All detention facilities are no-hostage facilities. Employees will not bargain for the release of hostages.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for the operation of three jails within the county. The South Annex Jail built in 1947, the Main Jail built in 1989 and the North Annex Jail built in 1993. The total combined capacity of all open floors is currently 2,427 inmates. The inmate population is supervised by over 350 Correctional Officers, Correctional Sergeants, and Correctional lieutenants. Over the last few years the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has seen its jail population rise and fall for various reasons. Unfortunately those reasons are not always attributed to the rise and fall of the crime rate. Since 1993 the Fresno County Sheriff has been under a Federal Consent Decree which controls the number of inmates that can be held in jail at any given time. Currently the jail population is limited to a percentage of the number of available beds within the three jails, with the overriding mandate that each inmate shall have a bed.
The employees of the Fresno County Sheriff's Office are committed to a fully integrated criminal justice system, which ensures public safety. We set a standard of professionalism and correctional excellence through our operation of safe, secure and humane correctional facilities. through innovative ideas and an empowered work force, we provide opportunities for positive behavioral change, knowledge and skill development, and community reparation. Detention Programs and Services work collaboratively with community, other agencies, and stakeholders in pursuit of this mission.
Detention Programs and Services are outcome-driven and designed to produce individuals whom, upon returning to the community are safe, self-sufficient, healthy, out-of-trouble, at home, in school or at work. Additionally, the bureau is committed to the inmate's character development. the Six Pillars of character as identified by the Josephson Institute of Ethics, are the core ethical values that form the foundation of the development and delivery of programs and services, and behavioral expectations of the inmate population.
These six pillars of character are:
Every incarcerated person in the Jail is initially provided with the following:
Incarcerated persons may purchase a variety of commissary items to be delivered to them in their housing units. Each incarcerated person receives a copy of the commissary order form and can place orders once each week. The items available for purchase include, but are not limited to: snacks, hygiene products, stationery, reading glasses, and over-the-counter medication.
The cost of commissary items is comparable to convenience store prices and is purchased using money from the incarcerated person’s account. Money is maintained on the incarcerated person’s account from cash that they had at the time of arrest and through subsequent deposits from family and friends. Deposits may be made to an incarcerated person’s account via TouchPay at the kiosks located in the Jail Lobbies, online at www.touchpaydirect.com or toll-free phone at (866) 232-1899. (Refer to Money & Property for additional information.) You may also order gift packages online at www.MyCarePack.com. Orders are distributed once each week, on the incarcerated person’s scheduled delivery day.
Every incarcerated person (except those on disciplinary status for violating facility rules) may order up to $175 in purchases from the commissary on a weekly basis. (Weekly purchases are limited to $175 combined total of commissary and internet orders.)
If an incarcerated person does not have any funds in their account, they are eligible for an indigent package. The indigent package contains soap, toothpaste, a razor, and writing materials, and is available upon request, on a weekly basis.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has established rules and regulations that incarcerated persons must follow while in custody. During the booking process, all incarcerated persons receive an Incarcerated Person Orientation Handbook that explains how incarcerated persons are expected to behave, as well as what happens when rules are not followed. If an incarcerated person is suspected of violating a rule, a report is written to document the suspected violation and to identify witnesses to the incident. Incarcerated persons refer to these Rule Violation Reports as “write-ups."
Violations range from very serious, such as assault, to less serious violations, such as not following directions.
When an incarcerated person is alleged to have violated a rule, the following things happen:
If the Hearing Officer finds that the incarcerated person committed the violation, he or she will determine the appropriate discipline within established policy.
Any disciplinary action to be taken requires approval by the Watch Commander.
Discipline may include loss of certain privileges such as telephones, visits, commissary, etc. More serious violations may result in periods of disciplinary lockdown, loss of “good time” credits, or other sanctions, up to and including the filing of criminal charges. When possible, an attempt is made to match the discipline with the nature of the violation. For example, if an incarcerated person commits a visit-related offense, a temporary suspension of visiting privileges may be imposed.
Occasionally, an entire housing unit may be placed on “administrative action,” or have discipline imposed, which may include a temporary restriction of telephone privileges or visits. Such restrictions seldom last for more than a few days, but they will affect your ability to visit or speak with the incarcerated person by phone during the investigatory and/or disciplinary period.
All incarcerated persons have the right to submit a grievance in regard to almost any aspect of their confinement in the Jail system. This means that if incarcerated persons feel they are not being treated properly, or if they feel a condition exists that presents a health hazard, they can voice their complaint and receive a response from a supervisor. Issues that can be addressed through the grievance process include, but are not limited to: medical care, classification actions, program participation, telephone use, mail distribution, visitation procedures, officer conduct, food, clothing and bedding. Disciplinary action can also be grieved. The Sheriff’s grievance process ensures that problems or concerns confronting incarcerated persons will be addressed by Jail staff in an appropriate manner.
To file a grievance, incarcerated persons are provided with Incarcerated Person Grievance forms within their housing areas. Grievances are forwarded to the appropriate Lieutenant or Manager/Supervisor for investigation. Grievances must be processed within a reasonable amount of time, usually within 14 days, although most responses occur sooner. After consideration by the supervisor, the incarcerated person receives a written response to the grievance. Based upon the findings of the investigation, the investigating staff member will make a recommendation to either sustain or not sustain the grievance, with an explanation or remedy indicated. If the response fails to resolve the issue to the incarcerated person’s satisfaction, the incarcerated person may submit an Appeal and the Bureau Commander will render a final decision regarding the grievance. Each grievance, including its disposition, is logged in Jail records for future reference.
Live Scan fingerprint services are located inside the Fresno County Main Jail lobby located at 1225 M Street in downtown Fresno. Office hours are Monday - Friday, 7:00 am - 2:30 pm.
Live Scan costs vary, so please contact the office for more details. The number is (559) 600-8240.
VINE is a service through which victims of crime can use the telephone or Internet to search for information regarding their offender's custody status and register to receive telephone and email notification when their offender's custody status changes.
You may use the telephone to search for and register to receive notification about the custody status of an offender -- each state/county has their own toll-free VINE phone number. For information on the VINELink in Fresno County, call 1-877-411-5588, or you can search for and register to receive notification about the custody status of an offender via VINELink at http://www.vinelink.com
VINE Contact Information for Fresno County
Phone: 1-877-411-5588
Website: http://www.vinelink.com
The Incarcerated Person Information web page can help with VINE registration if the offender is under the custody of the Fresno County Jail. The Incarcerated Person Search can assist in the search and selection of the offender. The selection will result in the display of the Incarcerated Person Information page where public information on the incarcerated person can be reviewed. Find and click on the link to VINE to register.
VINE es un servicio por el cuál víctimas del crimen pueden utilizar el teléfono o el Internet para buscar información con respecto a el estado de la custodia de el ofensor y donde pueden registrarse para recibir llamadas telefónicas y notificación por correo electrónico cuando la posición de la custodia de el ofensor cambia.
Usted puede utilizar el teléfono para buscar información y registrarse para recibir notificaciones acerca de la posición de la custodia de un ofensor -- cada estado/condado tiene su propio número de teléfono de VINE sin peaje. Para información sobre el VINELink en el Condado de Fresno, llame a 1-877-411-5588, o regístrese para recibir notificaciones acerca de la posición de la custodia de un ofensor vía VINE por la Internet aquí http://www.vinelink.com
VINE Contact Information for Fresno County
Phone: 1-877-411-5588
Website: http://www.vinelink.com
El Centro de Informacion de Presos sitio por la internet puede ayudar con registro si el delincuente esta corriente en la custodia de la carcel de el condado de Fresno. Inmate Search podria asistir en la busqueda y seleccion de el delincuente. La seleccion resultar en una visualizador de el sitio de informacion de presos donde puede ovservar informacion publico sobre el preso. Encontrar y oprima el conectar a VINE para registrar.
When individuals are arrested, they are usually taken to a local police station where they may be interviewed, and where necessary reports and forms are prepared. If the individual is arrested for driving under the influence, a breath, urine, or chemical blood test will be conducted. This process can take as long as four hours before the person is brought to the Jail to be booked. Since a good deal of time may pass before the Jail system has any notification of a person’s arrest, if you call shortly after your friend or loved one has been arrested you may find that they are not yet in the Jail system. Do not be concerned by this delay, because the pre-booking period is routine and necessary.
When arrested individuals arrive at the Jail facility, they go through the intake process before being housed in the incarcerated person population. Intake is comprised of several steps which include medical screening, the booking process, and the classification interview.
Immediately upon arrival at the Jail, the incarcerated person is assessed for any medical conditions that need immediate treatment. A nurse conducts an initial screening to make sure the incarcerated person is not injured, or in need of immediate medical treatment and ensures that all conditions that an incarcerated person may have are properly noted and that the facility is capable of meeting the incarcerated person’s medical needs.
During the booking process, all incarcerated persons are searched to make sure that no contraband is being brought into the facility. They are photographed and fingerprinted. Their personal information and charges are entered into the computer system, and their bail is determined.
Some incarcerated persons may be eligible for release on citation very soon after booking. Intoxicated incarcerated persons will be held for up to 6 hours, and sometimes longer, to ensure they are sober enough to be safely released.
Most incarcerated persons are eligible for bail, and they have access to telephones to arrange bail through friends, family, or bail agents. A list of bail agents is available in the booking area holding cells. When it is determined that incarcerated persons will not be released on citation or make bail, they are given a classification interview and their housing criteria are determined.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office strives to accommodate individuals with disabilities in the Jail. TDD devices are available for hearing impaired incarcerated persons. Incarcerated persons are allowed to retain eyeglasses, dentures and other prosthetic devices while in custody. After screening by medical staff, approval may be granted for mobility aids such as canes, crutches and wheelchairs. After consultation with the incarcerated person, medical staff may also recommend specialized housing, bunk assignments and medical care in order to meet the incarcerated person’s specific needs. Inmates may request accommodation of a disability during the intake medical screening, the classification interview, or at any other time by submitting an Incarcerated Person Request Form. While most requests can be resolved effectively with jail staff, incarcerated person grievances over disability accommodations may be directed to the Jail’s ADA Coordinator.
The Sheriff’s Office will make reasonable accommodations or modifications to ensure that all qualified incarcerated persons with disabilities are afforded equal access to programs, services, and activities in full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. In providing reasonable accommodations, the ADA does not require the Fresno County Sheriff's Office to take any action that would fundamentally alter the nature of its programs or services, or impose an undue financial or administrative burden. Complaints that a program, service, or activity of the Fresno County Sheriff's Office is not accessible to persons with disabilities should be directed to:
Sergeant Isaac Torres, ADA Coordinator/IT Liaison
Jail Administration & Programs Bureau
1225 ‘M’ Street
Fresno, CA 93721
Phone: (559) 600-8455
Population Management staff considers a number of objective risk factors in determining the custody level of an incarcerated person. These factors, such as violence, criminal history, previous escapes, and institutional behavior problems, establish the relative degree of risk posed by that incarcerated person. The purpose of classification is to house incarcerated persons of similar classification together in order to minimize the risk of conflict between incarcerated persons. Proper classification also allows us to house incarcerated persons in housing units best suited to their level of risk.
Although the classification system is regarded as very reliable, situations may arise justifying an override of the incarcerated person’s custody level. Population Management staff is authorized to recommend such overrides where appropriate. Those incarcerated persons who have a concern about their classification are welcome to submit an Incarcerated Person Request Form to the Population Management Unit to have their concern addressed.
After the initial classification process, there are several events that may result in the reclassification of an incarcerated person. The addition of new charges, reduction of charges, and serious disciplinary actions are all events that might trigger reclassification.
All incarcerated persons receive an Incarcerated Person Orientation Handbook that explains the basic facility rules and procedures. incarcerated persons also have access to posted rules and information which provide guidelines for incarcerated person behavior, as well as informing them about visiting, mail, contraband, security violations, incarcerated person grooming, telephone calls and religious programs.
