Find Lewes Criminal Court Records
Lewes criminal court records cover arrests, charges, and case files from the coastal city of Lewes in Sussex County. You can search Lewes criminal court records through the Lewes Police Department, the city FOIA form, and the Sussex County Superior Court in Georgetown. Some records are online, but most still sit in paper files at the courthouse. This page shows you where to start, which phone number to call, and how to get the right form for your request. Read on to find the fastest route to the file you need.
Lewes Records at a Glance
Lewes Police Criminal Court Records
The Lewes Police Department sits at 114 East Third Street, Lewes, DE 19958. You can call 302-645-6264. The fax line is 302-645-1080. The department covers a mix of local calls, beach patrols, and seasonal visitors. Records requests run through the city FOIA process. The online Record Request Form is the fastest way to start.
The Lewes Police Department home page links to the records page and contact list.
The station serves a small city with a big summer crowd. Local cases often pass through Lewes Police before they land at the Sussex County court.
Delaware Senate Bill 87 set a standard FOIA form for the state. Lewes uses a version of this form on its website. You pick the record type, list the date range, and sign. The more specific your request, the faster the reply. A case number or an exact date helps.
Note: Lewes Police reports count as records of the city's Police Department, but court files from the case live at the Sussex County Superior Court.
Lewes FOIA Request Form
The City of Lewes runs its FOIA process under Title 29, Chapter 100 of the Delaware Code. This chapter is the state's Freedom of Information Act. Every public body in the state has to follow the same rules. Lewes posts the standard form online so you can fill it in from home.
The Lewes FOIA Record Request Form lives on the city's FormCenter.
Required fields on the form include your full name, address, phone, email, and a clear description of the records. A vague request will slow your reply. A specific date or case number will speed things up.
Delaware law sets the response window at 15 business days. If the city needs more time, staff must send a notice with the new date. Staff time costs and copy fees may apply. Large jobs cost more. FOIA requests themselves are public records. A third party could see your request at any point.
The Lewes annual budget runs about $3.6 million. The City Council meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month at 6:30 PM. Council files, meeting minutes, and budget docs are all covered by FOIA. Criminal files are not. Section 10002(l)(4) of Title 29 keeps active criminal files out of FOIA reach. That's the line to know.
Sussex County Criminal Court Records
Felony and serious misdemeanor cases from Lewes get heard at the Sussex County Superior Court. The court is at 1 The Circle, Georgetown, DE 19947. The phone is 302-855-7055. Court hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The drive from Lewes runs about 20 minutes.
The Sussex County Superior Court page lists hours, judges, and the Prothonotary contact. You review Lewes criminal court records at the courthouse. Files cannot leave the building. Copy fees start at $2 per page for plain copies and $15 for the first three certified pages.
The Court of Common Pleas hears lower-level misdemeanors. JP Court 3 is the local JP Court for Lewes. JP Court 3 sits at 32479 Lewes-Georgetown Highway, Lewes. Call 302-644-4485. This court handles traffic, minor crimes, and small civil claims.
The Sussex County Family Court handles juvenile criminal cases. Juvenile files carry strong privacy rules. Most stay sealed to the public.
Delaware State Police Troop 4 also serves the Lewes area. The troop is at 23636 S. Dupont Highway, Georgetown. Call 302-856-5850. Troop 4 takes many of the state highway cases that touch Lewes. Trooper incident reports become part of the court file once charges are filed.
Statewide Lewes Criminal Court Records
Three state tools support Lewes criminal court records work. The first is CourtConnect, the civil case search. The tool does not show criminal case details, but it can link you to related civil orders. A defendant with a criminal case may also have civil judgments on file.
The second is DELJIS, the state's main criminal history repository. Public access is limited. Law enforcement gets the full database. The public gets parts through linked tools.
The Delaware State Police wanted list is one of those linked tools. Search by name, photo, or offense. The Troop 4 page has contact details for the troop that covers Lewes.
Third-party sites collect Lewes criminal court records from across the web. These are not official sources. Use them for leads, not proof.
The Lewes public records directory links out to official sources.
The directory is a third-party aggregator. Always click through to the official agency to confirm the data. A certified report must come from the State Bureau of Identification or the court itself.
Lewes Criminal Court Records Fees
Fees shift with the office. Here is a quick list to help you plan.
- State-only certified criminal history: $72
- State plus federal report: $85 (legal mandate needed)
- Plain copy at courthouse: $2 per page
- Certified copy at courthouse: $15 for first three pages
- FOIA copy charges: set by the city
The Delaware Courts forms repository has the forms you need. ADM_ADM_03_A handles Superior Court criminal file access. MISC35 handles JP Court file access. CRF35 is the criminal case continuance form. CF49 is the fee waiver form for people who cannot afford the copy charge. PRO35 handles probation modifications.
Processing time runs 15 business days for a FOIA request. Court file pulls can be same-day if the file is on site. Older Lewes criminal court records may sit at the Delaware Public Archives in Dover. Those take longer. Call the Office of the Prothonotary to check the file's location before the trip.
Lewes Criminal Records by Type
Criminal court records cover several record classes. Each has its own office. Arrest records live with the Lewes Police. Booking records live with the Sussex Correctional Institution at 23655 McColley Road, Georgetown. Court dockets live with the Sussex County Superior Court. Case files live there too, but some live at the Court of Common Pleas or JP Court 3.
Sentencing records live at the court that heard the case. Probation records live with the Department of Correction. A motion for early termination of probation uses Form PRO35. The form goes to the sentencing judge.
Warrant records are a special class. A warrant shows an active charge but no conviction. Once an arrest happens, the warrant closes and the court file opens. The Margaret H. Rollins Community Center at 101 Adams Avenue, Lewes, serves as a voting location. It is not a court site but comes up in news items about Lewes civic life.
Note: Sealed and expunged records stay in DELJIS for official use only, but the public cannot view them without a court order.
Fingerprint Checks Near Lewes
The State Bureau of Identification issues Delaware's certified criminal history reports. Each report comes from fingerprints, not a name search. You book the visit through IdentoGO. Georgetown is the closest fingerprint site to Lewes. Seaford has a site too.
The State Bureau of Identification page lists service codes, site hours, and fees. Bring a valid driver's license or state ID. Walk-ins are not offered. Results come by mail within two to four weeks.
Service codes point to the right request type. 27RVGT is the personal criminal history code. 27S23V covers expungement applications. 27S8N2 covers a handgun qualified purchaser permit. The code must match your purpose.
Related Lewes Records Resources
Lewes shares its county courthouse with other Sussex cities. Criminal court records for those cities route through the same Superior Court in Georgetown. The Sussex County page has the full set of court contacts.
Nearby qualifying cities with their own page include Seaford. Both cities use the Sussex County Superior Court for felony cases. The Delaware Courts locations page has the full court map.
The Delaware Public Archives in Dover holds older Lewes criminal court records once the courthouse retention window closes. Class A and B felony files stay at the courthouse for 25 years. Class C through G stay for 15. Older cases move to the archives.