Merced County Released Inmates

Released inmate records in Merced County are available through the sheriff's online inmate inquiry system. The Merced County Sheriff keeps booking, custody, and release data for everyone processed at the county jail. You can search for free by name using the public portal. Merced County also ties into the statewide VINE alert network, which tracks custody changes and sends notifications when someone is released. For state prison records, use the CDCR CIRIS tool. This guide covers how to access released inmate information in Merced County, the laws that govern disclosure, and where to go for help.

Merced County Inmate Inquiry System

The Merced County Sheriff runs an inmate inquiry portal at inmateinquiry.co.merced.ca.us. This is a NewWorld system that lets you look up people currently held at the Merced County jail or recently released. Type in a last name and the tool pulls up all matching records. Each result shows the person's name, booking date, charges, bail, and custody status. If the inmate was released, you can see the release date. The tool is free and open to anyone.

The Merced County jail books people arrested throughout the county, including areas around the city of Merced, Los Banos, Atwater, and Livingston. Law enforcement agencies across Merced County bring arrested people to the same facility. The inmate inquiry portal captures all of these bookings in one place. When charges are dropped or someone makes bail, the system updates. For records that no longer show up on the portal, contact the Merced County Sheriff's records division at (209) 385-7445 to ask about older released inmate data.

Note: The online portal shows recent bookings and may not include records from several years ago.

How to Search Merced County Released Inmates

Visit the Merced County inmate inquiry page. Enter the last name of the person you want to find. Adding a first name helps narrow results when there are many matches. Click the search button. The system returns all records from the Merced County jail that match your query. Look at the custody status column to see if the person is still in custody or has been released.

Merced County released inmate records typically include these details:

• Full name and physical description
• Date of birth and booking number
• Arrest date and arresting agency
• All charges at time of booking
• Bail amount set by the court
• Release date and release type

For state prison releases, search the CIRIS database from CDCR. That system tracks all California state prison inmates. It shows admission dates, commitment counties, facility assignments, and parole information for released inmates who may have ties to Merced County. Between the county portal and CIRIS, you can cover both local jail and state prison records in your search.

California Law on Merced County Inmate Data

Government Code 7923.610 is the main statute that requires law enforcement to release booking and arrest information to the public. It applies to the Merced County Sheriff and all other agencies in California. The law lists specific data points that must be shared: full name, date of birth, physical description, time and date of arrest, booking details, charges, bail, and how the person was released from custody. The only exception allows an agency to hold back information that would endanger someone or compromise an investigation. This rule has been in effect since January 1, 2023.

State prison inmates released to Merced County are covered by Penal Code 3003. Under this law, CDCR must give local law enforcement in Merced County detailed data about each parolee. This covers the person's name, physical description, scars, tattoos, the crimes that led to their sentence, and where they will live after release. Parolees are sent back to the county where they lived before prison. Each released inmate gets $200 in gate money for basic needs right after leaving the facility.

VINE Custody Alerts for Merced County

VINE lets you track custody changes in Merced County. The system sends phone calls, emails, or text messages when an inmate is released or transferred. It is free and works around the clock. Registration takes just a few minutes. Call 1-877-411-5588 or go to vinelink.com to sign up. VINE supports over 200 languages and covers about 2,900 facilities in 48 states.

This service is especially useful in Merced County because you do not have to keep checking the inmate inquiry tool for updates. VINE does the checking for you. When the custody status of a Merced County inmate changes, the alert goes out within minutes. Victims, families, and anyone else who wants to know when a released inmate leaves the jail can use VINE at no cost. The Merced County Sheriff's office recommends it as one of the best ways to stay informed about inmate releases.

The Merced County Sheriff inmate inquiry portal at inmateinquiry.co.merced.ca.us is shown below. This is the main tool for searching released inmate records in Merced County.

The system lets you search by name and view booking details, charges, bail amounts, and release dates for people processed through the Merced County jail.

Nearby Counties

Inmates can be transferred or booked in a different county than where they were arrested. If your search comes up empty in Merced County, try one of these neighboring counties.

Merced County Released Inmate Resources

Merced County has no cities with a population over 100,000. All jail bookings and releases are handled by the sheriff's office. Use the online inmate inquiry system or call (209) 385-7445 for help with released inmate records. The CDCR Public Records Portal handles formal requests for state prison records about inmates released to Merced County. You can also request your own criminal history from the California DOJ at the record review page for a $25 fee. The California Public Records Act page explains how to submit formal requests to any state or local agency if you need documents beyond what the online tools provide.