How to Send Money to an Inmate in a Prison or Jail
Table of Contents
What is Delaware Inmate Search?
A Delaware Inmate Search involves looking up public information about anyone serving time at a correctional facility within the state's jurisdiction.
Delaware's Department of Corrections (DOC) manages inmate information and offers an Inmate Locator Service that provides access to details about incarcerated offenders in the state. With the Inmate Locator, users can check the custody status of inmates or find other relevant information, such as offense details and booking/release dates. The DOC collects and updates inmate information on its database through the Central Offender Records Unit.
Are Inmate Search Records Open to the Public in Delaware?
Delaware jail records are considered open records, and interested persons may access most inmate information maintained by the Department of Corrections. However, the state's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) restricts public access to certain inmate records that contain sensitive or private information.
Typically, custodians of Delaware inmate records may not disclose the following information to the public:
- Medical and mental health reports
- Juvenile records
- Expunged or sealed information
- Victims' personal information
How To Perform Delaware Inmate Lookup
Interested individuals may use the Inmate Locator Service provided by the Department of Corrections to search inmates held at Delaware jails or prisons. Typically, users can start a search by choosing any available search criteria and entering the corresponding details of the offender.
The portal will display a list of jail records matching the search details. Users can click any record in the search results to view more information about the inmate, including full name, ethnicity, state ID number, custody status, and facility location. Some Delaware jail records may include mugshots and criminal histories of inmates.
How To Search for an Inmate in Delaware
The Delaware Department of Corrections provides public access to inmate information through the Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) online portal. To search for inmates, interested persons may follow these steps:
- Visit the VINELink online portal
- Select Delaware as the location from the dropdown box
- Choose any of the following search criteria:
- Name - Enter the full name or partial name of the inmate
- ID Number - Input the offender's full or partial ID number (at least the first four characters)
- Case Number - Enter the exact case number or at least the first four characters
- Click the search button to view matching inmate records
Users may be required to create an account or sign in to access specific information about inmates, such as full date of birth and ID number. By setting up an account, users can also register to receive notifications about changes to inmates' court or jail records by email, text messages, or phone calls.
How To Conduct a Free Inmate Search in Delaware
Anyone seeking information about inmates in Delaware may use free online resources to facilitate their search. In addition to the DOC Inmate Locator Service, interested persons may use reliable third-party databases that provide a convenient alternative for conducting a Delaware inmate search free of charge. Such platforms offer access to jail records aggregated from various public databases, allowing users to search for inmates by their names or other criteria.
How To Find a Federal Inmate in Delaware
Federal inmates in Delaware are housed in correctional facilities overseen by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). Anyone may conduct a federal inmate search in Delaware by entering the offender's name or ID number in the BOP inmate locator. Users may also filter search results by including the race, sex, and age of inmates in the name search tab.
There are no federal correctional facilities in Delaware. Hence, Delaware federal inmates are typically housed in state-owned correctional facilities.
What Can You Find with State of Delaware Inmate Search
The following inmate information is available in a typical Delaware inmate search:
- Full name of the offender
- Age
- Gender
- Race
- Date of birth
- Ethnicity
- ID number
- Custody status
- Parole/probation status
- Booking date
- Correctional facility location
- Reporting agency
Jail and Inmate Search in Delaware
Delaware's unified correctional system includes inmates housed in state prisons, county jails, youth detention centers, and those under parole or probation. According to the Department of Corrections 2023 Annual Report, approximately 4,500 inmates were in custody across nine correctional facilities. Additionally, 120 juveniles were held in detention facilities in 2022. Delaware's incarceration rate stood at 539 per 100,000 residents in 2023, notably below the national average of 614 per 100,000.
About 94% of inmates housed in Delaware correctional facilities are male, while 6% are female. Additionally, African Americans make up 61% of the prison population, while 33% are White and 6% are Hispanic. As of 2023, the Delaware community corrections population included approximately 10,000 individuals under probation and parole supervision. About 80% of individuals under the DOC parole and probation supervision are male, while 20% are female. Additionally, 488 individuals are supervised under home confinement, and 960 probationers are under pretrial supervision.
Criminal Justice Quick Facts
Delaware Imprisonment Rate (per 100,000 residents)
539
Prison Population
4,613
Probation Population
9,300
Parole Population
340
Racial Disparity in Incarceration Rate
Black: White Ratio: 5.3:1
Hispanic: White Ratio: 0.1:1
Juvenile Custody Rate (per 100,000 youths)
138
Disenfranchised Population
6,214 (0.83%)
Disenfranchised African Americans
3,309 (2.08%)
Corrections Expenditures (State)
$376 M
Delaware Parole Population
In Delaware, the parole population was 340 at the beginning of 2022 and remained unchanged at the end of the year.
Paroles per 100,000 Population (2022)
Nationwide
267
Delaware
41
Parole Total Population in Delaware (2022)
Nationwide
698,820
Delaware
340
Parole Entries and Exits (2022)
Entries
110
Exits
110
Change in 2022, in Percentage and Number
Percent
-2%
Number
-10
Number of Parole per 100,000 U.S. Adult Residents
Decreased by
41
Delaware Prisons
The Delaware Department of Corrections (DOC) operates a unified correctional system with over 2,600 employees, including correctional officers, probation officers, and support personnel. It is the second largest branch of the state's executive office, with an annual operating budget of $376 million. The cost to house an inmate for a year is $80,427.
Delaware's community corrections system supervises approximately 9,300 individuals on probation and 340 on parole, while the incarceration rate per 100,000 residents is 539. The state's violent crime rate is 17.4 per 1,000 people, while the property crime rate is 20. Delaware uses a five-level system for the supervision and security of prisoners; 24-hour incarceration, work release, intensive probation service, standard probation, and administrative probation supervision.
The Department of Corrections manages the following correctional facilities in the state:
- Baylor Women's Correctional Institution
- Howard R. Young Correctional Institution
- James T. Vaughn Correctional Center
- Sussex Correctional Institution
- Community Corrections Treatment Center
- Hazel D. Plant Women's Treatment Facility
- Morris Community Corrections Center
- Plummer Community Corrections Center
- Sussex Community Corrections Center
- Sussex Violation of Probation
- Sussex Work Release Center
| Prison Name | Prison Type |
|---|---|
| Baylor Women's Correctional Institution | State Prison |
| Central Violation of Probation Center | State Prison |
| Hazel D. Plant Women's Treatment Facility | State Prison |
| Howard R. Young Correctional Institution | State Prison |
| James T. Vaughn Correctional Center | State Prison |
| John L. Webb Correctional Facility | State Prison |
| Morris Community Corrections Center | State Prison |
| Plummer Community Corrections Center | State Prison |
| Sussex Community Corrections Center | State Prison |
| Sussex Correctional Institution | State Prison |
Frequently Asked Questions
The following are some frequently asked questions about Delaware inmate search and their answers:
Why Is an Inmate Not Showing Up in Search?
Incarcerated persons may not appear in Delaware jail inmate search if the DOC restricts their jail records due to privacy or security concerns. Additionally, errors in search inputs, such as misspelled names or incorrect/incomplete identification numbers, may return no results on the inmate search portal. Likewise, some inmates have other known aliases on their jail records.
Affected individuals can double-check their search inputs to confirm they meet the search criteria or search for other known aliases of inmates. In cases of technical problems, such as delays in the prison database updates, contact the Department of Correction for assistance.
How Can I Check If Someone Is in Jail in Delaware?
Individuals may do the following to verify if someone is held in a jail in Delaware:
- Use the Delaware Department of Corrections Inmate Locator Service to search for inmates by name, ID number, or other search criteria.
- If the person was arrested in Delaware, contact the arresting agency to inquire where the person was kept in custody.
- Contact local jails or detention centers to inquire about an individual's custody status or check the county's sheriff's office website for inmate rosters.
How Can I Conduct a Delaware Prison Inmate Search?
To conduct a Delaware prison inmate search, visit the Delaware Department of Correction website and navigate to the inmate locator portal. Enter the inmate's name, identification number, or other available criteria. The results may include the jail record of the inmate searched. Additionally, you can use third-party platforms like Recordsfinder to locate inmates serving time at a correctional facility in Delaware.
