Sussex County, Delaware Inmate Search
After a person is booked for an alleged crime in Sussex County, Delaware, they are held in the county detention center. Members of the public who want to confirm whether someone is in custody or learn more about their detention can conduct an inmate search. This inquiry allows the public to locate individuals held at the Sussex County jail (Sussex Correctional Institute) or the Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution.
Sussex County is part of a centralized correctional system. The Delaware Department of Correction (DOC) manages both the Sussex Correctional Institution (SCI) for men and the Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution (BWCI) for women. The agency provides several ways to search for inmate information, including an online database.
The information available after an inmate search depends on the inquiry method, with online searches often revealing basic (but pertinent) information about an inmate, such as their full name, ethnicity, age, and charges, and in-person or other direct channels preferred for detailed records.
How to Find an Inmate in Sussex County Jail
Inmates in Sussex County are detained at the Sussex Correctional Institute or the Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution. Although various police departments across the county make arrests, the DOC maintains the inmate records. These records can be accessed through the channels made available by the DOC, including online, in person, or by phone.
Delaware is part of a multi-state online inmate search system that allows the public to access custody records, including those of Sussex County. An inquirer can search as a guest or a registered member, using a full or partial name, a case number, or an ID number. This service is free and accessible round the clock as long as the facility is online.
Individuals can also visit the SCI or BWCI facility to review the Sussex County jail/inmate roster. Searches are usually free, but fees may apply when requesting copies of records.
Alternatively, members of the public can call the jail or the Delaware State Police Troop 4 for information about individuals in custody.
Delaware State Police Troop 4
23652 Shortly Road
Georgetown, DE 19947
Sussex Correctional Institute
23203 Dupont Boulevard
Georgetown, DE 19947
Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution
660 Baylor Boulevard
New Castle, DE 19720
How to Use the Sussex County Jail Roster
The Delaware DOC does not directly publish a live roster of current inmates. However, one can access the state-recommended database to find inmates in Delaware.
How to search:
- Visit the Delaware DOC’s homepage and hover the mouse over "Offender Info" at the top to open a dropdown menu. Afterward, choose "Inmate Locator" from the menu.
- On the next page (i.e., the Locate an Inmate page), follow the link to the inmate search tool.
- From there, select Delaware and enter a full or partial name, ID number, or case number to find a match.
What Information is Included in the Sussex County Inmate Roster
Public access to inmate records in Sussex is provided for under 29 Del. C. § 1000 et seq, the state’s public records law. Under this law, a Sussex County inmate record that is accessible to the public may include
- The inmate’s full legal name, gender, race, and ethnicity.
- The inmate’s booking date, current status, and release details (if available), which tell when the person was detained and whether they remain in custody.
- The authority responsible for arrest or detention.
- Hearing date, case status, type of proceeding, and location (this information, however, is only provided for active cases)
Note that Delaware Public Records Law also sets limits on what type of information can be released. Records tied to ongoing investigations, sensitive personal details, and medical information are deemed confidential to the general public.
Contact Details for Sussex County Jail or Police Department
To request general information or inquire about individuals in custody in Sussex County, one may contact either the appropriate police agency or correctional facility. The following contact details are available:
Entity | Contact Information |
|---|---|
Delaware State Police: Troop 4 (handles active law enforcement in Sussex County) | Physical Address: 23652 Shortly Road, Georgetown, DE 19947 Phone: (302) 856-5850 |
Sussex Correctional Institute (pre- and post-trial male detention) | Physical Address: 23203 Dupont Boulevard, Georgetown, DE 19947 Phone (Main): (302) 856-5280 Phone (Visitation Scheduling): (302) 577-5837, (302) 856-5545 |
Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution (pre- and post-trial female detention) | Physical Address: 660 Baylor Boulevard, New Castle, DE 19720 Phone (Main): (302) 577-3004 |
Note: The Sheriff’s Office plays a civil role in Sussex County. Unlike many other jurisdictions, this department does not exercise typical police powers (e.g., executing arrests, conducting searches at traffic stops, performing criminal investigations). Instead, it serves as the administrative arm of the court system. The Sheriff’s primary duties include serving legal papers (e.g., subpoenas, civil warrants, summonses), auctioning property under mortgage foreclosures or tax sales, and seizing property to satisfy legal judgments.
Jail Facility Overview in Sussex County
Instead of typical jail facilities, Sussex County is home to an all-male correctional institution that houses minimum- to maximum-security inmates. The facility, located in Georgetown, has a capacity of 1,206 beds and operates under the oversight of the Delaware Department of Correction.
Meanwhile, females arrested in Sussex are housed in Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution, located in New Castle. It is the only women’s prison in the state and houses both pre-trial and sentenced inmates of all security levels, similar to the Sussex Correctional Institution.
Besides the SCI, there is a second facility directly located in Sussex-the Sussex Community Corrections Center. This facility serves a different purpose. It has two main units: the Sussex Violation of Probation (SVOP) Center and the Sussex Work Release Center. The SVOP Center is home to males and females who have breached the terms of their probation. On the other hand, the Work Release Center is designed for inmates nearing the end of their sentences, offering structured opportunities for employment, education, and rehabilitation. It also includes mandatory treatment programs, such as the Road to Recovery (R2R) Substance Abuse Treatment Program. This facility is categorized as Level IV, a quasi-incarceration institution.
Agency | Office and Mail Address | Phone Number | Office Hours | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sussex County Correctional Institute | 23203 Dupont Boulevard Georgetown, DE 19947 | (302) 856-5280 | 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Mondays to Fridays | N/A |
Baylor Women’s Correctional Institute | 660 Baylor Boulevard, New Castle, DE 19720 | (302) 577-3004 | 9:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m Mondays to Wednesday (Administrative hours) | N/A |
Sussex Community Corrections Center | 23207 Dupont Boulevard. Georgetown, DE 19947 | (302) 856-5790 | 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays to Fridays | N/A |
How to Send Money to an Inmate in Sussex Correctional Institute or Baylor Women’s Correctional Institute
People can add money to an inmate’s account at the SCI or BWCI facility in three ways: online, in person, or by mail. Each channel is straightforward but follows its own set of steps and requirements.
Funds can be added at the kiosk located in either facility’s gatehouse lobby. This option is arguably best for visitors who are already at the facility. A deposit is made, and the inmate’s account is often credited within a short period.
One can also deposit funds online. For this option, users must go through an approved private service. The provider’s website has clear instructions for setting up an account. Depositors must select the correct facility to complete the transaction and ensure proper credit. This channel is especially useful for those who cannot visit in person, as it allows deposits to be made from anywhere. The service provider also lists a mobile application, making it even more convenient to send money at any time.
To make deposits by mail, the authorized third-party service provider provides a form that must be completed in full and sent along with a money order. The form and money order should be sent to the vendor’s specified address; the correctional facilities do not accept such transactions.
Inmate Search by Jail Facility
Although Sussex County male-, female-, and quasi-inmates are housed in different DOC facilities, the agency does not maintain a separate inmate records system. Instead, all information regarding individuals in custody, whether housed at SCI, the BWCI, or the Sussex Community Corrections Center, is handled through a single, centralized process managed by the Department of Correction.
In practice, this means that an inmate’s physical location does not affect how their information is obtained. Anyone looking for details about a person in custody can use the same search method, regardless of the facility where the inmate is presently housed.
One can explore any of the channels provided by the DOC: the state’s online inmate locator, in-person or mail inquiries, or phone inquiries for general information or guidance on record requests.
Sussex County Visitation Rules and Schedules
Individuals housed in the SCI or BWCI, whether awaiting trial or serving a sentence, may receive visitors. Visitation, however, follows the guidelines set by each individual facility, which friends and family must follow to ensure smooth visits.
Visitation at Sussex Correctional Institute
SCI offers open and closed visits. Open visits are in-person and informal interactions that allow physical contact. Closed visits are controlled, conducted for security reasons, and do not permit physical contact.
Visitations are by appointment and must be scheduled at least one week in advance. Also, although visitation is generally open to the public, those who have previously been incarcerated at or employed by SCI may face restrictions at the warden’s discretion.
Only 45 minutes of visitation per week is allowed for pre-trial inmates. At the same time, sentenced inmates receive up to 1 hour and 30 minutes weekly, which may be used in a single visit or divided into two 45-minute sessions.
Family and friends can book visitation appointments by calling (302) 856-5545, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m. Once confirmed, appointments cannot be changed.
Visitors are expected to comply with all facility rules and dress standards, some of which include
- Presenting a valid ID before entry
- Arriving at least 30 minutes before the scheduled visit
- Not more than three visitors at a time
- Minors being accompanied by an adult
- No attempts to communicate with any inmate through windows or fences
- Not wearing revealing clothing or attire with offensive language
Visitation at Baylor Women’s Correctional Institute
Family and friends of inmates at the BWCI facility can choose between face-to-face and video visits. However, visitations must be scheduled in advance. Those who need to schedule an in-person visit may call (302) 577-5837, Monday through Wednesday, 9:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m. Video visits may be scheduled on the webpage of the approved third-party service provider. Video visit services are charged.
Visitation may last up to an hour. Visitors are required to comply with all visitation rules and the appropriate dress code. The facility provides a schedule that prospective visitors may peruse.
Mailing and Commissary Information
Family and friends can remain in touch with loved ones housed at the Sussex Correctional Institute or the Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution. Inmates may also receive legal correspondence. Mailing procedures differ depending on whether the mail is legal or non-legal.
Personal Correspondence
All non-legal mail is routed through a central processing facility for security screening. There, items are checked for contraband, scanned into digital format, and then delivered electronically to the inmate.
Senders must use a plain white envelope and include a valid return address. All mail should be addressed to the vendor’s scanning site in Las Vegas. (Note that this address is different from that used to mail money orders for an inmate’s commissary account, as detailed above.)
Alternatively, the mail vendor service allows users to create and send letters, photos, and cards electronically. A limited number of messages may be free, while additional use typically requires a subscription.
More details about sending correspondence to SCI and BWCI inmates, including the relevant mailing addresses, website links, and formal guidelines, are available on the DOC’s website.
Legal Correspondence
Legal mail, which is treated with greater confidentiality, should be sent directly to the appropriate facility:
[Inmate Name - SBI Number]
Sussex Correctional Institution
PO Box 500
Georgetown DE 19947
[Inmate Name - SBI Number]
Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution
660 Baylor Boulevard
New Castle, DE 19720