Lewes Inmate Population Records
Lewes inmate population records are maintained by the Delaware Department of Correction. Lewes is a city in Sussex County at the mouth of Delaware Bay. People arrested in Lewes are held at the Sussex Correctional Institution in Georgetown. This page covers how to search for someone in the Lewes inmate population, where to contact the local police department for arrest records, FOIA procedures for the City of Lewes, and court record resources for cases involving Lewes residents.
Lewes Overview
Where Lewes Inmates Are Held
People arrested in Lewes are held at Sussex Correctional Institution (SCI), located at 23203 DuPont Boulevard, Georgetown, DE 19947, phone (302) 856-5280. SCI is a Level 5 maximum security facility holding approximately 1,200 male inmates across multiple security classifications. It serves as the primary detention facility for Lewes and all of Sussex County. The facility handles pre-trial detention, medium and maximum security housing, and prepares eligible inmates for work release. Female detainees from Lewes are held at Baylor Women's Correctional Institution at 660 Baylor Boulevard, New Castle, DE 19720, phone (302) 577-3004.
To find someone from a Lewes arrest in the current inmate population, use the DOC inmate locator through VINELink at the DOC website. The search is free and runs 24 hours a day. Enter the person's name to get current custody status and facility location. You can also register for automatic alerts by phone, email, or text when the person's status changes. Release dates may change based on good time adjustments under Title 11 ยง 4381 or holds from other jurisdictions.
Visitation at SCI runs Saturday and Sunday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for general population. Special Housing Units and maximum security have different schedules. All visitors must be on the inmate's approved list, be 18 or older (or accompanied by an approved adult), and carry valid government-issued photo ID. Holiday schedules are posted at the facility 30 days in advance. Delaware State Police Troop 7 in Lewes at 18006 Coastal Highway, Lewes, DE 19958, phone (302) 703-6660, covers this area of Sussex County.
Lewes Police Department and Arrest Records
The Lewes Police Department is at 114 East Third Street, Lewes, DE 19958, phone (302) 645-6264, fax (302) 645-1080. The department provides law enforcement services and maintains arrest records for the city of Lewes. Arrest records are treated as public records under Delaware FOIA. Residents and attorneys can request them through formal written application to the appropriate law enforcement agency.
Fingerprinting services are available at the Lewes Police Department for a range of purposes including pre-employment background checks, professional licensing for nursing, teaching, law, and real estate, volunteer work with children or elderly individuals, immigration and naturalization applications, firearm purchases, and FBI Identity History Summary requests. Requirements include a valid government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license or passport, plus any required agency forms. Call ahead to schedule a fingerprinting appointment. Walk-ins may not always be accommodated.
Lewes City Hall is at 114 East Third Street, Lewes, DE 19958. The City Council meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. For state police coverage of areas surrounding Lewes, contact Delaware State Police Troop 7 at (302) 703-6660. For criminal history checks, contact the SBI at 302-739-5871. A state criminal history check costs $52.
FOIA Requests for Lewes Records
The City of Lewes provides an online Record Request Form pursuant to 29 Delaware Code, Chapter 100. The form is at ci.lewes.de.us. Required information includes the date of request, name of the public body, your full name, address, phone, email, and a specific description of the records. Describe the record type, relevant dates, parties, and subject matter. Vague requests may delay processing or result in a cost estimate being issued before the search begins.
The public body must respond within 15 business days of receiving the request, either by providing access to the records, denying the request with explanation, or stating that additional time is needed for voluminous or complex requests. Costs may be involved. The public body can require examination of records at the city office. The requester may specify a maximum cost they are willing to pay. The Lewes Board of Public Works forwards documentation requests to its General Manager to determine if they qualify as public records. Records may only be reviewed during business hours with a designated employee present.
Senate Bill 87 from the 146th General Assembly requires use of a standard FOIA request form in Delaware. The form available on the Lewes website satisfies this requirement. For DOC inmate population records, submit a separate request to DOC_FOIA_Request@delaware.gov rather than through the city.
The City of Lewes FOIA record request form is the official online tool for requesting public records from city departments, with the DOC inmate population records handled through a separate state process.
Lewes Court Records and Case Access
Court records for Lewes criminal cases are held at the Sussex County Superior Court at 1 The Circle, Suite 2, Georgetown, DE 19947, phone (302) 855-7055. The Court of Common Pleas for Sussex County is at 1 The Circle, Suite 1, Georgetown, DE 19947, phone (302) 858-5730. Public counter hours at both courts are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Public computer terminals are available at the courthouse for on-site record searches.
Online court record searches are available through CourtConnect at courtconnect.courts.delaware.gov. CourtConnect provides free public access to case status, docket entries, and party information for all Delaware courts, including criminal cases in Sussex County tied to the Lewes inmate population. Search by person name or case type. Victims in Lewes can register with VINELink for automatic custody notifications through the DOC inmate locator page. Sussex County probation and parole is reached at (302) 856-5243.
Note: VINELink and the DOC inmate locator provide real-time custody data without a FOIA request, which makes them the fastest option for checking current inmate status for Lewes-area arrests.
Sussex County Inmate Population Records
Lewes is in Sussex County. SCI facility contacts, the Sussex County Sheriff's Office, and county-level FOIA resources are on the Sussex County page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are in Sussex County. All share the same state correctional system through SCI Georgetown.