Fontana Inmate Records

Fontana inmate population records are handled by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. Fontana has its own police department but does not run a city jail. After an arrest, Fontana Police book the person into the San Bernardino County jail system. The West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga is the closest major facility to Fontana. It sits just a few miles west of the city. The sheriff runs a free online booking search that covers all county detention centers at once. You can look up a Fontana inmate by name and see charges, bail, and facility information within seconds. For state prison inmates from Fontana, the CDCR CIRIS tool is the right search.

San Bernardino County Jail for Fontana

Fontana is part of San Bernardino County. The county sheriff handles all jail operations. There is no city jail in Fontana. The Fontana Police Department has temporary holding cells at their station on Sierra Avenue for short-term processing. After arrest paperwork is done, the person transfers to a county detention center.

The West Valley Detention Center at 9500 Etiwanda Avenue in Rancho Cucamonga is the primary booking facility for the western part of San Bernardino County. Fontana sits right next to Rancho Cucamonga, making West Valley the natural destination for most Fontana arrests. The facility has a large capacity and processes a high volume of bookings every day. The Central Detention Center in the city of San Bernardino also takes inmates from the Fontana area at times, depending on space and classification.

The Fontana Police can confirm if they arrested someone. For custody status and booking records after the arrest, contact the San Bernardino County Sheriff at (909) 350-2476. They manage all inmate data from that point on.

Note: Fontana PD handles arrests, but the sheriff handles custody. These are two different agencies with separate records systems.

Fontana Inmate Booking Search

The San Bernardino County Sheriff runs a public booking search on the county website. This tool covers all detention centers in the county, including the facilities where Fontana inmates go. Search by name to find current inmates. Results show charges, bail, booking date, and which facility holds the person. The tool is free and updates throughout the day.

Start a search at the San Bernardino County booking search page shown below.

Enter at least a last name. Add a first name if you can. San Bernardino County is large and processes many bookings. Common names return long lists. The tool shows only current inmates. Released people drop off the results. If you need historical booking data from a Fontana arrest, call the sheriff's records division. They can pull older records by phone.

Statewide Search Options

VINELink is a free tool that covers all California counties. Use it to search for Fontana inmates across the entire state. VINE is useful when you do not know which county or facility holds someone. It also sends alerts. Sign up and pick an inmate in San Bernardino County. When their custody status changes, you get a call, text, or email. The VINE phone line is 1-877-411-5588. It is always open.

For Fontana inmates in state prison, the CIRIS inmate locator is the right tool. CIRIS covers every California state prison. It shows the person's current location, admission date, and parole hearing schedule. The California Institution for Men in nearby Chino is one of the CDCR facilities in San Bernardino County, but CIRIS searches all state prisons at once. County jail inmates do not appear in CIRIS. These are separate systems that track different groups of inmates.

The BSCC Jail Profile Survey tracks San Bernardino County jail population data over time. Monthly reports show bookings, average daily population, and capacity. Fontana's share of county bookings is part of this data set.

Fontana Records Under California Law

Fontana booking data is public. Government Code 6254(f) says law enforcement must release arrest and booking information in California. The San Bernardino County Sheriff follows this law when posting the booking search online. Names, charges, bail, and dates are open to anyone.

Criminal history is restricted though. Penal Code 11105 keeps full criminal records under DOJ control. You cannot access a complete background report through the sheriff's booking tool. It shows current custody only. The Fontana inmate population data online is a snapshot, not a full record. For your own criminal history, use a Live Scan location in Fontana. Pay $25 to the DOJ and submit fingerprints. Results come back in a few days.

Contacting Fontana Area Inmates

Inmates at the West Valley Detention Center can receive visits and phone calls. Visiting happens on a set schedule. You need a valid photo ID. Hours depend on the housing unit. Check the San Bernardino County Sheriff's website for the current schedule before going. The drive from Fontana to West Valley in Rancho Cucamonga is short, usually under 15 minutes.

Phone calls from San Bernardino County jails go through an automated system. California caps the rates jails can charge. Electronic messaging is available through kiosk systems in the facilities. Family members set up accounts to send and receive messages with Fontana area inmates in county custody. Video visiting may also be an option depending on the facility. Check with the jail directly for the latest communication options.

Nearby Cities

Cities near Fontana with inmate population search pages.

San Bernardino County

Fontana is part of San Bernardino County. The county page has all detention center details, search tools, and sheriff contacts.