Fresno Inmate Custody Search

Fresno inmate population data is maintained by the Fresno County Sheriff's Office. The city of Fresno does not have its own jail. When Fresno police make an arrest, the person transfers to county custody. The sheriff runs the main jail in downtown Fresno and a satellite facility in the county. You can search for inmates online at no cost through the sheriff's inmate search tool. This page covers how to use that tool, what other resources exist, and what California law says about accessing Fresno inmate records.

Fresno County Inmate Search Tool

The Fresno County Sheriff has an online inmate search on its website. Go to the Fresno County Inmate Search page and type a last name. You can add a first name to narrow things down. The tool returns results for current inmates in Fresno County custody. Each result shows the person's name, date of birth, booking date, charges, bail amount, and facility. The system updates throughout the day as new bookings come in and people get released.

Fresno County runs two main facilities. The Fresno County Jail is at 1225 M Street in downtown Fresno. This is the primary booking location for the city of Fresno and surrounding areas. The jail holds both pretrial inmates and people serving short sentences. The second facility is the satellite jail used for overflow and lower-security inmates. Fresno County's average daily jail population has been around 2,500 to 3,000 in recent years. That makes it one of the larger county jail systems in California's Central Valley.

The Fresno County Sheriff's inmate search page is shown below.

If you cannot find someone through the online tool, call the Fresno County Sheriff at (559) 475-9491. Phone staff can check records that might not show up online yet.

Fresno City Jail Status

Fresno does not run a city jail. The Fresno Police Department processes arrests at its headquarters and division stations, but holding is handled by the county. Once an arrest is made, the person transfers to the Fresno County Jail typically within hours. This is standard in California. Most cities do not have their own jail facilities. The county sheriff handles custody for all cities within the county borders.

If you need info about a very recent arrest in Fresno before it shows up in the county system, call Fresno PD at (559) 621-7000. The non-emergency line can confirm whether someone was picked up and give you a rough timeline for when the person will be in the county jail system. Clovis, the other major city in Fresno County, also routes all its arrests through the county sheriff.

Statewide Inmate Search Options

California provides two main statewide tools that work for Fresno area searches. CIRIS is the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation inmate locator. It covers all 34 state prisons. If a Fresno resident was sentenced to state prison, CIRIS will show their current location, admission date, and parole information. County jail inmates do not appear in CIRIS. The tool is free for everyone and requires only a last name to search.

VINELink is a statewide notification system. It covers all 58 California counties including Fresno. Search by name to check if someone is in custody anywhere in the state. VINE also sends alerts. You sign up with your phone number or email and get notified when an inmate's custody status changes. This is useful for crime victims and family members in the Fresno area. Call 1-877-411-5588 to use VINE by phone. The BSCC Jail Profile Survey gives monthly jail population stats for Fresno County if you want historical data.

Fresno Inmate Records and the Law

Government Code 6254(f) makes arrest and booking data public in California. This is why the Fresno County Sheriff can post inmate names, charges, and bail amounts online. Anyone can access this data. You do not need a reason. No ID required. The law covers all booking records generated by law enforcement in Fresno and across the state.

Full criminal histories are not public. Penal Code 11105 restricts access to criminal history records in California. Only law enforcement, authorized agencies, and the person themselves can see the full record. To check your own criminal history in Fresno, go to a Live Scan fingerprinting site and pay $25 to the DOJ. Several locations operate in the Fresno area. Results come back in a few business days. The Fresno County Public Defender's office at 2135 Fresno Street can help residents understand their records and options for clearing old charges.

Note: Booking records are public. Criminal history is not. Know the difference when searching Fresno inmate population records.

Visiting Fresno County Inmates

Fresno County Jail allows visits on a set schedule. Each housing unit has its own days and times. Check the sheriff's website for current visiting hours. You need photo ID. Video visits are available at the main jail. In-person visits happen at designated windows with glass dividers. Arrive early since processing takes time, especially on weekends when more visitors come to the Fresno facility.

Phone calls from Fresno County jail cost money. The provider sets rates. State prison calls in California have been free since January 2023, but county jail calls still charge fees. Mail goes to the Fresno County Jail at 1225 M Street, Fresno, CA 93706. Write the inmate's full name and booking number on all envelopes. The jail also allows electronic messaging and commissary deposits through approved services listed on the sheriff's site.

Nearby City Inmate Records

These cities near Fresno have inmate population data you can search. Clovis shares the Fresno County jail system. Bakersfield is in neighboring Kern County.

For full county jail details, see the Fresno County inmate population page.