The Delaware Department of Correction (DE DOC) is the state agency that manages Delaware's entire adult correctional system — from pretrial detention and short-term jail sentences to long-term imprisonment and community supervision. Its administrative headquarters is at 245 McKee Road, Dover, Kent County, Delaware 19904. Delaware is one of a small number of states that operates a unified correctional system, meaning the DOC manages both the jail function (pretrial detention and short sentences) and the prison function (longer sentences) under one agency. There is no separate county jail network — the DOC handles all adult custody statewide.
Our directory holds over 11,330 historical arrest and booking records linked to Delaware correctional facilities — a cumulative count across time, not the current population at any single site. The DOC headquarters can be reached at 302-739-5601, and the agency's full resources are available at www.doc.delaware.gov.
Delaware's Unified Correctional System: What It Means for Families
The unified model is Delaware's most distinctive feature — and one that simplifies the process for families who often find themselves navigating complex handoffs between county jails and state prisons in other states. In Delaware, whether someone was arrested last night or sentenced to a decade in prison, they are in the DOC system from the start. There are no county jails to contact separately, and no transfers between county and state systems to track. The DOC operates all adult custody and community supervision in the state.
Delaware has approximately 4,500 individuals in custody across its secure facilities at any given time, with about 10,000 additional people on probation supervision in the community. The state's imprisonment rate stands at approximately 314 per 100,000 residents, with a total supervised prison population of around 3,118.
Delaware's Correctional Facilities
DOC operates four Level V (maximum security / prison) facilities and a network of Level IV community corrections centers:
- James T. Vaughn Correctional Center (Smyrna): Delaware's largest prison, housing adult males across multiple security classifications — maximum, medium, and minimum custody. Vaughn also hosts Delaware's death row population. The facility was the site of a serious 2017 uprising that resulted in the death of a correctional officer and led to significant operational reforms.
- Howard R. Young Correctional Institution (Wilmington): Primarily functions as Delaware's urban pretrial detention and short-sentence facility, serving New Castle County — the most populous county in the state and home to Wilmington, Delaware's largest city.
- Sussex Correctional Institution (Georgetown): Serves adult males in southern Delaware, with medium and minimum custody units. Sussex County is the state's largest county by area and the fastest-growing in recent years.
- Delores J. Baylor Women's Correctional Institution (New Castle): The designated facility for adult women in Delaware's system, offering housing and programming across multiple security levels.
At the community corrections level (Level IV), the DOC operates facilities that house individuals on work release, in substance abuse treatment programs, or serving sentences in a lower-security community setting. The Community Corrections Treatment Center (CCTC) in Smyrna is a key facility in this network, offering work release programs. As of March 2026, the Plummer Community Corrections Center in Wilmington was closed — those originally designated for Plummer's work release program are now largely served at CCTC in Smyrna. The closure has drawn advocacy attention from families and community organizations in northern Delaware who valued the program's proximity to Wilmington employment and family networks.
How to Find an Inmate in Delaware
Delaware's unified system makes inmate searches more straightforward than in most states. You have several options:
- PrisonAssist.com: Search by name to check our directory for Delaware DOC records.
- Delaware DOC Inmate Search: The DOC website at www.doc.delaware.gov offers an online offender search covering the entire custody population — pretrial, sentenced, and community corrections. You can search by name or DOC number.
- Phone: Call DOC headquarters at 302-739-5601 for direction to the appropriate facility or records office.
Because Delaware uses a unified system, someone recently arrested in Wilmington will appear in the DOC database — there is no separate municipal or county booking system to check first. Bookings are typically reflected in the statewide database within a few hours of intake.
Intake, Orientation, and Classification in Delaware
When a new person enters DOC custody — whether arrested and held pretrial or newly sentenced — they go through a structured intake and orientation process that may last up to two weeks. During intake, a medical assessment is conducted within the first few hours of arrival, followed by a comprehensive medical and mental health evaluation. Orientation covers facility rules, visitation procedures, phone and tablet access, available programs, and the inmate handbook.
For sentenced individuals, classification follows orientation to determine the appropriate security level and housing assignment. Classification considers the nature of the offense, criminal history, behavioral risk factors, and programming needs. The result determines which DOC facility and security level the person will be assigned to.
Visitation at Delaware DOC Facilities
The Delaware DOC supports visitation as a critical component of rehabilitation and reintegration. Each facility has its own visiting schedule and rules, but the general framework across the system:
- Approved visitor list: Visitors must be on the inmate's approved visiting list before their first visit. The inmate initiates the request through facility staff. Approval involves a review process and may include a background check. Start this process early — approval can take several weeks.
- Photo ID: All adult visitors must present valid government-issued photo ID at check-in. Driver's licenses, state IDs, and passports are standard. Expired IDs are not accepted.
- Visiting schedule: Days and hours vary by facility and housing unit. Check the specific facility's page on the DOC website or call the facility directly before traveling — schedules can change due to lockdowns, holidays, and staffing needs.
- Dress code: Dress codes are enforced at all facilities. Clothing resembling inmate uniforms, revealing clothing, and items with inappropriate content are prohibited. Confirm the specific facility's rules before your visit.
- Children visiting: Minor visitors must be accompanied by an approved adult visitor. Additional documentation may be required for children. Confirm requirements in advance.
Delaware's community corrections centers (Level IV facilities) typically have more flexible visiting arrangements than the Level V prisons. If your loved one is at CCTC in Smyrna or another community corrections location, confirm their specific schedule directly with that facility.
Mail in Delaware: The Family Handbook and Current Rules
The Delaware DOC produces a Family Handbook — updated in 2025 and available through the Behind the Bars advocacy organization — that provides detailed guidance for families navigating the system. For mail to reach a DOC inmate:
- Address mail with the inmate's full committed name, their DOC number, and the mailing address of the specific facility where they are housed.
- Use plain white envelopes in standard sizes. Padded mailers, colored envelopes, and envelopes with internal security patterns or metallic finishes are typically rejected during mailroom screening.
- Write on plain white paper. Avoid stickers, colored paper, and anything adhesive inside the envelope.
- Photographs are generally permitted within limits — confirm current guidelines with the specific facility, as rules on size, quantity, and content vary.
- Books and publications must typically be sent new from publishers or approved vendors and shipped directly to the facility.
- Do not include cash or gift cards in letters — use the approved money transfer system.
Our letter service handles formatting, printing, and mailing your correspondence in compliance with Delaware DOC mail rules, reducing the risk of mailroom rejection across any DOC facility.
Phone Calls and Tablets in Delaware DOC
Delaware's DOC provides both phone calls and tablet access for incarcerated individuals — a notable feature compared to many state systems. Tablets may be available for messaging, education apps, and entertainment, in addition to traditional phone calls through the facility's contracted carrier. The orientation process covers how to access both phone and tablet services.
Phone calls are placed through the contracted carrier. Family members can fund prepaid accounts through the carrier's website or app for more economical per-minute rates than collect calls. All calls are recorded and monitored except attorney-client communications. Our discounted phone call service reduces per-minute rates, keeping regular contact affordable without changes to the inmate's existing setup.
Commissary Deposits and Care Packages
Delaware DOC inmates can purchase approved personal items through their facility's commissary store using funds held in their inmate account. To deposit funds, check the DOC website for accepted platforms — JPay and similar services are commonly used. Allow one to two business days for funds to post.
Care packages through approved vendors may be available for Delaware DOC inmates. Confirm current availability and approved vendor information through the DOC website or by contacting the specific facility before placing any order.
Bail in Delaware
Because Delaware operates a unified system, bail applies at the same point as in other states — at the initial court appearance for pretrial detainees. A justice of the peace or Superior Court judge sets bail based on offense severity, criminal history, and community ties. A licensed Delaware bail bondsman can post a surety bond for approximately 10% of the total bail amount if the detainee cannot pay the full amount themselves. The bondsman's premium is non-refundable.
Delaware also uses a risk assessment tool to inform pretrial release decisions, and some individuals may be released on their own recognizance or under supervised release conditions rather than through cash bail, depending on the offense and risk profile.
Work Release and Community Corrections in Delaware
Delaware's community corrections system — Level IV facilities — provides a critical bridge between secure incarceration and full release. Work release programs allow eligible inmates to leave the facility during the day for employment and return each evening. The CCTC in Smyrna, which expanded its work release population from 30 to 57 participants between February and May 2026 following Plummer's closure, is now the primary location for men in work release programs statewide.
Advocates and participants have raised concerns about the impact of the Plummer closure on individuals from northern Delaware — losing access to employment and family networks in the Wilmington area. Families of people in work release should confirm which facility their loved one is assigned to and what community access is available.
Parole, Probation, and Reentry in Delaware
When people are released from Delaware DOC custody, many transition to probation supervision managed by the DOC's Bureau of Community Corrections. The DOC operates six Probation and Parole offices across the state's three counties — New Castle, Kent, and Sussex — providing supervision services for the approximately 10,000 people under community supervision at any given time.
Delaware's DOC contracts with reentry professionals who work with incarcerated individuals before and after release, helping them connect to housing, employment, healthcare, and benefit programs. For families supporting a loved one through release, understanding what supervision conditions apply — reporting frequency, travel restrictions, employment requirements — is essential for planning effective support.
PREA and Reporting Safety Concerns
The Delaware DOC has a zero-tolerance policy toward sexual abuse and sexual harassment under the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA). All incarcerated individuals receive PREA education during orientation. Incidents can be reported verbally or in writing to any staff member, by calling the toll-free PREA hotline from any facility phone, or by contacting the DOC statewide PREA coordinator at 302-857-5435. Reports may be made anonymously. For families concerned about the safety of a loved one in DOC custody, this reporting mechanism is one available tool alongside direct staff communication and advocacy organizations.
Delaware's Incarceration Context
Delaware's imprisonment rate of 314 per 100,000 residents is near the national average. The state's unified correctional model — unusual among American states — means that the DOC has a broad mandate, overseeing everything from overnight pretrial detention to long-term maximum-security incarceration and community supervision. This integrated approach offers advantages in service continuity and data management, but it also means the DOC bears responsibility for a wide spectrum of individuals with very different needs. For families, the unified system means a single starting point — the DOC website and headquarters — for all questions, regardless of where your loved one is in the legal process.
Inmate service providers at Delaware Department of Corrections (DE DOC)
Like most US jails and prisons, Delaware Department of Corrections (DE DOC) relies on private companies for phone calls, video visits, money transfers, and care packages, each with its own fees and sign-up steps. Nationwide the most common providers are Securus and ViaPath (GTL) for calls and video, JPay and Access Corrections for sending money, and Access Securepak for care packages.
Not sure which company serves the Delaware Department of Corrections (DE DOC)? Our inmate service provider directory explains how each one works, what it charges, and how to set up an account before you pay.