New Castle County Jail & Inmate Roster
Arrests in New Castle County, Delaware are booked into the county jail, which is run by the sheriff's office. The county publishes its own roster, and it is separate from the state prison system.
New Castle County jail and sheriff
| County | New Castle County |
|---|---|
| Population | 588,093 (2024) |
Where a field is blank, the county does not publish that detail on an official source we can cite.
How to find someone in the county jail
- Call the jail directly if the name does not appear; online rosters lag behind actual bookings.
- Search the county's official roster for the person's full legal name.
- If the person has already been sentenced, search the Delaware Department of Correction offender locator instead.
- Have their date of birth ready — it is the detail that separates people with common names.
- If the charge is federal, search the Bureau of Prisons system, which is separate from both.
Cities in New Castle County
2 cities in New Castle County are covered, each with its own inmate search and bail information.
The Delaware state prison system
Sentenced prisoners in Delaware are held by the Delaware Department of Correction, not by New Castle County. A person stops appearing on the county roster once transferred.
How the New Castle County jail system works
New Castle County is the facility that takes bookings for arrests in Delaware. County jails are short-stay by design: people move through them to court, to release, or on to a state prison. That turnover is why a roster can look empty one day and full the next.
From booking, a case moves to a first appearance and then to whatever the court decides about release. Everything that follows — plea, trial, sentencing — depends on that first decision.
What to ask when you call
A single call to the jail or the sheriff's office can answer most of what a family needs to know in the first days. Having the questions ready makes the call much shorter.
- The booking number and the facility housing unit.
- The next court date and the courtroom.
- The bail amount and the accepted payment method.
- Whether the person has already been assigned counsel.
- What identification you need to visit, and the visiting hours.
- Whether there are any restrictions on calls or visits in this case.
Bail in Delaware
Bail for arrests in New Castle County is set under Delaware law. The governing provisions are listed below.
-
Del. Code § 2115
Forfeiture and default of bail bonds [Effective Feb. 1, 2027].
(a) If the defendant fails to appear as required or is found in breach of a material condition of release imposed by any court while under a bond, and the court under this chapter or court rule finds the defendant in default and forfeits the bond, the proceeds must be forwarded to the State…
Delaware Code (official, delcode.delaware.gov) (opens in a new tab) -
Del. Code § 3903
Bail bonds, recognizances, peace bonds or appearance bonds; actions on.
Whenever any court orders and adjudges a bail bond, recognizance, or bond to keep the peace, or for the appearance of a defendant or of a witness, in any court, forfeited, then in any action on such forfeited bail bond, recognizance, or bond to keep the peace, or for the appearance of a defendant…
Delaware Code (official, delcode.delaware.gov) (opens in a new tab)
Bail in Delaware
-
Del. Code § 2115
Forfeiture and default of bail bonds [Effective Feb. 1, 2027].
(a) If the defendant fails to appear as required or is found in breach of a material condition of release imposed by any court while under a bond, and the court under this chapter or court rule finds the defendant in default and forfeits the bond, the proceeds must be forwarded to the State…
Delaware Code (official, delcode.delaware.gov) (opens in a new tab) -
Del. Code § 3903
Bail bonds, recognizances, peace bonds or appearance bonds; actions on.
Whenever any court orders and adjudges a bail bond, recognizance, or bond to keep the peace, or for the appearance of a defendant or of a witness, in any court, forfeited, then in any action on such forfeited bail bond, recognizance, or bond to keep the peace, or for the appearance of a defendant…
Delaware Code (official, delcode.delaware.gov) (opens in a new tab)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · retrieved 2026-09-16
Frequently asked questions
Where are people arrested in New Castle County held?
At the county jail, operated by the county. Cities within the county generally do not run their own long-term jails, so bookings are transferred to the county facility.
How do I find someone in New Castle County jail?
Contact the New Castle County sheriff's office directly. Where no public online roster is published, a phone call is the only reliable route.
What is the county seat of New Castle County?
New Castle County publishes its county seat, as does the U.S. Census Bureau.
How do I post bail in New Castle County?
Bail is set by a judge under Delaware law and is normally paid to the court or the county, not to the jail. Confirm the accepted payment method and the exact amount with the court before travelling.
Does New Castle County publish mugshots?
Some sheriffs publish booking photographs and some do not. Where a roster is published, the sheriff's own site governs what is shown and for how long. We do not republish individual records.
How long are people held in New Castle County jail?
That depends on the case. People awaiting trial are held until bail is posted or the case concludes; people serving a sentence are held for its duration, then transferred or released.
Last reviewed and updated: