Fresno County Jail

The Fresno County Jail is located in Fresno, California and is operated by the Fresno County Sheriff's Office.

Inmate Search

To find out if your loved one is being held at the Fresno County Jail, click here to use the online search function or use VINE (see below). The online inmate search function features all available public information about any inmate in the Sheriff's custody. 

The inmate's housing location, Booking Number, Jail Identification Number (also referred to as JID or Person ID), charges, bail amount, and projected release date (if known) are available by visiting the Inmate Locator page.

VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday)

Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) is a free and anonymous telephone service that provides victims of crime both information and notification. VINE monitors the custody status of offenders in the Fresno County Jail and receives updated information every 15 minutes.

The Toll Free Number for California VINE is 1.877.411.5588. Anyone can call the California State VINE line to determine an inmate's custody status. To search for offender information, callers will need one of the following items:

• Offender name or alias
• Secondary search option (if there is more than one offender with the same name), such as:
  • Arrest date
  • Date of birth
  • Middle initial
  • Offender identification number

VINE will let callers know about the offender's current custody status, the location of the inmate, and their offender number. 

Jail Information Office

If you have a question that you can't find an answer to online, you can call Fresno County's Jail Information Office at (559) 475-9491. This number was established to assist in answering general questions.

Booking & Classification

When someone is arrested in Fresno County, they are taken to a local police station for booking. If they are arrested for DUI, officers will conduct a breath, urine, and blood test. This process can take up to four hours, and can delay their information being loaded into the Jail system. 

If they are going to be held at the jail, an arrested person will go through the intake process. That includes being screened by a nurse, searched for contraband, photographed, and fingerprinted. The officers will enter the charges into the computer system, bail will be determined, and the arrestee will be placed into the inmate population.

Some inmates may be eligible for release on citation very soon after booking. Intoxicated inmates will be held for up to six hours, and sometimes longer, to ensure they are sober enough to be safely released.

Most inmates are eligible for bail, and they have access to telephones to arrange bail through friends, family, or bail agents. 

Money & Property

Arresting officers are required to inventory the personal property of an arrestee and seal it in a bag for storage. Any cash will be deposited into a TouchPay kiosk in the intake area so the arrestee can use the money to make phone calls or purchase items from the commissary. All remaining money will be returned to the arrestee when they are released. 

Prior to being assigned to a housing unit, inmates are required to exchange their personal clothing for Jail clothing. Their personal clothing is bagged and stored securely until their release.

All newly admitted inmates are provided with basic hygiene items (toothbrush, toothpaste, razor, soap, comb, cup) and correspondence materials (paper, pencils, two stamped envelopes) following assignment to a housing unit.  

An inmate may release their personal property (keys, wallets, jewelry, etc…) to a friend or family member. Clothing is not normally released, unless the inmate is scheduled to go to prison.

You may request to obtain the inmate’s personal property by reporting to the Main Jail Lobby and explaining your request to the Lobby Officer. You will be required to show valid identification and have your photograph taken. The request must be approved by the inmate. Be advised that the property release process can take up to two hours.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Visiting Policy During COVID-19

On October 30, 2021, the Fresno County Jail implemented the following rules to ensure the health and safety of all jail staff, inmates, and visitors. These rules are strictly enforced with no exceptions.

1) All visitors must provide proof of a full vaccination or show they have a negative COVID test taken no longer than 72 hours prior to visiting. All visitors will be temperature checked and symptom screened at the jail.  Visitors and inmates must both wear face masks at all times. 

2) ALL COVID and existing non-COVID related visitation rules apply and will be enforced.  If a visitor or inmate is found to be in violation of any visiting rule, they will be first advised of the rules and it will be documented. If another violation occurs, the inmate will be issued a rule violation and the visitor will be banned for up to 90 days. 

3) Only one visitor will be allowed per inmate, which is a 30 minute session. No rotations will be allowed between visitors as it had been done in the past. Minors will NOT be allowed; no exceptions. 

4) Inmates currently in quarantine will not be allowed to visit. They are eligible to visit once their housing unit is taken off quarantine.

6) Visits are scheduled by walking into one of the three jail lobbies. This is done on a first come, first serve basis.  Due to operating at reduced visiting capacity, guests may be placed on a waiting list, which could result in extended wait times.

7) Friends and relatives of persons visiting are not allowed to wait inside the jail lobbies.  

8) Visitations hours vary based on facility (Main Jail, North Annex and South Annex). 

9) Due to health concerns, inmates currently in quarantine will not be allowed to visit. Visits will resume when the housing unit is off quarantine.

Visiting Schedule

NORTH ANNEX VISITATION SCHEDULE

Visiting Hours begin at 8:15am; last sign up is 5:00pm
Saturday: All F-Pods
Sunday: All A-Pods
Monday: All B-Pods
Tuesday: All C-Pods
Wednesday-(No Visiting)
Thursday: All D-Pods
Friday: All E-Pods

MAIN JAIL VISITING SCHEDULE

Visiting Hours begin at 8:15am and last daytime sign up is at 3:00pm
Visiting Hours resume at 7:00pm and last sign up is at 9:00pm
Sunday: All B-Pods
Monday: (No Visiting)
Tuesday: All C-Pods
Wednesday: All D-Pods
Thursday: All E-Pods
Friday: (No Visiting)
Saturday: MJ5F Pod

MAIN JAIL 2 - Same visitation hours as the Main Jail, seven days a week. Two inmates from the same cell may visit at the same time, while proper mask wearing.

MAIN JAIL BOND ROOM

Visiting Hours begin at 8:15am and last daytime sign up is at 3:00pm
Visiting Hours resume at 7:00pm and last sign up is at 9:00pm

Bond room visits will be on a first come first serve basis, seven days a week during normal visiting hours. The visit will be limited to 30 minutes with only ONE visitor. The following Main Jail Locations will visit in the Main Jail Bond room:

-All MJ A-Pods
-All MJ FF's
-MJ6F
-MJ3F

SOUTH ANNEX VISITATION SCHEDULE

Visiting Hours begin at 8:15am; last sign up is 5:00pm
Morning visiting 8:15am to 12:15pm
Afternoon visiting 1:00pm to 5:00pm

SOUTH JAIL BOND ROOM

Visiting Hours begin at 8:15am; last sign up is 5:00pm

Bond room visits will be on a first come first serve basis, 7 days a week during facility visiting hours. The visit will be limited to 30 minutes with only ONE visitor. The following South Jail Locations will visit in the South Jail Bond room:

-AJ2D
-AJ4E

Visiting Rules

Personal items are not permitted inside the visiting area. This includes purses, backpacks, cameras, cell phones, food, beverages, cigarettes, weapons, strollers, and car seat/carriers. 

Visitors must lock the items in a vehicle or locker or return at another time without the items.

The only permissible items at visitation include:

• The visitor's identification
• Keys
• Sunglasses
• One blanket, diaper, wipes, bottle, and pacifier may be brought in with an infant.
• Toy (one per child). May not be motorized, electrical, or a weapon facsimile (e.g., knife, gun, grenade, etc.).

All visiting areas are equipped with a metal detector, and all visitors must pass through it to enter into the facility. Processing may require the removal of shoes, jackets, sweaters, suspenders, belts, jewelry, or other accessories for closer inspection or separate processing.

You may be asked to submit to a search of your person or property. You have the right to refuse. However, if you are asked to submit and you refuse, you will be denied visiting for that day.

Any person found to have a cell phone in their possession will be banned from visiting for ninety (90) days. A subsequent violation may result in criminal prosecution and permanent expulsion.

Dress Code

All visitors at the Fresno County Jail are expected to dress appropriately. Inappropriate attire will result in your visit being denied.

The dress code applies equally to male and female visitors. Visitors must remain fully clothed when visiting, which includes undergarments, a dress or blouse/shirt with skirt/pants or shorts, and shoes or sandals.

Visitors must adhere to the following dress standards:

• Shoes or sandals shall be worn at all times.
• Buttons, snaps, and zippers shall remain fastened.
• All shorts, skirts, and dresses, including slits in the garment, will not expose more than three inches above the knee when standing. This applies to all visitors regardless of age.

Prohibited clothing items in the visiting room include:

• Sleepwear and Bedroom Slippers
• Swimwear
• Clothing that exposes the breast/chest area, genitals or buttocks. Tops must cover the entire trunk of the body. No bodybuilding tank tops, halter tops, belly shirts, or crop tops, racer or backless tops, strapless or “spaghetti” strap tops, wide armhole sleeveless tops, and low necklines.
• No Spandex or Lycra clothing, nothing excessively tight or with holes in inappropriate places.
• No sheer or transparent (including see-through lace and mesh materials).
• Attire or accessories displaying obscene/offensive language, drawings, or objects is prohibited.
• Clothing that promotes violence, hate, drug use, sex acts or gangs, including any attire or accessories displaying any type of gang insignia, gang artwork, or any affiliation with gangs.

An inmate's JID# and Booking# can be obtained through the inmate search function on the Fresno County Sheriff's website.

All mail entering and leaving the Jail is opened and searched for contraband and the writing will be scanned for security issues. 

Acceptable inmate mail items are limited to:

• Letters and postcards.
• Greeting cards. These cannot be excessively large, thick, embossed (having a raised surface), having a transparent overlay, or contain sound-making devices. Two-ply cards will be separated, and are therefore discouraged.
• Newspaper clippings and/or articles in reasonable amounts.
• Photographs. Only small photographs which do not have a backing capable of concealing contraband. Photographs cannot exceed 4"x6" in size. It is recommended that the inmate’s Booking and JID numbers be written on the back of all photographs.  Polaroids will not be accepted unless the backing has been removed. Personal photographs may not contain nudity or be overtly sexual.
• Magazines, newspapers, and paperback books if mailed directly from a publisher, book club, or bookstore.

Mail items NOT accepted:

Any mail (including magazines, books and articles) that contains any of the following will be considered contraband and the entire envelope and its contents will be returned to the sender:

• Anything mailed in a padded envelope or box.
• Mail with any type of currency or negotiable items (e.g., cash, checks, money orders). 
• Mail containing postage stamps, stickers, stationery, or envelopes.   
• Pieces/sheets of plastic or anything laminated.
• Contains tissue, blotter, or construction paper. 
• Contains food items. 
• Anything written or colored with crayon, markers, wax, water colors, or white-out.  
• Has had a foreign substance applied to the envelope or letter (e.g., lipstick, perfume, cologne, powder, stickers, etc.).  
• Sound-making devices.
• Contains loose pages torn from novels, word-find, and puzzle books. 
• Sexually explicit photos, publications, drawings or writings. Sex-based publications that depict frontal nudity or penetration are prohibited (e.g., Penthouse, Hustler, etc.).   
• Personal photographs that contain nudity, partial nudity, are overtly sexual or sexually suggestive. Persons must be clothed in a manner that would be generally accepted in the community as a whole.
• Any photo that displays an exposed female breast. This includes photos that have been altered to obscure or conceal the areola (e.g., strategically placed stickers, digitally altered, etc.). 
• Any photo that displays the genitalia of either gender.
• Nude photographs of anyone under 18 years old (including infants).
• Any gang-related pictures, writings, or drawings.
• Any matter of a character tending to incite murder, arson, riot, violent racism, or any other form of violence.
• Any matter concerning gambling or a lottery.
• Threatens blackmail and/or extortion.
• Depicts, encourages, or describes methods of escape from correctional facilities.
• Any material advocating criminal activity.
• Contains coded messages.
• Depicts or describes procedures for the construction or use of weapons, ammunition, bombs, or incendiary devices.
• Depicts or describes procedures for the brewing of alcoholic beverages, or the manufacture of drugs.

Books/Magazines/Newspapers

Magazines, newspapers, and paperback books are accepted if mailed directly from a publisher, book club, or bookstore. Packages containing anything other than books are prohibited. When ordering from the bookstore or publisher, you must provide them with your inmate's booking and JID numbers for the mailing address.

How to Call an Inmate

Inmates at the Fresno County Jail cannot receive incoming phone calls. However, they can make outgoing collect calls from the inmate housing area between 8:00 am and 9:45 pm..

California law has established the right of an arrested person to make at least three free local telephone calls upon being booked: one call to an attorney, one to a bail bond agent, and one to a relative or other personal contact. 

Inmate telephone service is provided through Global Tel Link (GTL).  All outgoing calls are collect or prepaid collect calls, except for calls to designated organizations, which are free of charge. All calls are subject to recording and monitoring. 

The following scenarios are automatically detected by the inmate telephone system, and may result in your call being terminated. You can help to keep your call from being disconnected if you remember these hints:

• Do not attempt to dial three-way
• Do not place a caller on hold
• Do not use call waiting features
• Do not press numbers on the keypad
• Avoid long pauses in your conversation

Voicemail System

Inmates at the Fresno County Jail can receive messages if you call the inmate information line and follow the prompts. The number to dial is (559) 400-7521. You will be prompted to enter an eight digit PIN. You must first enter the number '0', followed by the inmate's seven digit JID #.  There will be a $1.00 charge for a 30 second message.

How to Send Money

When someone is booked into the Fresno County Jail, an account is opened to safeguard that person’s money as long as they are in custody. Inmates can use the money “on their books” to make purchases from the Jail’s commissary.  

Items available through the commissary include food items, toiletry articles, writing materials, and postage. Inmates are limited to spending a maximum of $175 per week on commissary items.

Money Deposits

Deposits can be made to an inmate’s account via TouchPay in the following ways:

• At the kiosks located in the Jail Lobbies. Cash, VISA, and MasterCard credit/debit cards are accepted.
• Online at www.touchpaydirect.com
• Toll-free phone at 1-866-232-1899. [An active account log-in number is required. To obtain one, individuals must first register either online at the TouchPay site, or by calling the customer service line at 1-866-204-1603.]

The Jail’s facility number (293721) and the inmate’s Booking number are required for online and telephone deposits. There is a convenience fee to use and fund the inmate’s account that is dependent on the amount of the transaction. Personal checks, cashier’s checks, and money orders are not accepted.

Care Packages

Programs For Inmates

The Jail Programs & Services Bureau offers a number of inmate programs. Academic education is available to all inmates, but eligibility for some programs may be limited to certain security classifications.  

Academic and Life Skills

The Delma Graves Adult School is administered by the Fresno County Office of Education and offers Literacy, Adult Basic Education/General Education Development (ABE/GED), English as a Second Language (ESL), and Personal Skills Development (Life Skills) education. 

The Life Skills courses include:

• Cognitive Thinking
• Work Attitude and Behavior
• Relationship Building
• Parenting
• Seeking Employment
• Money Management
• Interpersonal Skills

Other programs and services offered include:

• Religious Programs
• Chaplaincy Services
• Recreational Reading Library Services
• Legal Research Access
• Drug and Alcohol Education
• Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous Meeting and Resources
• Community Resources and Services Information and Referral
• Health/Wellness/Recreation Services
• Child Support Responsibility Information and Referral
• Marriages

Religious Programs

In partnership with community volunteers, multi-denominational worship services and Bible studies are offered at the Fresno County Jail.  Inmates may also receive visits from clergy members. 

Chaplaincy Services

The Sheriff’s Office employs chaplains who provide inmates with pastoral care and spiritual support. Members of the public may contact the chaplains at the following numbers: 

• (559) 600-8428 Muslim
• (559) 600-8429 Catholic
• (559) 600-8430 Protestant
• (559) 600-8424 All remaining faiths, or those who are unaffiliated with an organized religion, can contact the Volunteer Services Coordinator, Terry Ashmore.

Legal Research Access

Inmates who represent themselves in court proceedings receive support via LexisNexis Legal Research access, telephones, supplies, and limited office work (e.g., photocopying).

Exercise and Recreation

Inmates have the opportunity to visit recreation areas at least twice a week, for a minimum total of three hours for exercise and activity. Inmates are also provided access to televisions, chess, checkers, and playing cards in their housing units.

Transition from Jail to Community (TJC)

The TJC Unit provides intensive community reintegration programs to sentenced inmates with a medium-to-high-risk to reoffend.

Pictures of Fresno County Jail

Careers at Fresno County Jail

If you are interested in a career with the Fresno County Sheriff's Department and would like more information about the job openings at the Fresno County Jail, click here.