Visiting

The Sheriff's Office will ensure reasonable accommodations are made available to disabled visitors. Visitors who will require reasonable accommodation are asked to notify the ADA Coordinator (600-8455) or on-duty Watch Commander (600-8440) of their needs prior to visiting.

Medical and disability-related assistive devices needed by visitors are permitted inside the Jail facilities, however, they are subject to inspection and search. Visitors using assistance devices will be provided reasonable accommodation to comply with all security measures. They may be screened using alternative security devices, including use of a handheld metal detector.

News media representatives have no greater right of access to detention facilities or inmates than any other member of the public. A visit by news media personnel shall be considered a social visit, not a professional visit. The Public Information Officer does not process requests for interviews.

Media representatives seeking an incarcerated person interview should proceed as described below:

• Get on the incarcerated person’s personal visitation list. Any visit will be counted as a personal visit for the incarcerated person. There are no special "professional" visits for the media. If you do visit an incarcerated person, you will not be allowed to use any audio or video recording equipment. You may only take handwritten notes.
• You can have the incarcerated person call you (media) on the phone. This is a collect call. You may record that conversation, but you need to advise the incarcerated person that the call is being recorded.
• Requests to gain contact with the incarcerated person or get on the incarcerated person's visiting list will need to be done by mail. Personal messages will not be delivered and mail dropped off at the jail will not be hand delivered.
• Send via U.S. Mail to:
  Fresno County Jail
  Attn: Incarcerated person's name
  JID # and Booking #
  (This can be obtained from the FSO website by use of the incarcerated person locator)
  P.O. Box 872
  Fresno, CA 93712

Mugshots

The Fresno County Sheriff's Office may only release mugshots of those suspects directly involved in its own investigations.  Although the Sheriff's Office operates the Fresno County Jail and has photos of all incarcerated persons, it will not release a mugshot of another law enforcement agency's arrestee without first receiving that agency's consent.

Hospitalized incarcerated persons will not be allowed to have personal visits, except as approved by a Watch Commander. Special visits may be arranged for those incarcerated persons who experience hospital stays in excess of seven (7) days duration, have given birth, or for those having life-threatening or critical injuries or illnesses. Visits are restricted to immediate family members.  Exceptions are subject to the approval of the Watch Commander.

Pregnant incarcerated persons may request to have a support person present during childbirth. The approval for the support person will be made on a case-by-case review by the Compliance Lieutenant (or on-duty Watch Commander in cases of emergency). After giving birth, the appointed guardian of the infant and/or family members may be permitted to visit the incarcerated person in the hospital with the approval of the Watch Commander.

If the incarcerated person is authorized to receive visitors, visiting will be in accordance with both the hospital's and the Jail's visiting policies and will be monitored by the assigned officer. 

The following rules apply to visits occurring in hospitals:

• All visits must conform to the hospital’s regular visiting hours and policies.
• Only two visitors will be allowed in at a time.
• Children under age 12 are not allowed to visit patients unless special arrangements are made with hospital staff.
• The privacy curtains surrounding the hospital bed shall remain open. 
• There shall not be an exchange of any items. Absolutely no food or clothing may be brought in for the incarcerated person (e.g., no home-cooked meals, fast foods, canned sodas, etc.). 
• There shall be no physical contact between the incarcerated person and their visitor(s) at any time.
• Visitors are not permitted to take photographs unless authorized by the Watch Commander.

Officers retain the discretion to limit or deny visits to guarded patients, as space and activity in the room allows. 

Visitors are expected to dress appropriately. Inappropriate attire will be reason to deny a visit.

Visitor dress rules apply equally to all male and female visitors.  

Visitors shall remain fully clothed when visiting. Appropriate attire includes: undergarments, a dress or blouse / shirt with skirt / pants or shorts and shoes or sandals.

Visitors shall adhere to the following dress standards:

• All visitors must have proper footwear. Footwear shall be worn at all times. Shower shoes and bedroom slippers will not be allowed.
• Buttons, snaps and zippers shall remain fastened.
• All shorts, skirts and dresses, including slits in the garment, shall not expose more than four (4) inches above the knee when standing.

Prohibited Attire

• All clothing that is inappropriate, such as transparent clothing, halter-tops, excessively tight or revealing clothing, hats and bandannas, or any other clothing associated with a criminal gang or otherwise deemed by the STAFF to be unacceptable, will not be permitted.
• Clothing that exposes the breast / chest area, genitals or buttocks. Anyone wearing clothing considered to be too revealing will not be allowed to visit. This includes swimsuits, strapless attire and low neckline.
• By design, or by the way it is worn, allows the anatomical detail of body parts to be clearly viewed (e.g., Spandex, yoga pants, clothes with holes in inappropriate places, or excessively tight clothing).
• Material that is sheer or transparent (including see-through lace and mesh materials).
• Half shirts or any attire that expose the midriff area (stomach).
• Attire or accessories displaying obscene / offensive language, drawings, or objects.
• Promotes violence, hate, drug use, sex acts or gangs.  Includes any attire or accessories displaying any type of gang insignia, gang artwork, or any affiliation with gangs.