Dover Inmate Population Records
Dover inmate population records are maintained by the Delaware Department of Correction. Dover is the state capital and the county seat of Kent County. People arrested in Dover are held at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in nearby Smyrna. If you need to locate someone currently incarcerated, check their custody status, or request public records through FOIA, this page covers the correctional facility, Dover Police Department records, FOIA contacts, and court information for Dover's inmate population.
Dover Overview
Where Dover Inmates Are Held
People arrested in Dover are held at James T. Vaughn Correctional Center (JTVCC), located at 1181 Paddock Road, Smyrna, DE 19977, phone (302) 653-9261. JTVCC is Delaware's largest correctional facility, housing approximately 2,500 minimum, medium, and maximum security male inmates. It is the primary location for the Kent County pre-trial population, which includes people arrested in Dover. Female detainees are processed through Baylor Women's Correctional Institution at 660 Baylor Boulevard, New Castle, DE 19720.
JTVCC offers educational programs, vocational training, substance abuse treatment, mental health services, and reentry preparation. Visitation requires advance scheduling. Contact the facility at (302) 653-9261 for current visitation schedules, approved visitor lists, and procedures. All visitors must present valid government-issued photo ID. To find out if someone from a Dover arrest is at JTVCC or another facility, use the DOC inmate locator through VINELink. The search is free and available 24 hours a day.
Release dates shown in the system may shift. Under Title 11 § 4381, inmates may earn good time credits of up to 180 days per year, but the DOC can forfeit earned credits for violations. Detainers from other jurisdictions can also delay release beyond the originally calculated date. Always use VINELink for current status information.
Dover Police Department Records
The Dover Police Department is at 400 S. Queen Street, Dover, DE 19904. The Records Unit is reached at (302) 736-7105, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Victims listed on a crime report can get a free copy in person at the police department with valid photo ID. For minors, a custodial parent or legal guardian may obtain the report. For deceased victims, next of kin can obtain it with proof of relationship. Reports are not released to anyone outside those categories unless directed by a court-issued subpoena.
Crash reports cost $25.00 and can be requested by drivers or owners of vehicles involved, as well as attorneys and insurance companies with a written request and payment. Contact the Records Unit at (302) 736-7106 to verify the report is ready before visiting. Payment for applicable fees can be made over the phone by credit card prior to pickup. Fire investigative reports are not released unless directed by a court-issued subpoena. A Statement of Verification from the Dover Fire Marshal's Office is available at (302) 736-7099 or by email at Josika@dover.de.us.
FOIA Requests in Dover
The City of Dover accepts FOIA requests through multiple channels. The FOIA Coordinator is Crystal Wheeler, who also serves as Records Manager. Phone is (302) 736-7008, email is cityclerk@dover.de.us, and the address is City Clerk's Office, 15 Loockerman Plaza, Dover, DE 19901. The recommended method is the online portal at cityofdover.com/FOIA, which also lets you check the status of pending requests and search the public FOIA archives. You can also submit by email or by mail.
The City of Dover must respond within 15 business days under 29 Del. C. § 10003(h). Business days exclude weekends, state and federal holidays. The first 20 standard black-and-white pages are free. Additional pages cost $0.10 per sheet. Labor fees apply at the rate of the lowest-paid employee capable of performing the work, billed per quarter-hour. Police reports for insurance companies run $25.00. For code violation records, the fee is $50.00 flat per property.
No specific form is required, but the request must be in writing. Describe records with enough detail to enable reasonable identification. Vague requests may result in delays or fee estimates before processing continues. For DOC inmate population records, submit a separate request to DOC_FOIA_Request@delaware.gov rather than through the city.
The City of Dover FOIA portal provides online submission, contact details for the Records Manager, and a searchable archive of previously released public records including law enforcement and city government documents.
Dover Court Records
The Kent County Courthouse in Dover at 414 Federal Street houses the Superior Court, Court of Common Pleas, and Family Court for Kent County. The Superior Court phone is (302) 735-1900. Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Criminal case records tied to the Dover inmate population can be searched online through CourtConnect or requested in person during business hours. Written requests can go to the Prothonotary's Office at the courthouse.
The Court of Common Pleas for Kent County is at the same address, phone (302) 735-3900. It handles criminal misdemeanors, traffic violations, and civil cases under $75,000. The Justice of the Peace Court is at 480 Bank Lane, Dover, DE 19904, handling minor criminal offenses and traffic matters. CourtConnect is the fastest way to access basic case and docket information for Dover criminal cases without visiting in person.
The Kent County Superior Court in Dover processes felony criminal cases and maintains court records for individuals who are part of the Dover inmate population or facing criminal charges in Kent County.
Additional Records Resources for Dover
The Delaware State Police State Bureau of Identification (SBI) has two locations in Dover for criminal history checks. The SBI is reached at 302-739-5871. A state criminal history check costs $52. The DSP FOIA Coordinator for state police records is Angie von Bank at angie.vonbank@delaware.gov, 1441 N. DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 19901, which is also where Troop 3 is located, phone (302) 698-8400.
Victims in Dover can register with VINELink for automatic custody status notifications at the DOC inmate locator page. Written notification from the DOC goes out 30 days before a scheduled release. Keep contact information current with the Department of Justice at 800-870-1790 and the DOC Victim Services Unit at (302) 857-5440. For Dover-area sex offender information, use the Delaware Sex Offender Registry.
Note: DOC inmate population records are separate from City of Dover FOIA records. Use DOC_FOIA_Request@delaware.gov for correctional records and the city portal for municipal records.
Kent County Inmate Population Records
Dover is the county seat of Kent County. All inmate population records at the county level, including JTVCC facility contacts and Kent County FOIA resources, are on the Kent County page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Dover. Harrington is in Kent County and also feeds into the JTVCC facility. Milford is in Sussex County and uses SCI in Georgetown.