Madera County California Inmate Jail Records

How to Find Out Jail Records

When it comes to the public’s right to access government records, there are a couple of rules that apply in Madera County. You don’t have to take the time and trouble of going to the city hall or tapping your phone number into an online database. Instead, you can go directly to the Madera County Records Office for access to their database of arrest records and other county-wide information. Arrest records are a matter of public record.

When was the law passed to allow the public to access these types of records? The fact is that there were many debates on the subject of criminal records, and it was not until 2004 that the Freedom of Information Act was passed. According to the law, these records are supposed to be open to the public. However, the delays in getting records from the federal and state agencies have given counties like Madera County, time to craft their own legislation to make criminal jail records freely available to the public.

If you want to look up someone’s court records, or jail records, in Madera County, you will need to go to the County Records Office in the community of Pinedale, near Madera in southern California. You can usually get this service for a fee, although it is worth noting that there are often discounts if you arrange for your documents to be picked up at the stationhouse. Most likely, you will need to bring your original receipt for the records, along with a valid identification and birth date. There is one document that you will definitely need: the ” writ of attachment” for the criminal record search. This is your official proof of identity that will show the county that the person who is requesting the records is the real party called in for the visit.

Once you are inside the walls of the jail, however, the search begins. In most cases, the records are actually placed into a computer system that makes retrieving them easy, but it might be helpful to have a few tips on the best ways to go about the search. For instance, it is possible to go directly to the records office for the first time to get a criminal background check, but for some cases you might have to go in a second time to obtain more information. In any case, you will most likely be able to view the records online and print them out if you wish to. You will also find links to other useful websites, like a national sex offenders’ registry or a county’s page for a list of fire hazards.

When you have completed your search, you will then be given the results. You will probably see a few records, depending on how much information the county has on its own files. If the person was convicted of a felony, you should see several felony-related records (felonies are divided into class A, B and C). If the person was convicted of a misdemeanor, you should see at least one misdemeanor-related record. And for those who were convicted of sexual crimes, you should see at least two such records. However, if the suspect has multiple offenses on his or her record, the results of your search will be too general, and you could miss out on finding specific information for one of the offenses.

Jail records are public information, so you shouldn’t have to pay for them. In some states, the state or county holds the data, but it is usually offered for free online. Some websites offer to find a limited number of jail records for free, but they usually charge for more detailed searches. The data is available in most states by name, case number, or court clerk. However, some counties offer a full roster as well as information about the inmate’s educational background and work history when available online.