Search Dover Recent Arrests
Dover recent arrests flow through the Dover Police Department, the state capital's full-time 24-hour agency at 400 South Queen Street. DPD is one of only three municipal police agencies in Delaware authorized to input directly into the DELJIS system, so Dover arrest data reaches the state database fast. For a case lookup, the Delaware Judiciary CourtConnect system covers every Kent County court. For a specific report from a Dover arrest, the records unit handles walk-ins and written requests. This page walks you through every route for finding Dover recent arrests.
Dover Overview
Dover Police Department Recent Arrests
The Dover Police Department (DPD) is the main agency for Dover recent arrests. DPD runs a full 24-hour operation with patrol, investigations, community policing, victim services, and a Police Athletic League (PAL) program. The station at 400 South Queen Street is open around the clock for walk-ins.
For news and press releases about recent Dover arrests, the Dover Police website posts updates and runs social media feeds on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. The department also publishes an annual report summary and a crime map.
The Delaware Criminal Justice Council keeps a transparency page for DPD with required HB205 disclosures.
The CJC Dover PD page hosts the HB205 annual reports for 2024 and 2025, plus incident narratives filed under 11 Del. C. 9210.
| Office | Dover Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 400 S. Queen Street, Dover, DE 19904 |
| Non-Emergency | (302) 736-7111 |
| contact@doverpolice.org | |
| Records Unit (Crime) | (302) 736-7105 |
| Records Unit (Crash) | (302) 736-7106 |
Dover PD Records Unit for Arrest Reports
The Dover Police records unit has six civilian staff. They review, input, store, and archive every document the department produces, including all criminal reports, arrest reports, traffic crash reports, traffic citations, and city ordinance summons.
Dover PD is one of only three municipal agencies in Delaware with direct DELJIS input rights. That means a Dover arrest shows up in the statewide system without a middle routing step. Records unit hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Most reports are ready for release within 7 to 10 days after the incident.
Crime reports for Dover arrests follow tight release rules:
- Victim's copy free with photo ID, in person
- Custodial parent for minor with proof of relationship
- Next of kin for deceased victim with proof
- Insurance company request in writing, $25 fee, no suspect info released
- No release to third parties without a court subpoena
Crash report copies cost $25 as well. Drivers, owners, and insurance companies can buy them. Call (302) 736-7106 to check if the report is ready. Traffic tickets and Dover city ordinance copies are free in person with a photo ID.
Note: Dover Police takes privacy seriously and only releases protected information after verifying the identity of the requester.
How to Search Dover Arrest Records
A Dover arrest search starts with a name, a citation, or a case number. Pick the tool that fits what you have.
The first stop is the Delaware CourtConnect portal. It covers Superior Court, Court of Common Pleas, and Justice of the Peace Court records for all Kent County cases. Search by name or case number. The result gives you charge details, hearings, and case status.
After that, check the Dover PD records unit for the underlying report. For a felony case from a Dover arrest, the case then moves to the Kent County Courthouse at 414 Federal Street. Justice of the Peace Court 7 at 480 Bank Lane, Dover handles many misdemeanor, DUI, and truancy matters. Call (302) 739-4554 for JoP Court 7.
For a certified criminal history, the SBI office at 655 South Bay Road, Suite 1B, Dover handles walk-ins. Hours run Monday 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM and Tuesday through Friday 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Fees are $72 for a Delaware history and $85 for state plus federal.
Dover Crime Map and Arrest Trends
Dover PD partners with CrimeMapping.com to publish an interactive map of reported incidents.
The Dover crime mapping database lets you filter by date range, crime type, and geographic area. You can submit tips from the map and sign up for mobile alerts when a crime happens in a specified zone. A free mobile app is on iPhone and Android.
The map caps at 500 records per view, so zoom in if you get that warning. The platform also shows sex offender data as an optional filter. Data comes from DPD after the report is approved.
Warrant Checks for Dover Arrests
Before a Dover arrest, an active warrant or capias sits in DELJIS. Run a name through the DELJIS Online Wanted Person Review. Last name is required. First name narrows the list.
Results show full name, birth month and year, pending charges, race, sex, issuing court, warrant number, and case number. The data pulls from every Delaware court, so a Kent County warrant, a New Castle warrant, or a Sussex warrant all appear in one search.
If a match comes back, the advice from Delaware State Police is simple: don't act on it yourself. Contact the issuing court. Only sworn officers can make arrests on a warrant.
To pay a Dover city ordinance fine after an arrest or citation, the Dover Police fine payment page walks through the options. You can pay by mail, in person at the records unit, by phone with a Visa or MasterCard at (302) 736-7105, or online for city ordinance items. Criminal fines and state traffic offenses require separate payment through the court.
City of Dover FOIA for Arrest Records
When a Dover arrest record falls outside what the records unit releases directly, you file a Freedom of Information Act request. The city runs its intake through the City Clerk's office.
The City of Dover FOIA portal has the request form and status tracker.
Crystal Wheeler serves as the FOIA coordinator and records manager. Reach the City Clerk's office at (302) 736-7008 or cityclerk@dover.de.us. The statute is Title 29, Chapter 100 of the Delaware Code, and the city has 15 business days to respond.
For fire investigative reports, those are not released without a court subpoena. A Statement of Verification is available from the Fire Marshal's Office at (302) 736-7099, Jason Osika, email Josika@dover.de.us. Some FOIA exemptions protect criminal investigatory files under §10002(l)(3) and criminal records that would invade privacy under §10002(l)(4).
Dover Arrest Custody Status
After a Dover arrest that ends in a hold, the person usually goes to the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center (JTVCC) in Smyrna, the Level 5 men's prison that serves Kent County. Women arrested in Dover may route to Baylor Women's Correctional Institution in New Castle. Use the DOC inmate locator and VINELink to confirm status and sign up for free alerts.
Kent County Recent Arrests
Dover is the Kent County seat. All felony cases from a Dover arrest move to Superior Court in the Kent County Courthouse on Federal Street. For more on county-level resources, see the county page.
Nearby Cities
These Kent County cities share the Dover courthouse and DELJIS system.