Crime Numbers
Sussex County crime data are available from the Statistical Analysis Center of the Delaware Criminal Justice Council and the State Bureau of Identification. The most recent crime data collated for Sussex County is for 2021. In that year, the county recorded 484 violent crimes and 1,804 property crimes. Compared to 2012 crime numbers for the county, violent and property crime rates fell by 13.6%, and 6.3% respectively in 2021.
A closer look at the reported violent crimes for 2021 shows that the county recorded 5 homicides, 29 rapes, 26 robberies, and 426 assaults. Property crimes reported for the same period include 8 arsons, 287 burglaries, 1,385 larcenies, and 132 motor vehicle thefts.
Criminal Records
The State Bureau of Identification (SBI) provides criminal background checks for Sussex County. The requester is required to provide a rolled fingerprint card and a valid photo ID to make a request. Each background check costs $52 payable by credit card, certified check, or money order. Note that the Bureau does not accept American Express cards and personal checks. To make a request for a background check in the county, visit:
Thurman Adams State Service Center
546 S. Bedford Street
Room 202
Georgetown, DE
Call (302) 739-2528 ahead to schedule an appointment. The office is open to the public from Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. When requesting for a Sussex County background check outside the state of Delaware, write a signed authorization letter granting the Delaware State Police permission to conduct the check. Send the letter along with a completed fingerprint card and a money order for the $52 fee to:
Delaware State Police
State Bureau of Identification
P.O. Box 430
Dover, DE 19903
To obtain a copy of police report from Sussex County, visit any of the three locations of the Delaware State Police in the county. These locations are:
Delaware State Police: Troop 4
23652 Shortly Road
Georgetown, DE 19947
(302) 856-5850
Delaware State Police: Troop 5
9265 Public Safety Way
Bridgeville, DE 19933
(302) 337-1090
Delaware State Police: Troop 7
19444 Mulberry Knoll Road,
Lewes, DE 19958
(302) 644-5020
The Delaware State Police also provides accident reports for the county. Only mail requests are accepted for accident reports. The fee for a standard collision report is $25 while the fee for a fatal collision report is $60. Include a check or money order for the appropriate fee and the collision information exchange report provided at the scene of the accident. Send the request to:
Delaware State Police
Traffic Operations Section
P.O. Box 430
Dover, DE 19903
(302) 739-5931
In accordance with the Delaware Code, the SBI unit of the Delaware State Police maintains a registry of sex offenders in the state and makes it available to the public online. To find a registered sex offender in Sussex County, visit the Delaware Sex Offender Central Registry page and search the database by name, address, zip code, workplace, and state of conviction.
Delaware State operates a unified correctional system with all correctional facilities and institutions falling under the jurisdiction of the State. The main correctional facility in the county is the Sussex Correctional Institution which is located at:
23203 Dupont Blvd
Georgetown, DE 19947
(302) 856-5280
The other detention center in the county is the Sussex Community Corrections Center (SCCC) which comprises the Crest Substance Abuse Treatment Program, the Sussex Work Release Center, and the Sussex Violation of Probation Center. The facility is located at:
23207 Dupont Blvd
Georgetown, DE 19947
(302) 856-5790
Family and friends can fund inmate accounts in any of these facilities by sending money orders by mail or dropping them off during scheduled visits. Information provided on a sent money order must include the inmate’s full name, inmate's SBI number, assigned institution, and the name of the remitter. Funds are credited to offenders' accounts within 24 hours of receipt.
Court Records
Sussex Court judiciary consists of a Supreme Court, a Court of Chancery, a Superior Court, a Family Court, a Court of Common Pleas, six Justice of the Peace Courts, and four Alderman Courts. The primary court of trial in Sussex County is the Superior Court with jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases except for equity cases which are handled by the Court of Chancery.
Sussex County Superior Court handles all felonies and most drug-related offenses. It also serves as the intermediate appellate court to the Court of Common Pleas which has jurisdictions over misdemeanors and civil cases with disputed claims less than $75,000. As the lowest court, the Justice of the Peace Court handles civil cases with disputed claim less than $15,000. Below are the addresses and contact details of the courts in the county:
Sussex County Superior Court
Sussex County Courthouse
1 The Circle, #2
Georgetown, DE 19947
Phone: (302) 855-7055
Fax: (302) 856-5739
Sussex County Court of Chancery
Court of Chancery Courthouse
34 The Circle
Georgetown, DE 19947
Phone: (302) 856-5777
Fax: (302) 856-5778
Sussex County Court of Common Pleas
Sussex County Courthouse
1 The Circle, #1
Georgetown, DE 19947
(302) 858-5700
Sussex County Family Court
22 The Circle
Georgetown, DE 19947
(302) 855-7400
Sussex County Justice of the Peace Court 2
35252 Hudson Way, #1
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
Phone: (302) 645-6163
Fax: (302) 645-8842
Sussex County Justice of the Peace Court 3
23730 Shortly Road
Georgetown, DE 19947
Phone: (302) 856-1445
Fax: (302) 856-5844
Sussex County Justice of the Peace Court 4
408 Stein Highway
Seaford, DE 19973
Phone: (302) 628-2036
Fax: (302) 625-2049
Sussex County Justice of the Peace Court 14
5 E Pine Street
Georgetown, DE 19947
Phone: (302) 856-4657
Fax: (302) 856-4659
Sussex County Justice of the Peace Court 17
23730 Shortly Road
Georgetown, DE 19947
Phone: (302) 856-1447
Fax: (302) 856-4654
Sussex County Justice of the Peace Court - Truancy Court
408 East Stein Highway
Seaford, DE 19973
Phone: (302) 629-5433
Fax: (302) 629-3427
Bethany Beach Alderman Court 31
214 Garfield Parkway
P.O. Box 109
Bethany Beach, DE 19930
Phone: (302) 537-3891
Fax: (302) 537-3776
Dewey Beach Alderman Court 36
Town Hall
105 Rodney Avenue
Dewey Beach, DE 19971
Phone: (302) 227-6630
Fax: (302) 227-6366
Laurel Alderman Court 35
201 Mechanic St.,
Laurel, DE 19956
(302) 875-2855
Rehoboth Beach Alderman Court 37
229 Rehoboth Avenue
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
Phone: (302) 227-7917
Fax: (302) 227-6595
Sussex County court records are maintained by each court in the county. Public access to these records is governed by the individual policy of the court. To obtain a copy of any court record, visit the court at the address provided above. The Delaware Court System provides online access to view civil cases of the county. To view these cases, visit the Delaware Courts website and select the Civil Case Search under the eService tab.
Vital Records
Sussex County divorce records from 1978 to the present are provided by the Records Department of the county's Family Court. To obtain a copy of a final divorce decree or annulment of marriage, make a request in person or by mail. For an in-person request, stop by:
Records Department
Family Court
22 The Circle
Georgetown, DE 19947
Phone: (302) 855-7400
The office is open to the public Monday through Friday (except legal holidays) from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A certified copy of divorce record costs $4 while a non-certified copy costs $1. Additional charges may be incurred for records that must be retrieved from archives. Send a mail request to the address above. It must include the name, date of birth, and a notarized signature of the requester. Enclose a check or money order for $4 for a certified copy or $1 for each non-certified copy requested. Divorce records prior to 1978 can be obtained in person at:
Delaware Public Archives
121 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd N
Dover, DE 19901
(302) 744-5000
Sussex County marriage, death, and birth records are provided by the Office of Vital Statistics. The Office holds birth certificates from 1947 to the present and death and marriage certificates from 1979 to the present. To make a request, complete a marriage, birth, or death form and submit it in person or by mail. Mail-in requests are addressed to:
Vital Statistics Office
Thurman Adams Jr. State Service Center
546 S. Bedford Street
Georgetown, DE 19947
(302) 515-3174
Visit the same address to submit a request in person. The office opens from Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. For further information, contact the Office of Vital Statistics by calling (302) 856-5495. Birth records before 1947 and death and marriage records prior to 1978 are held by the Delaware Public Archives. Certified copies of these vital records are provided at $25 each, payable by money order or check. To request copies of these records, contact the office by email or by visiting:
Delaware Public Archives
121 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. North
Dover, DE 19901
(302) 744-5000
