Fontana Bookings and Releases
Fontana bookings and releases flow through the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department jail system. When an arrest occurs in Fontana, the individual is transported to one of the county detention facilities for processing. West Valley Detention Center in nearby Rancho Cucamonga is the primary booking location for Fontana arrests, though Central Detention Center and Glen Helen may also be used. The sheriff maintains a real-time online booking search that covers all facilities in the county. You can look up current and recent bookings, see charges and bail amounts, and track release dates. The system is free to use and updates throughout the day.
Fontana Quick Facts
Where Fontana Bookings Are Processed
Fontana does not have its own jail. All bookings go to San Bernardino County facilities. West Valley Detention Center serves much of the western part of the county, including Fontana. It sits in Rancho Cucamonga at 9500 Etiwanda Avenue. Central Detention Center is in the city of San Bernardino at 630 East Rialto Avenue. Glen Helen Rehabilitation Center in Devore handles sentenced inmates and some pretrial cases. Most Fontana arrests go to West Valley first.
Once booked, the person's info goes into the county booking system. You search all jails at once using the online booking search tool at jimsnetil.shr.sbcounty.gov/bookingsearch.aspx. The tool shows the booking number, full name, date of arrest, charges, bail, and current location. If the person is moved from one jail to another, the system updates to show the new facility. This makes it easy to track someone arrested in Fontana even if they are transferred later.
The sheriff inmate locator info page at wp.sbcounty.gov/sheriff/corrections/inmate-locator explains how to use the booking search. It also lists phone numbers for each jail. You can call to verify an inmate location or ask about bail. Public disclosure of booking info follows Government Code 7923.610, which requires release of arrest facts unless doing so would harm an investigation or endanger someone in a Fontana case.
| Jail Authority | San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department |
|---|---|
| West Valley Detention Center | 9500 Etiwanda Ave, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739 |
| Central Detention Center | 630 East Rialto Ave, San Bernardino, CA 92415 |
| Main Phone | (909) 386-0969 |
| Booking Search | jimsnetil.shr.sbcounty.gov/bookingsearch.aspx |
Note: Booking data updates several times daily, but there may be a brief delay between a Fontana arrest and when it shows up online.
Searching Fontana Jail Records
To find a Fontana booking, go to the county booking search page. Enter a last name or a booking number. The system searches all San Bernardino County jails and returns matching results. You see each person's name, age, booking date, charges, bail, and which jail holds them. If many people share the same last name, the list includes all of them. You pick the right one based on age or arrest date.
You can set a date range to narrow your search. If you want to see only the past two weeks of Fontana arrests, you enter start and end dates on the form. This filters out older records and makes the results easier to read. The tool does not require a first name. A last name alone is enough. If you have the booking number from a court document or a prior search, you can use that for a direct match.
Search methods for Fontana bookings:
- Enter last name only for a broad search of all jails
- Use booking number if you have it from a previous lookup
- Set date range to show only recent Fontana arrests
- Enter first and last name together for more precise results
Some bookings may not appear if an investigation is ongoing. Under Government Code 6254(f), law enforcement can withhold info that would risk officer safety or damage a case. This is not common but can happen in sensitive Fontana arrests. Most bookings show up within a few hours of processing at the jail.
Fontana Police Department Records
If Fontana Police made the arrest, you request the arrest report from the city police records unit. The records unit is at 17005 Upland Avenue in Fontana. They handle requests for incident reports, traffic reports, and arrest reports generated by Fontana PD officers. The county sheriff provides reports only for sheriff arrests or cases in areas outside city limits.
You can request a Fontana PD report in person, by mail, or online. Visit fontanaca.gov/201/Records-Unit for the request form and instructions. There is a fee for copies based on the number of pages. Some reports are not released if the case is open or involves a minor. The records unit is open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Call (909) 350-7740 for questions about obtaining a report for a Fontana arrest.
Fontana PD works with the county jail system. When city officers arrest someone, they book the person at West Valley or another county jail. The booking appears on the sheriff inmate search. But the arrest report is kept by Fontana PD. So you use different agencies depending on what record you need for a Fontana case.
Posting Bail for Fontana Arrests
When someone is booked in Fontana, bail is set based on a county bail schedule or a judge's order. The booking search shows the bail amount for each charge. If bail is paid, the person is released within a few hours of payment. If no bail is set, they may stay in jail until a court date. Some charges allow release on own recognizance, which means no money is required.
You post bail at the jail where the person is held. West Valley Detention Center accepts bail 24 hours a day. So does Central Detention Center. You can pay with cash, cashier's check, or money order. Many people use a bail bond company. The bonding company posts the full amount and charges a fee, usually 10 percent of the bail. Once bail is posted for a Fontana booking, the inmate goes through a release process that can take a few hours. The inmate search updates to show the release date and time.
For questions about bail or release procedures, call the jail at (909) 386-0969. Staff can tell you if bail was posted and when the person will get out. They cannot give legal advice or tell you whether to post bail in a Fontana case. They only provide factual info on custody status and release times.
VINE Release Alerts
San Bernardino County uses VINE. VINE stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. It alerts you when an inmate is released. You register at vinelink.com or call 1-877-411-5588. You need the inmate name or booking number. Once you sign up, you get a call or email when the person leaves custody. VINE is free and works for all county jails. Crime victims use it to know when someone gets out. Family members also use it to track release dates for a Fontana booking. The system updates in real time, so you get alerts as soon as the jail processes the release.
San Bernardino County Jail System
Fontana is located in San Bernardino County. All booking and release records for Fontana flow through the county jail system. For comprehensive information on San Bernardino County detention facilities, booking procedures, records requests, and other custody resources, visit the full county page.