Fresno Arrest and Public Records | California.StateRecords.org

What Are Fresno Public Records?

Fresno public records are government-generated documents of any format that are not under any statutory restrictions on public access or disclosure. These documents consist of written, typed, photographed, or electronically recorded data and mostly provide information on the actions or conduct of government bodies in the city. According to state laws, Fresno public records are mainly open when disclosure does not jeopardize the department's operations, infringe on privacy laws, or potentially cause harm to an individual. Examples of exempted information include:

Information concerning ongoing investigations or pending litigations
Trade secrets
Personal data that violates personal privacy
Medical, personnel, security, and privilege information
Other records deemed to be confidential by law.

Fresno Crime Statistics

According to the crime data provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigations under its Uniform Crime Report (UCR) program, Fresno City had 20,740 reported offenses in 2018, divided into 2,953 violent crimes and 17,787 property crimes. Violent crimes comprised 32 murders or nonnegligent manslaughters, 170 rapes, 909 robberies, and 1,842 cases of aggravated assault. In contrast, property crimes for the same year consisted of 2,949 burglaries, 2,365 motor vehicle thefts, 264 arsons, and 12,473 larceny-thefts, which was the most recurring crime that year. According to the annual report of the Fresno Police Department, there were 15.7%, 6.3%, and 17.3% reductions in overall crime, violent crimes, and property crimes, respectively, in 2018 compared to the 2017 statistics.

Are Fresno Criminal Records Public?

Although Fresno criminal records are not public information, some records may be provided for employment, licensing, or volunteering purposes. Individuals can obtain their criminal records from the California Department of Justice by conducting background checks/live scan fingerprint checks through the Fresno County Sheriff Office or at the Records and Information Service Bureau of the Fresno Police Department for $30.

How to Obtain Police Reports and Arrest Records

Fresno collision reports and other police reports of the Fresno Police Department are available at the Records and Information Service Bureau. In accordance with the California Department of Justice, this bureau stores information in various formats and may release them to eligible requesters, via online or over-the-counter at the Records Lobby located at:

Police Records and Information Service Bureau
2323 Mariposa Street,
Fresno, CA 93721
(Monday - Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.)

As there are statutory limitations on the disclosure of police records, eligible requesters often consist of persons involved in the incident, the subject’s legal guardian, legal representatives, and insurance provider (if applicable). The bureau also requires requesters to provide information such as involved parties’ names, case numbers, and the location of incidents to facilitate the search.

Note: Collision records are free at the Records Lobby but cost $12 when obtained online.

How to Find Sex Offender Information in Fresno

Individuals interested in obtaining information on sex offenders who reside in the City of Fresno may do so with the search tool available on the Megan’s Law website. The database provides mapping with color-categorization of offenders and various search criteria, including:

Name search: With the offender's first and last name.
Address search: With address and searchable mile radius
City search
County search
Zip code search
Near me: With device location

Results will show a listing of postable offenders, including their full names, aliases, physical identifiers, risk assessment levels, offense description, conviction and release dates, locations, and others. Victims of crimes may also access offender details through the victim information services provided by the Sheriff’s Office.

How to Find Fresno Inmate Records

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office manages the records of individuals who are incarcerated in Fresno or other municipalities. Interested persons can use the inmate search tool to search for records using the inmates booking number or name. Results will provide a list of possible matches with each person’s inmate ID, booking number, full name, sex, race, birth date, and age. Clicking on an inmate’s booking number will provide further details on physical description, arrest information, charges, case status, and bail details. There is also a listing of recently released inmates available online. For additional information, contact the Sheriff Office at:

2200 Fresno Street,
Fresno, CA 93721
Phone: (559) 600-8400 (Records)

How Do I Visit an Inmate in Fresno City Jail?

Visits to any Fresno County jail must comply with the visitation rules provided by the Sheriff’s Office. Inmates incarcerated in any jail facility in Fresno County can receive unlimited legal visits and two 30-minutes or a single one-hour social visit weekly. The facilities receive visits daily, but individuals who wish to visit somebody incarcerated in any Fresno jail facility should consult the visitation schedule for the particular facility or holding cell before making visits to:

Main Jail
1225 M Street
Fresno, CA 93721

North Annex Jail
1265 M Street
Fresno, CA 93721

South Annex Jail
2280 Fresno Street
Fresno, CA 93721

Up to three persons, including minors, can visit an inmate at a time, and minors may only visit direct relatives in the company of an adult. All visitors must dress appropriately, and adults must come with valid identification. The facility will carry out metal detection screening, searches, and monitoring, so avoid taking in contrabands, which will result in sanctions like ban or criminal charges. Find more information on the dress code, visiting rules, and other requirements on the jail visiting webpage.

Court Records

Fresno City court records are any paper, electronic, or digital documents that contain information gathered by courts in the city to provide summaries of court actions and proceedings. These court materials include, but are not limited to, dockets, judgment rolls, e-fillings, transcripts, audio/video recordings, and so on. Courts in the City of Fresno have an obligation to provide members of the public access to view, inspect, or obtain copies of a variety of these records.

Locations of Courts in Fresno

Fresno County Superior Court
B.F. Sisk Courthouse
1130 O Street,
Fresno, CA 93721
Phone: (559) 457-2000

Fresno County Superior Court
Criminal Courts Departments 95 & 96
1265 M Street,
Fresno, CA 93721
Phone: (559) 457-2000

Fresno County Superior Court - Downtown
1100 Van Ness Avenue,
Fresno, CA 93724
Phone: (559) 457-2000

Fresno County Superior Court - Juvenile
Juvenile Delinquency Facility
3333 East American Avenue,
Suite A,
Fresno, CA 93725
Phone: (559) 457-4810

Fresno County Superior Court
M Street Courthouse
2317 Tuolumne Street,
Fresno, CA 93721
Phone: (559) 457-1700

Are Fresno Court Records Public?

No, there are some limitations on the public availability of some Fresno court records, confidential sections of documents, or case information. According to the California Public Records Act, documents containing information on juvenile court proceedings, family court records on child custody, reports on persons with mentally disordered persons, amongst others.

Can You Look Up a Fresno Court Case Online?

Yes, individuals may look up cases that happened in Fresno Courts on the Fresno court portal. Individuals can look-up cases by using various search criteria, including:

Smart search: With record number or full names
Party search: With business name, party name, nickname, date of birth, and unique identifying number
Case search: With case type, status, file start/end date, and name of the judicial officer
Judgment search: With judgment type and date
General options search: With the details mentioned earlier.

Users should note that not all records are available online, and requests may have to be made via mail or in-person.

How to Obtain Fresno Civil Court Case Records

Individuals can obtain information or records on civil cases that took place in Fresno City online, onsite, or following mailed requests. For online access, individuals may look up cases that happened in Fresno Courts on the Fresno court portal. Individuals can search for records according to party names, case details, judgment type, and so on. The same information may also be provided when making queries in person or mailing completed request forms to the court where proceedings took place.

How to Obtain Fresno Criminal Court Records

Individuals can obtain information or records on criminal cases that took place in Fresno City online, onsite, or following mailed requests. For online access, individuals may look up cases that happened in Fresno Courts on the Fresno court portal. Individuals can search for records according to party names, case details, judgment type, and so on. The same information may also be provided when making queries in person or mailing completed request forms to the court where proceedings took place.

What Are Fresno Vital Records?

Fresno City vital records are official documents that contain information verifying or summarizing life events that happened to persons under the city’s jurisdiction. Examples of these events include births, deaths, and divorces that occurred within the city's territory, marriages that were licensed in the city, and other events documented by city departments.

Where and How to Obtain Fresno Divorce Records

Like all court records, individuals can obtain copies of Fresno divorce records from the Fresno County Superior Court where the divorce occurred. For copies of the document, make requests in person or mail request letters with required descriptions like the case number, divorcees’ full names (including current last name), county of divorce, divorce date, and other requester details to:

1130 O Street,
Second Floor
Fresno, CA 93721-2220
Phone: (559) 457-2100
Fax: (559) 457-2141

Interested persons may also get divorce records from the California Department of Public Health with a similar process. Download, fill, and mail completed request forms along with $14 per copy, and a self-addressed stamped envelope to: