Fresno County Arrest Records

Fresno arrest records are crucial to the county's criminal justice system. They are the first step in holding individuals accountable for suspected criminal activity. Such records are frequently used during police investigations, such as keeping track of a person’s criminal history.

Section 834 of the California Penal Code gives peace officers the authority to arrest individuals. Law enforcement officers generally conduct an arrest when they have probable cause to believe a person has committed or is about to commit a crime. Every arrest made in Fresno County is documented at the police department in the area where the arrest occurred. The suspect’s name and other personal information are recorded and stored in a database. These details constitute an arrest record.

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for maintaining arrest records in the county. Since they are also used during legal proceedings, parties can find them at the county courthouses that keep Fresno County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Fresno County?

According to California law, Fresno County arrest records are considered public records. As such, residents and non-residents can look up the arrest records for any person arrested in the County. However, not all information in the arrest record is available to everyone. The Sheriff’s or the County Clerk’s office may exclude sensitive details. These details include:

• Personal information such as home address or medical information.
• Information that, if released, could jeopardize an ongoing investigation or criminal proceedings.
• Information that could have a negative impact on community safety.

While everyone can view arrest records, not all individuals can obtain copies. Only the parties mentioned in the arrest record can get copies.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records contain different kinds of information. This includes:

• The arrestee's name, birth date, sex, race, etc.
• Date of the arrest
• Location of the arrest
• The arresting officer's name
• The address of the county jail
• The name of the officer who issued an arrest warrant

Fresno County Crime Rate

A Fresno County Sheriff’s report documented that in 2021, 3,740 personal crimes were committed, a 3.1% from the previous year. Aggravated assault was the personal crime committed the most in 2021, at 1,857, up by 7% from 2020. As for property crimes, 20,338 were engaged, with Larceny taking up over half of that number at 11,399.

Fresno County Arrest Statistics

According to a 2021 annual report by Fresno County’s Sheriff's Department, there were 236 arrests for robbery, the most of any crime classification. The Child Abuse and Missing Persons Units of Fresno County’s Family Justice Bureau oversaw 109 gang-related arrests. There were also 183 gun crime arrests, 27 of which were pimping arrests.

Find Fresno County Arrest Records

In Fresno County, residents can look up inmates in two main ways. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) offers an inmate search portal for interested parties to find individuals held within the state’s prison system. Persons can search with the CDCR inmate number and the inmate’s last name. The portal will provide information such as the full name, prison location, and status.

The department makes provisions for record seekers to find arrest records at its physical address. Interested parties are advised to come with their means of identification and details of the person they are looking for to the following address:

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
1515 S St #101n,
Sacramento, CA 95811

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office Inmate Search portal allows residents to look up inmate information. Like the CDCR’s search portal, interested parties need the inmate’s last name and booking number. The inmate’s name and custody status are the details on the search portal. The office’s Recorders Unit also offers counter services to record seekers. The Recorders unit is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Interested parties can visit the unit at:

Administration Office
2200 Fresno Street
Fresno, CA 93721

Free Arrest Record Search in Fresno County

Aside from the CDCR’s and Fresno County Sheriff’s Office’s search portals, record seekers can use free third-party websites—many third-party websites aggregate public records such as arrest and inmate information. Due to being free, these websites offer limited searches and may ask for a fee to conduct more detailed searches. Additionally, these sites have varying levels of accuracy and may not include the most recent information.

Get Fresno County Criminal Records

Once a court has formally convicted a person of a crime, details of the conviction are documented. The document is called a criminal record and often contains information such as the inmate’s name, sentence length, and offense committed. Criminal records are not to be confused with arrest records, although they contain some of the same information.

Interested parties can find Fresno County criminal records at the California Department of Justice, Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, and the County Clerk’s Office.

The Department of Justice in California is responsible for keeping track of criminal records. The department allows people to request copies of criminal records. However, access to criminal records maintained by the DOJ is limited by law for law enforcement purposes and authorized agencies. People can request a copy of their own criminal records from the Department to review and ensure the record is accurate and complete. All interested parties must take the following steps.

• Download and complete the Live Scan Form (Form BCIA 8016RR, pdf), (BCIA 8016RR Spanish, pdf).
• Check “Record Review” as the “Type of Application”.
• Enter “Record Review” on the “Reason for Application” line.
• Fill out all your personal information.
• Take the completed form to any Live Scan site for fingerprinting services.

Potential requestors must submit fingerprint images and pay the DOJ a $25 processing fee.

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office maintains criminal records originating from the county. Interested parties can contact the office’s Recorders Unit to look up criminal records. The Unit is located at:

Administration Office
2200 Fresno Street
Fresno, CA 93721

The Fresno County Recorder’s office also maintains some criminal records. The office offers a self-service website that allows residents to search for public records. Interested parties can also visit the office at:

Fresno County Recorder’s Office
1250 Van Ness Ave
Fresno, CA 93721

Fresno County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

While the two documents contain some of the same information, the criminal and arrest records for Fresno County are different. Their distinctions can be seen in their definition and purpose.

For instance, criminal records detail an individual’s journey through the justice system. These documents typically contain information about the crime(s) committed, the conviction (e.g., misdemeanor, felony), and sentencing information (e.g., probation, jail time).

On the other hand, an arrest record documents that a person has been apprehended by law enforcement for a suspected crime. It serves as a record of the arrest and initial booking process.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

California Law does not specify exactly how long an arrest stays on one’s record. However, certain situations could lead to the removal of an arrest record. For instance, charges may be dismissed, or an individual may complete probation. Arrest records can also be sealed or destroyed by judicial orders under specific conditions.

Expunge Fresno County Arrest Records

In Fresno County, there are a few ways to get an arrest record expunged. However, the person looking for expungement must first be eligible. Interested parties need to meet the following requirements:

1. The conviction only led to a probationary sentence and not jail time.
2. There must be no outstanding misdemeanor or felony cases.
3. The subject must not have any outstanding warrants and must pay all fees and fines.
4. The subject must seek expungement at the appropriate court level. If it is a federal case, it must be done at a federal court.

Once all these requirements have been met, a person can begin their petition for expungement. Record subjects should fill out and submit these forms to the appropriate court.

• Form CR-180
• Fresno County CLETS Form
• Form MC-210
• Form TCR-10 Proof of Service Form
• Form CR-181

Residents can download these forms here.

A person who has suffered an arrest that did not result in a conviction can also have their records sealed. However, this sort of relief has been described as challenging to get and must be filed under the correct penal code to be successful.

Fresno County Arrest Warrants

In Fresno County, an arrest warrant is a document a court judge issues to enable law enforcement to arrest a particular person. It shows probable cause exists to arrest an individual suspected of committing a crime. Law enforcement must submit an affidavit to a judge outlining the details of the alleged crime and evidence pointing to the suspect to get an arrest warrant. The judge reviews the affidavit and grants a warrant if they believe there is probable cause to arrest the person. The judge reviews the affidavit and determines if there's probable cause for arrest. Warrants are typically issued for felony offenses, which are considered serious crimes. However, they also may be issued for misdemeanors, particularly when the suspect fails to appear in court for a previous misdemeanor charge.

Fresno County Arrest Warrant Search

Interested parties seeking active search warrants can contact the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office at (559) 600-8402. Generally, the subject's full name and date of birth must be provided to complete a search.

Note: The Sheriff’s Office only provides the court case number, court date of issue, and bail. Additionally, they can only check for warrants issued out of Fresno County.

Do Fresno County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, arrest warrants in Fresno County typically do not expire. They remain valid until one of the following conditions is met:

• Once the police have made an arrest.
• Once the charges have been dropped or dismissed.
• The judge recalls the warrant. However, this happens in rare cases.