City of New Castle Background Check

A City of New Castle background check pulls from city police files, county court dockets, and state-level fingerprint records. This is the City of New Castle, Delaware's oldest city, not the county of the same name. The City of New Castle Police Department keeps arrest and incident files. The New Castle County Courthouse in Wilmington handles court cases. State criminal history reports come from the SBI. This page shows how to search New Castle background check records for the city, where to go, and which office holds each kind of file.

City of New Castle Police Records

The City of New Castle Police Department is the first stop for a local New Castle background check. The department is one of the oldest in the nation. It dates to 1672, when Edmund Cantwell served as the High Sheriff. Today, the department covers the historic city 24 hours a day. A Records Division handles requests for police reports. Fingerprinting is offered by appointment.

More details are on the City of New Castle Police Department site. The site lists command staff, non-emergency numbers, and a records desk line. Requests for reports can be made by phone, mail, or in person. A party named in a case can get a copy of an incident report.

Fingerprinting at the department covers statutory New Castle background check needs. Common uses are expungement filings, volunteer fire service, and personal criminal history requests. The desk staff will book a time during normal business hours. Bring a photo ID. Prints are sent to the state SBI for processing.

The department publishes annual and monthly reports. See the department reports page for crime data and statistics. Reports cover enforcement activity, community programs, and training. The files give a broad view of police work in the city, which can help put an individual case in context.

For general police department resources, including records access, community programs, and fingerprint appointments, go back to the main Police Department site. The site is the central hub for public info on the department.

New Castle City Government

The City of New Castle is Delaware's oldest city. It was incorporated in 1672. In 2020, the city announced that residents may use "Historic New Castle" as a mailing address. That change helps tell the city apart from the broader New Castle ZIP code area. The city government has several departments, including Finance, Administration, Human Resources, Public Works, and Police.

The New Castle City Government site is the main portal. The site lists department contacts, council info, and agendas. The City Clerk keeps official records and handles FOIA requests. Meeting minutes, ordinances, and resolutions are public. Business licenses and historic district approvals go through city offices.

Public records requests for city files go to the City Clerk's records page. FOIA requests are processed within statutory timeframes. The clerk's office works with other departments to gather requested files. Police records requests go to the Police Department, not the clerk, but the city will point you to the right desk.

Historic preservation is central to the city's work. Building permits and zoning in the historic district need extra review. Those files are not part of a New Castle background check tied to criminal history, but they are public and may round out a wider records search.

Court Cases for New Castle Residents

The city sits in New Castle County. Court matters for city residents go to the New Castle County Courthouse in Wilmington. The Leonard L. Williams Justice Center holds the main civil and criminal case files. Civil dockets, judgments, and filings are on CourtConnect. Guest access is free.

Run a search at courtconnect.courts.delaware.gov. For civil dockets on the main court site, try courts.delaware.gov/docket.aspx. The courthouse site at courts.delaware.gov/locations/superior_nc.aspx has address and hours.

Criminal case detail online is limited. A full criminal file usually needs a visit to the clerk in Wilmington. Plain copy fees are 50 cents per page at most Delaware courts. A certified copy runs about $25. Sealed files, such as juvenile cases, do not show on CourtConnect.

• Name search for party names and case numbers
• Phonetic search when spelling is off
• Partial last name search when full name is not known
• Judgment search by person or business
• Case activity log with filings and orders

For property records tied to the city, see the New Castle County Recorder of Deeds. Deed files are public. Military discharge records filed there are also public. These files are not a criminal record, but they can round out a broader New Castle background check.

SBI Fingerprint Records

The Delaware State Police SBI is the central office for fingerprint-based checks. Under Title 11, Chapter 85, the SBI holds arrest data, charges, court outcomes, sentences, and fingerprint files. A New Castle background check that needs a certified criminal history goes through the SBI.

Fingerprinting goes through IdentoGO. Book a slot at uenroll.identogo.com. New Castle County has sites in Wilmington and Newark, close to the city. The Dover walk-in site at 600 South Bay Road is open each weekday with fixed hours. Most reports come back in 7 to 10 business days.

Fees are set by law. A state-only check is $72.00. A state plus federal check is $85.00. Service codes tell the state which record to pull. A wrong code means paying again, so check the code with the office asking for the record. Section 8513 of the code lets a person view their own file under service code 27RVGT.

The Delaware State Police SBI page has the full step list. Call IdentoGO at (844) 321-2124 with any code or site issue. The SBI also runs the Delaware Sex Offender Registry and the Child Sex Abuse Information Repository.

Inmate and FOIA Resources

The Delaware Department of Correction runs an online inmate locator. Anyone arrested in the City of New Castle area who ends up in state custody will show on that tool. Use the DOC inmate locator. The tool shows current facility, custody status, sentence data, and projected release date. VINELink offers free alerts on custody changes.

Public records are covered by the Delaware Freedom of Information Act, at 29 Del. C. §§ 10001-10007. Agencies must respond within 15 business days. Send city FOIA requests to the City Clerk. Police records requests go to the Records Division at the police department. State-level requests go through sos.delaware.gov/foia-requests.

Police incident reports are not released under the Delaware FOIA. A victim or a named party can still ask the department for a copy. Denials can be appealed to the Attorney General's Office within 60 days. A good New Castle background check request is specific and lists the file type, dates, and parties.

Nearby Cities and County Link

The City of New Castle sits near other county towns. Check these pages too if your search spans more than one city.

View New Castle County Background Check