Find Fresno County Criminal Records

Fresno County criminal history records come from the Superior Court and the Sheriff's Office. Fresno County is in California's Central Valley with a population of about 1 million. The city of Fresno serves as the county seat. Criminal cases go through the Fresno County Superior Court, which runs a free online case portal. The Sheriff operates a large jail system and offers an online inmate search. This page covers how to look up criminal records in Fresno County, the fees involved, and where to go for different types of records.

Fresno County Court Criminal Records

The Fresno County Superior Court processes all criminal cases filed in the county. The main courthouse is the B.F. Sisk Courthouse in downtown Fresno. Other locations serve different parts of the county. The court provides a free online portal for searching cases. You can look up criminal and traffic cases by name or case number. Search results show the charges, hearing schedule, case status, and the assigned courthouse. The system is open to the public and does not require any account or login.

The Fresno County Superior Court public portal is the main tool for looking up criminal cases online.

The portal covers criminal cases from all Fresno County courthouse locations.

When you search, start with a last name. You can add a first name to narrow things down. Click any case number to see the full details. The docket shows all filings, court dates, and dispositions. Some records may be restricted for sealed or confidential cases. To get copies of documents, visit the clerk's office at any courthouse or send a mail request. Copies cost 50 cents per page. Certified copies are $40 each. Include the case number in your request if you have it. Fresno County processes a high volume of cases, so mail requests may take a bit longer than in smaller counties. For faster service, go to the clerk's window in person.

Fresno County Inmate Search

The Fresno County Sheriff runs the county jail system. The main facility is the Fresno County Jail in downtown Fresno. The Sheriff provides a free online inmate search tool where you can look up anyone currently in custody or recently booked. Enter a name and the system shows matching results with charges, booking dates, bail amounts, and facility location.

The Fresno County Sheriff inmate search lets you check who is currently held in county facilities.

This search covers all inmates in the Fresno County jail system including recent bookings and current custody.

Fresno County has a large jail population. Bookings come from the Fresno Police Department, Clovis Police, other city police departments in the county, and the Sheriff's Office. All local agencies book into the county jail. The inmate search tool updates regularly and is the quickest way to find out if someone is in custody. If the person is not in the county jail, they may have been transferred to state prison. The CDCR inmate search covers the entire California state prison system and includes anyone sentenced from Fresno County courts.

Note: The inmate search may not show people who were recently released or transferred from Fresno County jail.

How to Get Criminal Records in Fresno County

Fresno County has several paths to get criminal history information. Court records are the easiest to access online. The free portal covers the widest range of criminal case data in the county. For official background checks or police reports, you need to go through other channels.

The California DOJ Live Scan process provides the most complete criminal history check. Under Penal Code 11105, the DOJ maintains the statewide criminal record repository. Go to a Live Scan site, get fingerprinted, and pay the $25 DOJ fee plus the rolling fee. Fresno County has many Live Scan locations throughout the city of Fresno and surrounding areas. Results come back in 2 to 3 business days. The DOJ check pulls records from all 58 California counties, giving you a much broader picture than just searching the Fresno County court system.

Police reports from the Fresno Police Department can be requested through their records division. For incidents in Clovis or other cities, contact that city's police department. The Sheriff handles reports for unincorporated areas. Each agency has its own forms, fees, and processing times for records requests.

Fresno County Criminal Record Fees

Court record fees in Fresno County follow the standard California schedule. Every Superior Court in the state charges the same rates. Other agencies like the Sheriff, police departments, and the state DOJ have their own separate fee structures.

• Court name search (over 10 minutes): $15
• Copies per page: $0.50
• Certified copy per document: $40
• Exemplification: $50
• DOJ background check: $25 plus Live Scan rolling fee
• Online court case search: Free

Fee waivers help people who cannot afford the costs. Submit a fee waiver form to the Fresno County Superior Court. You need to show low income or enrollment in benefits like Medi-Cal, CalFresh, or SSI. If approved, the waiver covers court fees and some copy charges. It does not apply to DOJ fees or police report costs. Several legal aid organizations in Fresno can help with fee waiver applications if you need assistance.

Criminal Record Clearing in Fresno County

California provides several ways to clear or reduce a criminal record. If you were convicted in Fresno County, Penal Code 1203.4 allows you to petition the court to dismiss the conviction after completing probation. The court changes the guilty plea and enters a dismissal. This does not erase the record but changes the outcome to a dismissal. It can make a real difference for employment and housing applications. File the petition at the Fresno County Superior Court.

AB 1076 automated the process for many eligible cases. The DOJ reviews records and grants relief automatically when someone qualifies. This covers completed probation cases and certain felonies reduced to misdemeanors. The process runs without the person needing to file anything. For cases that do not qualify for automatic relief, you can still file a petition on your own or with the help of a lawyer.

Arrests that did not lead to a conviction can be sealed under Penal Code 851.87. File at the courthouse where the case was handled. Once sealed, the arrest no longer shows up on most background checks. Fresno County has several legal aid organizations that help people with record clearing, including Central California Legal Services. The Megan's Law website maintains the sex offender registry for Fresno County and all of California. That registry is public and operates independently from the court criminal record system.

Cities in Fresno County

Fresno County has several cities. The city of Fresno is by far the largest. All criminal cases from cities in the county go through the Fresno County Superior Court. Below is the major city with its own criminal history resource page.

Other cities in Fresno County include Clovis, Sanger, Selma, Reedley, Coalinga, Kerman, and Parlier. Criminal cases from all of these cities are handled by the Fresno County Superior Court system.

Nearby Counties

Fresno County is surrounded by several Central Valley and mountain counties. Cases are filed in the county where the offense happened. If you need records from a neighboring county, use that county's own court and sheriff resources.