Kent County Booking Reports
Kent County sits in the middle of Delaware, and Kent County Booking Reports can come from the Dover Police, the Kent County Sheriff's Office, Delaware State Police Troop 3, or a small town force like Harrington. Dover is the county seat and holds the state capital. This page walks through where each booking lands, how to search for a file in the county, and what to ask for when you contact a records desk.
Kent County Records Overview
Where to Find Kent County Booking Reports
The Kent County Levy Court runs county-level public records work from 555 Bay Road, Dover, DE 19901. The main line is (302) 744-2305. Kelly Pitts is the Public Information Officer and can be reached at PIO@kentcountyde.gov or by fax at 302-736-2279. Media calls go to (302) 744-2304.
Booking files are not held at Levy Court. The county Sheriff's Office and the arresting police force hold them. The Kent County Sheriff is Hon. Norman Barlow, with line (302) 744-2161 and email norman.barlow@kentcountyde.gov. Chief Deputy Robert Daddio can be reached at robert.daddio@kentcountyde.gov or (302) 736-2161. The Sheriff's Office pulls arrest data, warrant data, and booking data for the county.
To see the Levy Court FOIA rules in full, look at the Kent County public records page. The site has the request form and the mailing route.
The form can be sent by mail, fax, or email. Keep a copy for your own files in case you need to appeal.
Note: Check the Levy Court website first for info that is already posted. Many Kent County Booking Reports details are out in the open and do not need a formal FOIA pull.
Dover Police and Kent County Booking Reports
The City of Dover is the largest town in Kent County and the state capital. The Dover Police Records Unit handles the bulk of town-level booking reports. The unit is at 15 The Plaza, Dover, DE 19903. The line is (302) 736-7105. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Crime report victim copies are free. The victim must show up in person with photo ID. Custodial parents can pull a copy for a minor child. Next of kin can pull a copy for a deceased victim with proof of relationship. Insurance firms can pay $25 for a copy tied to their insured's property.
The city side of public records is run by the City Clerk's Office. Crystal Wheeler is the Dover FOIA Coordinator. Contact the Clerk at (302) 736-7008 or cityclerk@dover.de.us. The City of Dover FOIA page spells out the rules.
Dover Fire Marshal Jason Osika handles fire investigation paper at (302) 736-7099 or Josika@dover.de.us. Fire investigative reports are only released with a court order.
Delaware State Police Troop 3
Delaware State Police Troop 3 runs Kent County work from 1653 South Bay Road, Dover, DE 19901. The line is (302) 697-4454. Troop 3 covers state highways, rural patrol, and major incident calls in any part of Kent County not covered by a town force.
Troop 3 arrests flow into the State Police records section. You can request a Troop 3 incident report by writing to the DSP records desk. Note the case number if you have it, or give the arrest date and the charges to help the clerk find the right file.
Troop 3 also works in tandem with the Dover Police, the Kent County Sheriff, and smaller forces like the Harrington Police and the Milford Police. Major drug cases, OUI arrests on U.S. 13, and other cross-boundary incidents often pull in more than one agency.
Kent County Courthouse Records
The Kent County Courthouse sits at 414 Federal Street, Dover, DE 19901. The courthouse hosts the Court of Common Pleas for Kent County. That court hears criminal cases, civil cases, and preliminary hearings for felonies. Work hours run 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday.
The Clerk of Court's office holds charging papers, court orders, judgments, and sentencing sheets. The Clerk line is (302) 735-3900. Public access terminals let any person search case info during work hours. Certified copies carry a fee per page.
A Kent County docket covers the full arc of a case. You can see:
- Case number
- Defendant name and aliases
- Charges filed
- Court dates and rulings
- Disposition and sentencing details
The docket is the long tail of the original booking report. The booking file stays with the police; the docket stays with the clerk.
Emergency Services and Dispatch
The Kent County Emergency Services Building is at 911 Public Safety Boulevard, Dover, DE 19901. The center runs Emergency Communications, Emergency Management, and EMS. The dispatch side feeds calls to police agencies across the county. Call logs and dispatch data can be FOIA-pulled from the lead agency that took the call.
For a live emergency, dial 9-1-1. For a non-emergency, Dover Police main line is the first stop. Smaller towns route non-emergency calls through county dispatch.
Kent County Booking Reports and Other County Offices
Other offices at the Kent County Administrative Complex that can matter when a booking case moves through civil court are the Assessment Office at (302) 744-2401, the Register of Wills at (302) 744-2330, the Recorder of Deeds at (302) 744-2321, and the Clerk of the Peace at (302) 744-2346. None hold booking files, but some tie into probate or property work after a case closes.
The county follows state retention rules for Kent County Booking Reports. Arrest data stays in DELJIS. Town files follow Title 29, Chapter 5, Section 524 of the Delaware Code. Open investigatory files stay exempt under Section 10002(l).
When a booking ties to a probate or property dispute, the court file and the county office file may be pulled in tandem.
How to Pull a Kent County Booking File
Start by naming the arresting agency. If a Dover Police officer made the arrest, the file sits with Dover PD. If a state trooper made the arrest, it sits with Troop 3. If a Kent County Sheriff's deputy made the arrest, it sits with the Sheriff's Office.
Bring full legal name, date of birth, rough arrest date, and case number if you have it. Photo ID is required for in-person victim copies. Fees are paid by check or money order in most cases. Cash is rarely accepted by mail.
The state-level tools still apply to Kent County. Use the Delaware Wanted Person Search for open warrants. Use VINELink for live inmate status. Use the state FOIA statute to frame a formal request.
Background checks tied to a booking can be run through SBI in Dover. The SBI sits at 600 S. Bay Road Suite 1, Dover, DE 19901. Book a slot via the SBI criminal history page and bring photo ID. A certified state history is $72. A state plus federal check is $85 when the law calls for one.
The Kent County side of the Delaware Sex Offender Registry is public. Users can search by name, town, or zip code. Tier 2 and tier 3 listings show up. Tier 1 stays private.