To find out if someone is in the Kings County Jail tonight, use the Sheriff's Office's official Inmate Locator, which lets you search by name and filter by how recently the person was booked. For help, the Sheriff's jail and inmate information line is (559) 852-2812.
This guide is part of our California courthouse and jail directory, covering counties across the state. Once your family member has a court date, see our Kings County Courthouse guide for case lookup, arraignment, and courthouse details.
How do you look up someone in Kings County custody?
The Kings County Inmate Locator is the Sheriff's Office's own online tool for finding someone currently held in the jail, with filters for the last 24 or 72 hours.
- Open the Kings County Inmate Locator, which the Sheriff's Office describes as a tool to "find individuals currently incarcerated in the Kings County Jail system."
- Search for the person by name, then narrow the result using the locator's own filters: All Inmates, 24 Hours, or 72 Hours since booking.
- If the person does not appear yet, booking can take time after an arrest. Try again a little later.
- If the online search does not answer your question, call the Sheriff's jail and inmate information line, (559) 852-2812, or the VINE custody line the Sheriff lists, (800) 491-0689, with the person's name or booking number.
Where are people booked and held in Kings County?
The Kings County Sheriff's Office runs the county jail; its office is at 1550 Kings County Drive, Hanford, and its jail and inmate line is (559) 852-2812.
| Facility | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Kings County Sheriff's Office (jail and inmate information line) | 1550 Kings County Drive, Hanford, CA 93230 | (559) 852-2812 |
The Sheriff's booking and inmate information page links the Inmate Locator and says its information is updated hourly.
How does release work before trial?
A person arrested in Kings County can be released in one of three main ways: a written citation, bail, or own recognizance release ordered by a judge.
For many misdemeanors, the person is released on a written notice to appear instead of being taken before a judge, though officers may book the person first, and a listed reason, such as an outstanding warrant or a stated reason to believe the person will not appear, can keep the person in custody (Penal Code section 853.6). A person arraigned on a misdemeanor is entitled to own recognizance release unless the court finds on the record that release would compromise public safety or not reasonably assure appearance (Penal Code section 1270(a)). A person arrested on a felony can also be released before the first court date by posting bail, which the jail can accept at the scheduled amount (Penal Code section 1269b(a)). Which path applies to a specific arrest depends on the charge, the person's record, and the judgment of the arresting officer and later the court; call the jail, the court, or an attorney for how one specific case is being handled.
How do you post bail at the Kings County Jail?
Kings County Superior Court publishes its own felony and misdemeanor bail schedules, but a judge can set a different amount, and bail must generally be reasonably attainable.
The court publishes a 2026 Felony Bail Schedule and a 2026 Misdemeanor Bail Schedule for Kings County. Neither document prints an effective date, so ask the jail or a lawyer which amount applies to a specific charge.
A bail schedule is a starting point, not a fixed price. Before the first court appearance, bail is the amount on the arrest warrant or, with no warrant, the county schedule; once a judge sets bail at an appearance, the judge's own amount controls (Penal Code section 1269b(b)). Before that first appearance, the defendant, or an attorney, friend, or family member, can also ask the magistrate directly for bail lower than the schedule, or for own recognizance release, for most charges (Penal Code section 1269c); if no order changes the amount within eight hours of booking, the scheduled bail applies instead. Under In re Humphrey, a judge who sets money bail must consider the person's ability to pay and whether nonfinancial conditions could reasonably protect the public and the victim or assure the person's presence at trial. In April 2026, the California Supreme Court held in In re Kowalczyk that money bail "must generally be set in an amount that is reasonably attainable, in order to effectuate the defendant's constitutional right to pretrial release on bail," and that in a noncapital case bail may be denied only for the offenses listed in article I, section 12(b) and (c) of the California Constitution.
For the jail's own accepted payment methods and current hours, check with the jail directly, or ask a licensed bail agent, before you drive there expecting a specific process.
For how bail amounts work across California more generally, see How Bail Amounts Are Set in California.
When is the first court date, and which courthouse?
State law sets a 48-hour limit, not counting Sundays and holidays, for bringing a person held in Kings County custody before a judge.
Penal Code section 825(a)(1) requires that "the defendant shall in all cases be taken before the magistrate without unnecessary delay, and, in any event, within 48 hours after his or her arrest, excluding Sundays and holidays." This 48-hour clock runs for a person actually held in custody; it does not apply to someone cited and released, whose notice to appear sets a later date instead. If the 48 hours run out while court is not in session, the deadline extends through the end of the next court session on the following court day (Penal Code section 825(a)(2)). For an arrest on a Wednesday after that day's court session has ended, the person must be brought before a judge by the following Friday, if neither day is a court holiday. This is a deadline for reaching a judge, not a promise of release and not a charging deadline.
Every Kings County criminal case is heard at one location, the Hanford Courthouse, 1640 Kings County Drive, Hanford, CA 93230, phone (559) 582-1010, open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The citation or other court papers give the day and time; at the courthouse, the posted calendar shows the department. For case lookup, the court's bail schedule, and what happens at your first appearance, see our Kings County Courthouse guide.
How do visiting, mail, and money work for a Kings County inmate?
The Sheriff's Office sets the jail's visiting, mail, and money rules; its website has a Visitation page, and its jail and inmate line is (559) 852-2812.
Before you drive out to visit, check the Sheriff's Visitation page or call the jail and inmate line, (559) 852-2812, for the current rules. Ask the same line how to send mail or add money to an account before you send anything.
What should you do now?
Confirm which jail is holding your family member through the Sheriff's Inmate Locator, gather identification, and call the Sheriff's Office directly for current bail, visiting, and mail procedures.
Start with the Kings County Inmate Locator to confirm custody status, then call the Sheriff's Office at (559) 852-2812 for current bail, visiting, and mail procedures. Gather photo identification before visiting, and keep any citation, release paperwork, or court notice you already have. If the arrest involves a specific charge, see our California criminal defense practice overview and, for a Hanford-area DUI arrest, our Hanford DUI lawyer page. Our criminal defense lawyer page explains what to do after an arrest and how the firm handles a bail hearing. If you cannot afford a lawyer, you can ask the court to appoint one at the first court appearance.
Talk to a lawyer about a Kings County arrest
A family member's first hours in custody move fast, with real deadlines on release, bail, and the first court date. The Law Offices of David S. Chesley offers a free, confidential consultation, 24 hours a day, with payment plans and service in Spanish. Call (800) 755-5174, or request a free consultation online.
Frequently asked questions
What number do I call about someone in the Kings County Jail?
Call the Sheriff's jail and inmate information line, (559) 852-2812. The Sheriff's Office lists its own address as 1550 Kings County Drive, Hanford, CA 93230, and its VINE custody line is (800) 491-0689.
How do I know if my family member was just arrested in Kings County?
Search the Kings County Inmate Locator by name, and try the 24-hour filter first. The Sheriff's page says the locator is updated hourly, so if nothing appears yet, try again later or call the jail and inmate line, (559) 852-2812.
Which bail schedule applies after a Kings County arrest?
The court's own 2026 Felony Bail Schedule and 2026 Misdemeanor Bail Schedule apply; both are linked from its Criminal Division page, and neither document prints an effective date. A judge can set a different amount at the first court appearance.
Can my family member ask for lower bail before arraignment?
You can ask. Penal Code section 1269c lets the defendant, an attorney, friend, or family member apply to the magistrate for bail lower than the schedule, or for own recognizance release, before arraignment, except for the offenses listed in Penal Code section 1270.1, which include serious and violent felonies other than residential burglary and some domestic violence charges. If no order changes the amount within eight hours of booking, the scheduled bail applies.
Can my family member be released without posting bail?
Sometimes. Many people arrested for a misdemeanor are released on a written citation instead of being taken before a judge (Penal Code section 853.6), and a person held in custody and arraigned on a misdemeanor is entitled to own recognizance release unless the court finds on the record that release would compromise public safety or would not reasonably assure the person's appearance (Penal Code section 1270(a)).
Do I need a bail bond agent?
Not necessarily. You may be able to post the full bail amount yourself. Ask the jail directly about its accepted payment methods and current hours, or contact a licensed bail agent.
What happens if a court date is missed after release?
A missed court date can lead to a bench warrant (Penal Code section 978.5(a)), and willfully breaking a written promise to appear is a separate misdemeanor (Penal Code section 853.7). Contact an attorney right away.
Which papers show the court date after a Kings County release?
The court's Criminal Division page says to check the citation, cash bail receipt, notice of hearing, signed promise to appear or notice to appear. For questions, call the Criminal Division at (559) 582-1010, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.