Merced County Jail Inmate Records
Merced County operates an online inmate inquiry system where you can search for jail mugshots and booking records. The Sheriff's Office runs the main jail on West 22nd Street in the city of Merced. You can access the NewWorld Inmate Inquiry portal to find people in custody. This database shows current inmates with their booking photos, charges, and custody information. The system updates throughout the day as new arrests occur and people are released. Anyone can search the database without registering or paying fees. Public access is available 24 hours a day for finding booking records and inmate mugshots in Merced County.
Merced County Jail Quick Facts
Searching Merced County Inmates
The Merced County Sheriff provides an online inmate inquiry system. Visit inmateinquiry.co.merced.ca.us to access the database. You can search by name to find people currently in custody. The system shows booking information for everyone held at the Merced County jail.
Enter a last name in the search box. You can add a first name to narrow your results. The system returns a list of inmates who match your search. Click on a name to see their full booking record. This includes mugshots, charges, booking date, and bail amount for people in Merced County custody.
The database updates regularly as people are booked and released. New arrests appear after processing is complete at the jail. Released inmates are removed from the active roster. If you are looking for someone who was just arrested in Merced County, check back if they do not show up right away.
Note: The system only shows current inmates. Records for people who have been released are not available through this online portal.
Main Jail Location
The Merced County jail is at 700 West 22nd Street in Merced, California. This is the primary detention facility for the county. All arrests are processed here regardless of which local agency made the arrest. The Sheriff's Office operates the jail and handles all custody operations for Merced County.
Call (209) 385-7410 to reach the jail by phone. Staff can answer questions about inmate custody status. They can tell you if someone is currently in custody and provide basic information about bail and court dates. For detailed records or official documents, you may need to submit a public records request to the Sheriff's Office.
The facility houses both male and female inmates. People arrested anywhere in Merced County are brought to this jail for booking. The facility serves the entire county and holds people awaiting trial, serving short sentences, or waiting for transfer to state prison.
Finding Booking Photos
Start at the inmate inquiry website for Merced County. Enter the person's last name. Add a first name if you know it. This helps filter out people with common last names. Hit search to see results.
The system displays a list of inmates who match. Each entry shows basic details like name and booking number. Click on a name to open the full record. The detail page includes the booking photo at the top. Below that you will see charges, bail amount, booking date, and expected court dates in Merced County.
If you know the booking number, you can search by that instead. This takes you directly to the specific record without sorting through multiple matches. Booking numbers are unique to each arrest. You might find this number on bond paperwork or court documents.
Common names can return many results. Look at the age or charges to identify the right person. The system does not let you filter by date of birth in the search box. You may need to check several records to find the correct match for Merced County jail mugshots.
Public Records Requirements
California law mandates disclosure of arrest information. Government Code 6254(f) lists what must be public when someone is booked. This includes full name, occupation, physical description, date of birth, arrest time and date, booking time and date, location of arrest, charges filed, and bail amount. Merced County provides this data through the online inmate inquiry system.
Mugshots are public records in most cases. Law enforcement can release booking photos unless an exemption applies. The Merced County Sheriff makes jail mugshots available through the online database. You do not need to provide a reason for viewing records or show identification to use the system.
Some limits exist on social media posting. Penal Code 13665 restricts how police share mugshots on social media for certain crimes. This does not affect the official inmate database. The law only applies to social media accounts run by law enforcement. The NewWorld inquiry system remains open to the public in Merced County.
Mugshot extortion is illegal under California law. Civil Code 1798.91.1 bans charging fees to remove booking photos from websites. Some companies posted Merced County mugshots and demanded payment to take them down. State law now prohibits this practice statewide.
Inmate Communication Services
Merced County uses TouchPay for inmate deposits and phone services. You can set up an account at the TouchPay website to send money to someone in custody. Inmates use these funds for commissary purchases and phone calls inside the Merced County jail.
For sending packages and care items, the county works with iCare Gifts. You can order items through their website. Packages are delivered to the jail and given to the inmate. All items must comply with jail rules about what inmates can receive. Check the vendor site for a list of approved items.
VINE provides victim notification for Merced County. Visit vinelink.dhs.gov or call 877-411-5588 to register. The system sends alerts when an inmate is released or transferred. This free service covers all California counties including Merced. You can sign up for text or email notifications.
Requesting Official Documents
For certified copies of booking records or arrest reports, contact the Merced County Sheriff's Office. They handle public records requests under the California Public Records Act. You may need to submit a written request describing what records you want. Some fees apply for copying and staff time.
The online inmate inquiry does not provide official documents. It shows public information but is not suitable for legal proceedings. If you need records for court or background checks, request certified copies from the Sheriff's records division in Merced County.
Processing times vary based on the complexity of your request. Simple inquiries may be answered within days. More detailed requests can take longer. California law gives agencies 10 days to respond to most public records requests. Extensions are allowed under certain circumstances.
Other Ways to Find Inmates
If the online system does not work, call the jail at (209) 385-7410. Staff can search their records and tell you if someone is in custody. They can provide booking date, charges, and bail information over the phone. This is helpful when the website is down or you have trouble using the search tool in Merced County.
VINE also works as an inmate locator. Search by name at vinelink.dhs.gov to see if someone is in any California jail. The system checks multiple counties at once. This helps if you are not sure where someone is being held. VINE covers Merced County and all other counties in the state.
Court records may contain arrest information as well. The Merced County Superior Court maintains case files that include booking details. These records are separate from jail databases but can help you find information about criminal cases. Court records remain public even after someone is released from custody.
Cities in Merced County
Merced County includes several cities where arrests occur. All bookings from these communities go through the main jail in the city of Merced. Local police bring arrestees to the county facility for processing and detention.
Anyone arrested by police in these cities will appear in the Merced County inmate inquiry system. The database does not separate arrests by city. All bookings feed into the same system regardless of which agency made the arrest in Merced County.
Nearby Counties
If you cannot find someone in Merced County jail, check neighboring counties. People are sometimes arrested in one area and held in another. Warrants from other jurisdictions can affect where someone is booked in California.
Stanislaus County Madera County Mariposa County Fresno County
Each county operates its own jail system with separate databases. You need to search each one individually. The VINE system can search multiple counties at once, which saves time when you are not sure where someone is being held in California.