Delaware County Arrest Booking Reports
Delaware County booking reports are created at the George W. Hill Correctional Facility in Thornton. The county sits just southwest of Philadelphia and is one of the most densely populated counties in Pennsylvania. Booking reports document each arrest and list charges, bail amounts, and personal details. Delaware County offers several ways to search these records, including an online inmate lookup tool. This page explains how booking reports work in Delaware County and where to find them.
Delaware County Quick Facts
George W. Hill Correctional Facility
The George W. Hill Correctional Facility is the main detention center for Delaware County. It sits at 500 Cheyney Road in Thornton. The facility houses pre-trial detainees and sentenced inmates in 12 housing units. Those units include general population, restricted housing, mental health, minimum and medium security, and protective custody. Warden Laura Williams oversees daily operations.
New arrivals go through a classification process that takes 7 to 10 days. During that time, staff conduct a medical exam, chaplain interview, pre-trial services review, and risk assessment. This process determines where the person will be housed. The facility also runs programs in counseling, GED education, adult basic education, ESL, and a Prison Reentry Education Program known as PREP. The vision is to increase public safety through these services.
The facility operates under core values of integrity, courage, ethics, honor, and respect. A weekend sentencing program is available for qualifying inmates in Delaware County. Call 610-361-3200, extension 255, for general inquiries about booking reports or inmate status.
The image below shows the Delaware County Sheriff's Office, which works closely with the correctional facility on law enforcement operations.
The Sheriff's Office is located at 55 West Mowery Drive in Media. It handles civil process, warrants, and courthouse security across Delaware County.
Search Delaware County Booking Reports Online
Delaware County provides an online inmate lookup tool. Visit the inmate lookup page to search by name. The results show the inmate number, full name, booking date and time, scheduled release date, total bond amount, and charges. This is the fastest way to check if someone is in custody at the George W. Hill Correctional Facility.
The image below shows the Delaware County inmate lookup system used to search booking reports.
The lookup updates as new bookings are processed. For older records that no longer appear in the active system, contact the facility or submit a public records request to the county.
You can also use the UJS Portal for court records tied to Delaware County arrests. Search by party name or case number. The portal shows docket sheets, charges, hearing dates, and case outcomes. Basic searches are free.
Delaware County Booking Reports and Public Records
Under 65 P.S. § 67.301, Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law grants the public access to government records. Booking reports are included. You can file a written request with the Delaware County open records officer for any booking report on file. The county has five business days to respond. You do not need to be a county resident or give a reason for your request.
Administrative offices are at 201 West Front Street in Media. Hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. You can also email questions to webmaster@co.delaware.pa.us. The county may charge a small copy fee, but the records remain open to all members of the public.
The Delaware County public access portal offers another way to search court records online. This tool covers case filings and court documents for Delaware County.
The portal above gives the public free access to court case data across Delaware County.
Note: Some records may be redacted or sealed based on court orders or state law in Delaware County.
Criminal Records in Delaware County
Booking reports are one piece of a larger record. The Criminal History Record Information Act under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101 governs how criminal data is stored and shared in Pennsylvania. This law covers Delaware County and all other counties. It sets rules for what is public and what needs special clearance.
The PATCH system at epatch.pa.gov runs statewide criminal history checks. Results include convictions and pending cases. The search covers Delaware County and every other county. Sealed and expunged records do not appear in PATCH results. For jail-specific booking reports, contact the George W. Hill Correctional Facility directly.
Delaware County Facility Visitation
The George W. Hill Correctional Facility offers contact visits for inmates. Visitors must bring a photo ID. Children under 18 must be with a parent or guardian. All visitors go through a pat search, metal detector, and IONSCAN screening. The facility is tobacco-free.
Mail to inmates is digitally delivered through a tablet system. Send correspondence to the facility at 500 Cheyney Road in Thornton, or use the mailing address at P.O. Box 23, Thornton, PA 19373. Legal mail follows separate rules and is opened in the presence of the inmate.
Sealed and Expunged Booking Reports
Expungement under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122 allows a person to petition the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas to remove certain records from public view. Once granted, those booking reports are erased from public databases. The court in Media handles all petitions.
Act 5 of 2019 introduced automatic sealing for qualifying offenses. Certain misdemeanors and summary offenses are sealed after a period with no new charges. Once sealed, those Delaware County booking reports are hidden from public search results. Only law enforcement and select agencies retain access. Juvenile records follow separate rules under 42 Pa.C.S. § 6308 and are generally private.
Delaware County Detention Facility Details
Below is the contact information for the George W. Hill Correctional Facility and related Delaware County offices.
| Facility |
George W. Hill Correctional Facility 500 Cheyney Road Thornton, PA 19373 Phone: (610) 361-3200 Ext 255 |
|---|---|
| Admin Office |
201 West Front Street Media, PA 19063 Hours: 8:30-4:30 Mon-Fri |
| Sheriff |
55 West Mowery Drive, Media, PA 19063 delawarecountysheriff.org |
The Delaware County Prison page on the county website has additional details about programs, policies, and procedures at the facility.
Families can use VINELink to track an inmate's custody status in Delaware County. This free service sends alerts by phone, email, or text when a status change occurs.
Nearby Counties
Delaware County borders Philadelphia and two other Pennsylvania counties. Arrests near county lines may be processed in a neighboring jurisdiction. If you cannot locate a booking report in Delaware County, search these nearby county systems.