units that send inmates to detention:
- Wilmington Police Department, 300 North Walnut St., Wilmington, DE 19801, 302.576.3940
- Newark Police Department, 220 S. Main St., Newark, DE 19711, 302.366.7100
- Newport Police Department, 226 N. James St., Newport, DE 19804, 302.955.1411
- Middletown Police Department, 130 Hampden Rd., Middletown, DE 19709, 302.376.9950
- Delaware City Police Department, 407 Clinton St., Delaware City, DE 19706, 302.836.6344
- City of New Castle Police Department, 1 Municipal Blvd., New Castle, DE 19720, 302.322.9800
- Townsend Police Department, 661 South St., Townsend, DE 19734, 302.378.8082
Each police unit keeps its own set of inmate arrest records. Wilmington handles the biggest share of New Castle County inmate booking work since it is the county seat. The Delaware State Police SBI services page ties all of the local inmate data into the state criminal history system. The SBI is the one place that pulls every New Castle County inmate arrest into a single record.
New Castle County Courthouse and Court Records
The New Castle County Courthouse sits at 500 N. King Street in Wilmington. It houses the main courts that handle inmate cases and release orders. The Superior Court hears all felony criminal cases and civil cases over $50,000. Call Superior Court at (302) 255-0090. Most serious cases tied to a released inmate move through this court. The Court of Common Pleas handles civil cases from $15,000 to $50,000, plus landlord-tenant and traffic matters. Call Common Pleas at (302) 255-0800.
Family Court at the same building handles juvenile cases, child support, custody, and family matters tied to an inmate. Reach Family Court at (302) 255-0300. Family Court does not use eFiling, so you need to file in person. The Justice of the Peace Court covers small claims up to $15,000 and misdemeanor matters. Together these courts feed the bulk of inmate sentencing data and release orders into the state DOC system.
You can pull inmate case records online through the CourtConnect public portal. Type the inmate name or case number. The portal covers all court levels across the county. Older inmate files may not be in the system and need an in-person visit to the courthouse. For civil side data tied to a released inmate, the Superior Court docket search is a good next step.
Released Inmates Visitation at Howard R. Young
Visits to an inmate at Howard R. Young need a schedule ahead of time. Staff take visit bookings at (302) 575-0330. The scheduling desk is open 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Set up a visit at least one week in advance. You must give the inmate date of birth or SBI number. Under Title 11, Chapter 65, § 6537, the DOC sets the rules on inmate contacts with people outside the prison. The rules at Howard R. Young follow this statute.
Visit times for inmates at Howard R. Young are:
- 8:30 a.m.
- 9:30 a.m.
- 10:30 a.m.
- 11:30 a.m.
- 12:30 p.m.
- 1:30 p.m.
- 2:30 p.m.
A max of two adults and two children can visit per slot. Children under 18 must come with an adult. Photo ID is a must. The inmate must also be on a cleared visit list. For help with victim services tied to a released inmate, see the Victim Services FAQ. The unit sends a written inmate release notice 30 days before the release date of each inmate who has a victim on file.
New Castle County Released Inmates on Probation and Parole
Most released inmates do not walk free the day they leave prison. They step down to probation or parole for some length of time. The Bureau of Community Corrections runs these probation and parole offices. The county has two main probation and parole sites. The main New Castle County P&P office is at (302) 323-6050. The Wilmington P&P office is at (302) 577-3443. Each office tracks inmate movement, sets check-in dates, and reports back to the court on each inmate.
The Plummer Community Corrections Center works hand in hand with the P&P parole offices. Plummer houses inmates on work release. An inmate on work release goes to a job each day and comes back to Plummer at night. The Delaware Department of Correction oversees all inmate custody and release work. Under § 6540 of Title 11, Chapter 65, an inmate with no cash at release can get clothes and a ride to a point inside the state. This release rule helps released inmates land on their feet on day one of inmate release.
Public Records Access in New Castle County
Public records on inmates in the county run through the Delaware FOIA statutes. The law sits in Title 29, Chapter 100 of the Delaware Code. A public body has 15 business days to respond to a FOIA request. The first 20 pages of black and white copies are free. Each page after that costs $0.10. Records held by DOC on an inmate are not open to the person held in custody. Pure criminal files and active inmate investigation files also stay off limits.
For the full text of the public records law that governs released inmates requests, see the Delaware FOIA statutes in Title 29, Chapter 100.
The statute sets out the rules each county office must follow on inmate records, case files, and past case documents. Records maintained on each inmate sit under Title 11, Chapter 86 (records) and Chapter 65 (DOC structure). Access to those inmate records follows Delaware FOIA rules.
For crime victim help tied to a released inmate, the Victims' Compensation Assistance Program can cover medical bills, lost wages, mental health care, and other costs. Call VCAP at 1-800-870-1790.
Cities in New Castle County
The county covers Wilmington, Newark, Middletown, Delaware City, and the City of New Castle, plus many small towns. Each city plays a role in how an inmate is booked, held, and later released. Wilmington is the county seat and the biggest city. Most inmates in the county pass through Wilmington at some stage of detention or release.