Fresno County Inmate Search
Inmate search tools provide a flexible way of learning the status of persons in correctional facilities in Fresno County, California. Depending on the offender, search results may include details such as the inmate's name, location, and booking date. This data is considered part of Fresno County Public Records per the California Public Record Act and can, therefore, be accessed by interested members of the public. Fresno County inmate searches may be necessary for a variety of reasons. Friends and family members often rely on inmate searches to check the status of loved ones. They are also used by legal professionals when gathering information for court-related duties.
Inmate records are considered public in the United States and therefore are made available by both traditional governmental agencies as well as third-party websites and organizations. Third-party websites may offer an easier means to search, as these services do not face geographical limitations. However, because third-party sites are not government-sponsored, the information obtained through them may vary from official channels. To find inmate records using third-party aggregate sites, requesting parties must provide:
- The location of the sought-after record, including state, county, and city where the inmate resides.
- The name of the person listed in the record, unless it is a juvenile.
Fresno County Crime and Incarceration Statistics
According to arrest statistics published by the California Department of Justice, in 2021, Fresno County recorded 9.795 felony arrests and 16,115 misdemeanors. It included 3,409 arrests for violent offenses and 1,357 arrests for property crimes. The county also recorded 405 drug arrests, 164 sex arrests, and 4,460 arrests for other crimes. Compared to the previous year, the county recorded more felony arrests but fewer misdemeanor arrests. The county had a clearance rate of 35.1 for violent crimes, with 55.2, 29.7, and 37 for homicide, robbery, and aggravated assault, respectively.
Fresno County Prison System
Fresno County's prison system consists of multiple county-run correctional facilities and a state and federal prison. The Fresno County Jail serves as the main correctional facility in the county. Made up of three different facilities with an underground connecting system, the County Jail comprises the North Annex Jail, the South Annex Jail, and the Main Jail. Fresno County is also home to the Pleasant Valley State Prison (PVSP), a minimum-maximum facility with a population of up to 2,300 inmates.
How to Find an Inmate in Fresno County
Finding an inmate in Fresno County will depend on the agency housing the inmate. To find an inmate housed in correctional facilities run by the county, members of the public can contact the Fresno County sheriff's office. However, information on inmates housed in state-run facilities or federal prisons can be found by contacting the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation or the Bureau of Prisons.
How Does a Fresno County Inmate Search Work?
Inmate searches provide access to a public database containing inmate information. Fresno County inmate searches are possible due to the California Public Records Act, which grants broad access to all records maintained by government agencies, except where exempted from disclosure by law. Some of the information that may be obtained during an inmate search includes:
- Inmate's booking date
- Inmate's booking number
- Name of the offender
- Any known Aliases
- Scars, tattoos, or any identifying marks
- Inmate mugshot
- Details of incarceration (length of time, eligibility for release)
- Name of the correctional institution holding the inmate
- Inmate's release date
- Physical descriptors (age, sex, race)
- Inmate's date of birth
- Criminal charges of the offender
- Status of the offender (paroled, active, or released)
- Fines
Where to Find a Fresno County Inmate Locator
Residents in Fresno County have multiple options for locating inmates, depending on the custodial agency (county, state, or federal). The Fresno County Sheriff's Office maintains an online inmate search tool for locating inmates within the county jail. Users can look up inmates using either a known name or booking number. Name-based searches must include the inmate's name. Residents can also obtain inmate information by contacting the sheriff's office.
However, the oversight of inmates housed in correctional facilities run by the state falls under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). Residents who wish to find inmates in the Pleasant Valley State Prison (PVSP) can use the inmate locator tool provided by the CDCR. Searches can be done using either the inmate's name (last name mandatory) or a known CDCR number. Members of the public who are unable to find an incarcerated inmate using this tool may be able to obtain more information by contacting the CDCR's Identification Unit at (916) 445-6713. The office opens Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (holidays not included).
Inmates incarcerated in federal facilities can be located using the Inmate Locator tool maintained by the Bureau of Prisons. Users have the option of either searching by name or using a BOP or FBI number. Name-based searches can also be refined using added criteria, such as the inmate's race, age, or sex.
In addition to government-backed locators, friends and family may also be able to find inmates located in Fresno using third-party inmate locators. Searches on these platforms typically require that users enter the inmate's first name, last name, or both to assist with the search. However, some third-party locators allow for free searches, while others might require that users pay a nominal small fee.
How to Send Money to a Fresno County Inmate
Friends and family can send money to a Fresno County inmate by making in-person deposits to the inmate's account at any kiosk in the jail lobby. Acceptable payment options include credit cards, debit cards, and cash. Deposits can also be made using the TouchDirect service or by calling its customer service line (18662041603). Either option requires users to provide the inmate's name, booking number, and facility number.
How to Visit a Fresno County Inmate
Visitations at the Fresno County jail occur throughout the week except on Mondays. However, visiting hours vary depending on the facility (North Jail, South Jail, and Main Jail). In addition, inmates are allowed up to 30-minute sessions and permitted a maximum of two visitors per visit (one of which may be a minor).
While at the facility, visitors are required to provide proper identification. Acceptable options include a valid passport, a driver's license, or an identification card issued by California or the US government.
Certain items, such as backpacks, cameras, weapons, strollers, and car seats/carriers, are prohibited during visits. In addition, visitors must follow the correctional facility's dressing regulations. This includes avoiding any revealing clothing that exposes the buttocks, trunk of the body, breast, or chest area.
How to Send Jail Mail in Fresno County
Inmates at the Fresno County jail are permitted to send and receive unlimited jail mail. However, all outgoing mail must be sent in pre-stamped envelopes. Every incoming and outgoing inmate mail is searched and scanned for security issues (except for legal and official correspondence).
Acceptable items include newspaper clippings, small photographs, greeting cards, postcards, and letters. Inmates may also receive newspapers, books (paperback only), and magazines if mailed directly from a bookstore or publisher. In contrast, inmates are not permitted to send or receive mail in a padded envelope or mail containing currency, nudes, sheets of plastic, postage stamps, colored markings, or any sexually explicit imagery or text. Letters sent to inmates should include the inmate's name, booking number, or identification number with the following addressing format:
Inmate's Name, Booking Number/Jail Identification Number
P.O. Box 872
Fresno, CA 93712
Personal photographs must also include the booking or jail identification numbers written on the reverse end.
Fresno County Jails and Prisons
The following are the names, addresses, and contact information of Fresno County jail facilities, prisons, and detention centers.
California State Prison,
1055 North Van Ness Avenue,
Fresno, CA
Elkhorn Correctional Facility,
500 East Elkhorn Avenue,
Caruthers, CA
FCI Mendota
33500 West California Avenue,
Mendota, CA
Fresno County Court School
744 South 10th Street,
Fresno, CA
Fresno County Jail North Annex
1265 M Street,
Fresno, CA
Fresno County Jail South Annex
2280 Fresno Street,
Fresno, CA
Fresno County Juvenile Justice Campus
3333 East American Avenue,
Fresno, CA
Fresno County Main Detention Facility
1225 M Street,
Fresno, CA
Miramonte Conservation Camp #5
49039 Orchard Drive,
Miramonte, CA
Pleasant Valley Prison
24863 West Jayne Avenue,
Coalinga, CA
Pleasant Valley State Prison (Pvsp)
24863 West Jayne Avenue,
Coalinga, CA
