Find Fresno County Records: Arrests, Background Checks & More

X

Free Fresno County Public Records Search

Access Fresno County Records: marriage, divorce, jail and prison inmates, warrants, arrests, probation, criminal, court, background checks, and all public records.

First Name

Last Name

City (Optional)

State ALAKAZARCACOCTDEDCFLGAHIIDILINIAKSKYLAMEMDMAMIMNMSMOMTNENVNHNJNMNYNCNDOHOKORPARISCSDTNTXUTVTVAWAWVWIWY

Fresno County public records encompass a wide range of free information from official channels. Examples of available public records include property, court, criminal, arrest, warrant, probation, and general prisoner information. In addition to performing personal searches, you also have the option to request background check reports.

Both the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the California Public Records Act (CPRA) grant the public the ability to search these records, as well as vital records pertaining to birth, death, marriage, and divorce.

Some of these records you can look up with online search tools, while others may require mailed or in-person requests. Though searchers must know which custodians host which types of records and the process for obtaining them, this article will simplify the steps to acquire each record type and provide you with various agencies’ contact information to request these records when there is no online search option.

This resource was written by Attorney Robert Bailey Jr, who holds a Juris Doctorate from Widener University School of Law.

How To Find Out Who is Currently in a Fresno County Jail & the Reason for Arrest (Free Lookup)

Whether you want to find out if someone is in jail or you are looking for specific jail records, there are options to find this information online and in person.

For the broadest search, you can find Fresno County bookings and offenses with the online search tool hosted by the sheriff’s office. This search tool allows you to search the greatest amount of arrest information in Fresno County.

For recent arrest reports or other information, you can also check with a specific city or town police department in Fresno County. Here are some reasons why you may want to shift your focus to a specific police department:

• The information could not be found at the county level.
• You are looking for information about a person who was arrested by a city police department in the last 24 hours.
• You’re seeking detailed police reports as opposed to general arrest information.
• You need additional information to conduct an inmate search at the county or state level.

Below, we will detail how to search jail rosters and arrest information with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and local law enforcement agencies.

View Arrest Information via the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office

The most efficient and reliable option to search for Fresno County arrest records is the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office Inmate Search Tool.¹

To use this online tool, you can search by booking number or the individual’s name. A partial name search can be conducted if you do not know the person’s full name.

The search results will provide some general information–such as the person’s name and description–to help confirm you are selecting the person you are looking for. To view additional information, click on the person’s booking number. The inmate information is separated into the following three sections:

General Information: General identifying information about the person you are searching for; there is also a link in this section if you want to be notified about any change in the person’s custody status.

Arrest: Here, you can find out when the individual was arrested and booked, as well as the arresting agency. You can use this information if you plan to request an arrest report.

Charges: This section will list all charges along with certain case information. If you are looking to bail the person out of jail, you can also view their bail amount in this section.

For additional inmate information from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, call 559-600-8400 or visit in person at this address:²

Fresno County Sheriff’s Office
2200 Fresno St.
Fresno, California 93721

Note: This online search tool does not provide you with the option to find someone’s mugshot.

Get Police Reports & Arrest Details in Fresno County via Law Enforcement Agencies

Another option is to request Fresno County public records regarding arrests from other local law enforcement agencies located within the county, as they may be able to provide detailed reports or clarify information to assist you in your search efforts.

The county seat and over half the population of this county is located in the city of Fresno, so many of the arrests are made by the City of Fresno Police Department.³ Contact their records department by phone at 559-621-2534 any time from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Monday through Thursday.

The Fresno City Police Department covers a broad territory, with five policing districts as well as headquarters that can be reached at 559-621-2000 and is located at the below address:⁴

Fresno Police Department – Headquarters
2323 Mariposa Mall
Fresno, California 93721

However, suppose the person you are searching for was arrested by a different law enforcement agency; in that case, you can refer to this list of additional police departments in Fresno County provided below with their addresses and phone numbers:

Police Department	Address	Phone Number
Clovis Police Department	1233 Fifth Street Clovis, California 93612	559-324-2800
Reedley Police Department	843 G St. Reedley, California 93654	559-637-4250
Sanger Police Department	1700 7th St. Sanger, California 93657	559-875-8522
Selma Police Department	2055 3rd St. Selma, California 93662	559-896-2525
Coalinga Police Department	270 North 6th St. Coalinga, California 93210	559-935-1525
Parlier Police Department	8770 South Mendocino Avenue Suite A Parlier, California 93648	559-646-6600
Kerman Police Department	850 South Madera Ave. Kerman, California 93630	559-846-6634

Call or look up the hours they are available prior to in-person visits.

How To Review Criminal Cases in Fresno County CA

While arrest record information can be useful, you can get even more information by looking up Fresno County judicial records for criminal cases. Public criminal records will let you know if someone was convicted of a crime. You can also see if someone has a warrant for their arrest or is currently on probation.

While arrest and criminal records have a lot of the same information, criminal records usually contain a final picture of any charges brought against an individual.

When checking if someone has a criminal record, it’s important to know who the record custodian is and how to search their records. Below are various ways to access online tools and search for Fresno County criminal records.

Find Criminal Case Information Using the Fresno County Superior Court’s Search Tool

You can search online using Fresno County Superior Court’s Online Case Management & Information System to perform a free criminal record check.⁵

There are two options when you use this search tool–a smart search and a hearings search. The ‘Search Hearings’ function does not search by name, so you can use this to search general criminal case information but do not have a particular name.

You can use the smart search option to search primarily by a person’s name, case number, or other identifying criteria. After you click that option, select “Advanced Filtering Options.” Under the “Filter by Location” option, select criminal cases.

Narrow down your search by entering any of the below information:

• Identifying Number (e.g., FBI, SO or Booking number)
• Case Status (e.g., closed, appeal, etc.)
• File Date Range
• Judicial Officer
• Judgment Type

Once you enter your search information, a list of party search results will be displayed. From there, view additional information by selecting the case number for the person you are searching. Here, you can view a wide range of information, including the following:

Case Information: Basic case information, including the filing date and the current status of the case.

Party: Parties to the case.

Charge: Description of the charges, including the citation, the statute involved and the level of infraction.

Disposition: Consolidated list of major events that have happened in the case, primarily including the plea and sentencing.

Events and Hearings: List of every event from the initial charge to when the case has been resolved.

Financial: Fines, court costs, and how much the defendant has paid.

If you want to search for court records in person or have additional questions, contact Fresno County’s Superior Court by phone at 559-457-1700 or in person at one of their courthouse locations.⁷

How To Determine if Someone Has an Arrest Warrant in Fresno County California

To check if someone has any warrants for their arrest in Fresno County, contact the sheriff’s office at 559-600-8402. For warrant information, you’ll need to provide the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office with the subject’s full name and their date of birth.

If there is a warrant, the sheriff’s office will be able to provide you with the date it was issued and the case number, court, and bail information. The information provided by the sheriff’s office is limited to Fresno County warrants.

For a new warrant search or to get additional information, interested parties can also use the Fresno County Superior Court’s Online Case Management & Information System. If you received a case number from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, you can input that information with this online search tool.

When performing a new search, you can conduct an advanced search using the Smart Search Option. Begin by selecting “criminal” for the location and “criminal case types” for the case type. Finally, select “warrants” under case status.

After entering relevant information, the subject will show up in the search results if they have a warrant out for their arrest. This can be confirmed by viewing the person’s case status when you click on their case information. The case status will indicate that there is a warrant.

To get detailed warrant information, you can go to the “Events and Hearings” section. Here, you can view the court date when the warrant was issued, who the warrant was issued by, and any additional related information such as bail.

Alternatively, you can also visit the Fresno County Superior Court in-person to verify the information obtained from the search tool or acquire warrant information.

How To Find Out Who’s on Probation in Fresno County CA

To look up public records in Fresno County for probation information, you can also use the Superior Court’s Online Case Management & Information System.

Check who’s on probation in Fresno County through the Smart Search Option. Begin by selecting “criminal” for the location and “criminal case types” for the case type. Finally, select “Probation” under case status.

Search results will display all probationers in Fresno County; the tool will indicate they are on probation under the case status when you view the individual’s criminal record.

In the individual’s criminal record, there is a specific section detailing the person’s probation. Here, you can view the type of probation, when they started probation, and the total length. You can also review the “Disposition Events” to see specific probation information, such as the reason for probation and whether or not there were any violations.

For additional information, contact the Fresno Probation Department.⁸ They have several different locations throughout Fresno County.

How To Run a Background Check in Fresno County

To perform your own personal background check, you can check public records on your own using any of the tools and resources that have been provided in this article.

A personal background check is simply an informal way to check public information on a person to learn more about them. As long as you are not using the information illegally, you’re not required to get the person’s consent before performing your search.

A professional background check is more formal and must be requested through an official agency. These checks are typically used for specific reasons, such as an employment application or to comply with state or federal laws. Professional background checks typically can be conducted at the county, state, and federal levels.

While there are no county agencies that provide a background check, you can make a request with California’s Department of Justice.⁹ Requests made through the Department of Justice can only be made by law enforcement agencies, authorized applicant agencies, and individuals requesting their own background checks.

If you’d like to request your background check from the Department of Justice, here are the steps you will need to follow:

1. Prepare an Application to Obtain a Copy of State Summary Criminal History.¹⁰
2. California Residents – Complete the Request for Live Scan Form for a fingerprint-based background check. This form can be specifically used by California residents. Bring the form to a Live Scan site to get fingerprinted. You can go to a Live Scan site location in Fresno County.
3. Non-Residents – If you are requesting a background check as a non-resident, you will have to request fingerprinting services from your local law enforcement agency.
4. Submit your $25.00 processing fee along with your fingerprint images and completed application to the address below:

California Department of Justice
Bureau of Criminal Identification & Analysis
Record Review & Challenge Section
P.O. Box 160207
Sacramento, California 95816

Note: When completing your background check application, make sure to indicate that you are requesting a “Record Review” in both the section regarding the type of application as well as where it asks for the reason for your request.

How To Verify if Someone Has a Criminal Record Throughout California

Fresno County is one of many counties in California, and the criminal records you’re looking for may require you to expand your search. Alternatively, you may have found criminal records within Fresno County and now you want to check whether or not the person has additional criminal records in other counties in California.

A searcher may also be interested in finding out if the person was convicted of any federal crimes, or they may want to narrow down their search to specific crimes (e.g., sexual offenses). Here is a list of tools you can use when searching California public records for criminal information throughout the state:

• California Superior Court: The California Superior Court contains an online directory of criminal records for every county in the state of California.¹¹ You can use their online search tool to find all California criminal records.
• California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation (CDCR): A searcher can use the online search tool to find criminal records for individuals who have been incarcerated in a California prison.¹²
• California’s Megan’s Law Website: Here, you can perform a search that lists individuals who have been convicted of offenses that require them to register as sex offenders in California.¹³
• U.S. National Sex Offender Registry: This tool also provides you with the ability to search their public records repository by name or location for individuals convicted of sexual offenses. This tool can be used to search throughout the United States.¹⁴
• Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP): To search to see if someone is convicted of a federal crime, you can use this tool. Here, you can search to see if a person is incarcerated in a federal prison in California and throughout the United States.¹⁵

With the above options, you now have several online tools and resources to look up someone’s criminal record, whether in Fresno County or throughout the state of California.

How To Obtain Court Documents & Cases in Fresno County for Free

To search through a public index of court documents and records at no cost, you can use the Fresno County Superior Court’s Online Case Management & Information System. Here, you can search a variety of Fresno County court records online, including the following:

• Civil Cases
• Criminal Cases
• Family Law Cases
• Probate Cases
• Juvenile Delinquency & Dependency Cases

You can also go to any Fresno County courthouse locations in person. It is recommended that you contact them by phone first to get their hours of availability and to inquire about their options for performing a Fresno County case search. Copies of documents may come at a nominal fee.

How To Obtain Fresno County Vital Records: Marriage, Divorce, Birth & Death

Fresno County public records also include what’s commonly referred to as vital records, which encompass many major documented life events such as birth, death, marriage, and divorce.

These records can be very important on many occasions. While a searcher may be looking for vital records simply to check if someone is married, they can also be used to request a certified copy to update a legal document or to confirm someone as the rightful beneficiary of a life insurance policy or estate.

Oftentimes, a variety of vital records will be needed when administering an estate. You can also use these records for more personal use. For instance, birth and death records can be used for someone interested in researching their family’s genealogy.

Below are your options for both searching and requesting various types of vital records in Fresno County, California.

Retrieve Fresno County Marital Records via the County Recorder & Superior Court of California: Marriage, Divorce & Dissolution of Marriage

Marriage records are maintained by the Fresno County Recorder, while divorce records are managed by the Superior Court of California. Below are the details on how to obtain each of these types of vital records.

Access to marriage records depends on the type of record you’re requesting. If you just want to find out if someone is married, anyone can request a restricted (informational) copy. While they provide valid information, they cannot be used for official reasons that require establishing one’s identity or name.

Unrestricted copies can be used for official reasons, such as a passport application or to be added to your spouse’s insurance coverage. To request an unrestricted copy, you must be one of the following people:

• Parties to the Marriage
• Children
• Parents
• Grandchildren
• Grandparents
• Siblings
• Legal Guardians
• Legal Representative
• Government Agency for Official Business

There is also a confidential marriage option in Fresno County (and throughout California). If parties requested a confidential marriage, then only the parties to the marriage can request a copy of the record.

For Fresno County marriage records, you can make a request with the County Recorder.¹⁷ The County Recorder provides four different options for requesting a marriage certificate. Here are your options:

In-Person: For in-person requests, you can use the KIOSKS that they have available. The KIOSK will give you an option for your request: select “marriage.” Then, you can use the KIOSK to complete the application. Once completed, you will be called by the clerk, where you can make your payment and pick up your certificate.

To make a request in person, go to the below address:

Fresno County Recorder
1250 Van Ness Avenue
Fresno, California 93721

By Mail: To make a request by mail, you’ll need to complete Fresno County’s Application for Certified Copy of Marriage Record. This application must then be notarized and mailed along with the fee (check or money order only) to the following address:

Fresno County Recorder
P.O. Box 766
Fresno, California 93712

Drive Thru: This is a hybrid option where you can fill out a form online and then pick up the record in person. The Fresno County Recorder will call you when the marriage record you requested is available. When you go to pick up the marriage certificate, make sure you bring your government-issued ID.

Online: If you would like to request and receive a marriage record online, you will have to do it through an approved third-party company, VitalChek. VitalChek will walk you through their process step-by-step. If you have specific questions, you can contact them at 800-669-8312.

The cost for a marriage certificate is $17.00 (additional fees apply for online services through VitalChek). This fee is charged regardless of whether or not the Fresno County Recorder can find the record you are requesting. Additional questions can be directed to 559-600-3476.

Divorces are legally finalized in family law court and, like other court records, can be found using the Fresno Superior Court’s Online Case Management and Information System. To search for divorce records, you can choose the “Smart Search” option. Under the advanced options, select “Family Law” for the location.

After entering your search information, you will get a list of results for all family law cases. Since there is no option to narrow your search to only divorce cases, you’ll have to look through the results to see those cases in which it indicates that the type case is a “Dissolution.”

Once you find the divorce case you are looking for, you can view the case information. This includes party information, the date the case was filed, as well as a detailed list of all events and hearings that have occurred during the case. In that section, you’ll be able to confirm the specific date the parties were divorced.

For older marriage and divorce records, another option is to search with the Fresno County Public Library. They have resources to search divorce records from as far back as 1962 and marriage records starting in 1850.

In addition to the above guidance, interested parties can review the Fresno County divorce and dissolution search tutorial for further assistance.

Search for Fresno County Birth & Death Certificates Through the County Recorder

Request either a birth certificate or a death certificate through the Fresno County Recorder.

As Fresno County public records, restricted (informational) copies of either of these types of records can be requested by anyone. While they can be used for research purposes, they cannot be used to officially or legally establish someone’s identity.

Unrestricted copies, on the other hand, can be used for official reasons but can only be requested by the following people:

• The Person Listed on the Document (for birth records)
• Funeral Director (for death records)
• Parents or Legal Guardians
• Other Immediate Family (e.g., grandparents, siblings, spouse)
• An Attorney (representing the person listed on the record or their estate)
• Law Enforcement or Government Agency (conducting official business)
• Anyone entitled through court order or state statute

To request a copy, you will need the following information:

• Name of the Person Listed on the Record
• Date of Birth or Death
• City of Birth or Death
• Parents’ Names (including mother’s maiden name)

Your options for requesting a birth or death record through the Fresno County Recorder are as follows:

In-Person: For in-person requests, you can use the KIOSKS that they have available. The KIOSK will give you an option for your request: select “birth” or “death.” Then, you can use the KIOSK to finish your application.

Once you complete the necessary steps at the KIOSK, you’ll be called by the clerk, where you can make your payment and pick up your certificate of birth or certificate of death.

To make your request in person, visit this address:

Fresno County Recorder
1250 Van Ness Avenue
Fresno, California 93721

By Mail: To make a request by mail, you will need to complete Fresno County’s Application For Certified Copy of Birth Record or Application for Certified Copy of Death Record. Either application will need to be notarized and mailed along with the applicable fee to the following address:

Fresno County Recorder
P.O. Box 766
Fresno, California 93712

Drive Thru: This option allows you to fill out a form online and then pick up the record in person. The Fresno County Recorder will call you when the birth or death record you requested is available; make sure you bring your government-issued ID.

Online: To request and receive a birth or death online, you can utilize an approved third-party company, VitalChek. VitalChek will provide you with the steps needed to request either type of record. If you need assistance, you can contact them at 800-669-8312.

For recent records (within the last 24 months), you can opt to make a request through the Fresno County Department of Health –Vital Statistics. If you do request a record through here, there is an option to order your birth or death certificates online.

For older archived vital records, another option is searching with the Fresno County Public Library. They have resources to search a variety of birth and death records dating back to 1769.

How To Track Down Free Information on Property Ownership & Taxes in Fresno County California

Parties hoping to view property ownership information can utilize the Fresno County Assessor’s Assessed Value Lookup Tool.

Searches can be performed by either parcel number or address. This tool provides the assessed value of the property as well as additional basic information about the parcel.

Contact the Fresno County Assessor for property records requests by phone at 559-600-3534, or in person at this address:

Fresno County Assessor
Hall of Records
2281 Tulare St., Rm. 201
Fresno, California 93721

To get property tax information online, use the Fresno County Treasurer-Tax Collector Search Tool. Here, you can look up property tax information by parcel number. If you do not have the parcel number and you only have the address, you can use the Assessed Value Lookup Tool to get that information.

After finding the property you’re searching for, you can get tax bills for the past several years. This search tool can also be used to get property value information and a breakdown of how the tax payments are distributed (i.e., how the property taxes are being used).

To contact them for property tax information by phone, call 559-600-3482 or visit them in person here:

Fresno County Treasurer-Tax Collector
Hall of Records
2281 Tulare St., Rm. 105
Fresno, California 93721

Utilizing Fresno County Public Records & Understanding Your Rights

Now that you know how to conduct a free public records search, it’s important to understand how to use these tools in an ethical manner. Also, when it comes to public records in Fresno County, it’s important to know your rights, whether you are the searcher or the person being searched.

Even if you are performing an informal search using the tools above, it’s important to use the information you find ethically. This means that, while you may not need a person’s consent, you cannot use the information to intimidate or stalk someone or commit any other type of illegal act.

Using public records you find for personal use also means keeping them personal. If you are looking up someone’s criminal or arrest records, you cannot use them for reasons that are designated for professional background checks. That means you cannot make employment decisions or use the information to determine whether or not you are going to rent to a particular individual.

When using public records for a professional reason, you must understand that there are additional restrictions and regulatory agencies that protect the rights of those individuals being searched.

Here are some agencies and the various protections they provide for people:

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC): This agency protects individuals who are being discriminated against for a variety of reasons, including criminal record discrimination. They provide a process for aggrieved parties to file a claim through their online portal if they have been discriminated against.²⁵

Federal Trade Commission (FTC): The FTC handles background check fraud, including if someone conducts a background check without your consent. If you find someone who conducted a professional background check without your consent, you can submit a claim through the Federal Trade Commission.

Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA): The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) provides several protections, such as a requirement that you must be informed if information in your file was used against you. This law also provides several other rights, such as the right to ask for your credit score and know what is in your file.

Whether you are the researcher or the person being researched, it’s important to have a thorough understanding of both how to search for these records and what you can do with them. Fresno County public records can provide immense insight into someone’s past and present, and it is essential to know how to find them efficiently and use them ethically.