Volunteers
Community volunteers are critical to providing effective programs and services. The Detention Programs volunteers are the most respected service providers in the jail system. Inmates and staff recognize that volunteers are committed to helping sincere and motivated inmates improve their lives and support them becoming contributing members of the community. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the Volunteer Services Coordinator at (559) 488-2987, or via email at Terry.Ashmore@fresnosheriff.org.

Inmate Services

Health Services

All offenders have the right to necessary medical, dental and mental health services.

Medical and Dental
Twenty-four hours per day, medical professionals provide services to all offenders incarcerated in the detention facilities. Additional services provided include:

• Dental

• HIV/AIDS

• STD

• TB

• Hepatitis testing and treatment

Mental Health
The Jail Psychiatric Services provides crisis intervention services 24-hours per day and in-custody treatment for mentally ill offenders. The program is staffed by mental health clinicians and available to all incarcerated offenders.

What do I do if my family member has a brain disorder and has been arrested?

Commissary
Every inmate in the jail is initially provided with:

• A Toothbrush

• Toothpaste

• A Comb

• Soap

• Writing paper

• A Pencil

• 2 stamped envelopes

• A razor

• A plastic cup

Each inmate in the facility (except those on disciplinary status for violating facility rules) may purchase up to $85.00 of commissary each week. Commissary items offered for sale include personal hygiene supplies, stationery items, over-the-counter medications, food and snack items, cards and games. If an inmate 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 per request, on a weekly basis.

Money may be only be deposited into an inmate's account via U.S. Postal Money Orders. Write the Inmate's name, booking number, and jail identification (JID) number on the U.S. Postal Money Order and either mail to:

(Inmate's Name)

(Inmate's booking number and JID number)
P.O. Box 872
Fresno, CA 93712

or complete and deposit a money envelope provided at the Main Detention Facility Lobby, located at 1225 'M' Street.

Personal checks, cashier's checks, and cash are not accepted.

Mail
Mail may be sent to offenders incarcerated in the detention facility by writing to:

(Inmate's Name)

(Inmate's booking number and JID number)
P.O. Box 872
Fresno, CA 93712

All correspondence must include the inmate's booking and jail identification (JID) numbers on the envelope.

Inmates may NOT receive the following types of materials:

• Stamps, stickers and stationery items (i.e., envelopes)

• Cards that are excessively large, thick, embossed or contain sound-making devices

• Pornographic or sexually explicit materials

• Food

• Magazines, newspapers and books

• Polariod photographs (unless the backing has been removed)

Information NOT PROVIDED: when an inmate will be transported to prison or another facility.

Note: The Jail chaplains do not provide inmate information. Their duties are limited to providing inmate's with pastoral care and spiritual support.

Filing of Charges
The District Attorney's Office has two (2) complete court days from the time the inmate has been arrested to file charges on new (P.C. 836) arrests.

Note: a court day consists of the hours of 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday, not including court holidays.

Warrants/Bench Warrants
Court appearances for warrants in Fresno are set by the court and take approximately two (2) court days.

Superior Court Appearances
Appearances for Superior Court are set by the Superior Court and scheduled for the next available court date.

Note: The Detention Bureau cannot release an inmate until it has received written notification from the court that all charges have been cleared. This may take several hours from the time the criminal offender was 'released' in court.