(This page's most recent update is September 2024)
______________________________________
Another type of genealogy record that provides tremendous value is criminal records. Some of our ancestors, unfortunately, got into trouble with the law. Records were kept, from arrests through court cases to prison documents. More and more of these records are being digitized or transcribed and made available online.
Types of Records
- Criminal court proceedings
- Police reports
- Prison and jail admission registers
- Arrest records
- Mug books
- Pardon and discharge information
- Hospital record books
- Workhouse records
Types of Information
- Name
- Age
- Birth date
- Height
- Weight
- Complexion
- Eye color
- Hair color
- Nationality
- Occupation
- Education
- Habits (alcohol use)
- Relations (parents living)
- Date incarcerated
- Court where charged
- Recommitments
- How and when discharged
Note: Some links listed take you to a FamilySearch Collection of digital images. Near the bottom of the page under Film/Digital Notes is the name of each sub-collection. If there is a camera icon at the right of the name (in the Format column) then the collections’ images are browsable. If there is a camera with a key icon, it is only available at a Family History Center or affiliated library. If there is a film reel icon, then it is only available in microfilm format, not digital. To take full advantage make sure that you are logged in to FamilySearch. The results may be different if you are signed in, rather than not.
Listed below are links to criminal records that are available for free online for the district; the first list is for multi-state collections:
California Criminal Records
United States
- Before the Needles, Executions in America Database
- Death Penalty USA, Executions 1607-1976 (by state)
- Federal Bureau of Prisons, Inmate Search 1982-
- Freedmen’s Bureau Records Relating to Murders and Outrages
California
- Alcatraz Inmate Lists
- Alcatraz Inmate Register, 1934 – 1963
- Alpine County, Alpine County Superior Court Register of Actions, V. B, 1895-1950
- Alpine County, Court Records, 1864-1963
- Butte County, Register of Prisoners, A-Z, 1880-1885
- California Executions, 1978-
- California State Prison, Folsom, 1879-1903, Numerical Register
- California, Alcatraz Inmate List
- California, Alcatraz Inmate Register
- California, Alcatraz Staff and Inmates
- California, Former Alcatraz Inmates A-G
- California, Former Alcatraz Inmates H-L
- California, Former Alcatraz Inmates M-Q
- California, Former Alcatraz Inmates R-T
- California, Former Alcatraz Inmates U-Z
- California, Index to Requisitions and Extraditions, 1860-1940
- California, Numerical Index of Former Alcatraz Inmates
- California, Records of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District, 1851-1950
- California, Sacramento County, Folsom, Correctional Institutions
- California, San Quentin Prison 1900, Index of Prisoners Surnames A – I
- California, San Quentin Prison 1900, Index of Prisoners Surnames J – Z
- California, San Quentin Prison 1930, Index of Prisoners Surnames A – H
- California, San Quentin Prison 1930, Index of Prisoners Surnames I – Z
- California, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, Prisoners, Insane, In Hospitals, 1917-1918
- California, Index to Requisitions and Extraditions, 1860-1940
- California, Index to Transcripts and Prison Papers
- California. State Prison, Folsom, Register and Descriptive List of Convicts, No. 1-5347, 1880-1903, 1938
- California. State Prison, San Quentin, Prison Register, and Descriptive List, 1851-1897
- Executions in California
- Kern County Jail, 1930 Index of Prisoners
- Kern County, Kern County Jail, 1930 Census
- Lake County, Minutes of Lake County Court, 1867-1879
- Lake County, Minutes of Lake County District Court, 1867-1879
- Los Angeles, Lincoln Heights Jail Census, 1920
- Madera County, Ahwahnee Sanatorium Cemetery, 1920-1934
- Marin County, Homicides pre-1880
- Marin County, San Quentin Prison Cemetery
- Sacramento County Court Records (Index), 1850-1879
- Sacramento County, Folsom Prison Cemetery
- Sacramento County, Folsom, Correctional Institutions
- Sacramento County, Record of Burials of Indigents, 1931-1961
- Sacramento County, Sacramento Police Jail Registers and Records of Arrest, 1872-1940
- Sacramento County, Sacramento, Police Records: Mug Books and Wanted Bulletins, 1860-1949
- Sacramento, Police Mug Books 1864-1949
- San Benito County, Minute Books and Orders, 1874-1920
- San Quentin Prison 1930, Index of Prisoners
- San Quentin Prison, 1900 Index of Prisoners (A – I)
- San Quentin Prison, 1930 Index of Prisoners (A – H)
- Santa Barbara County, District Court Calendar, Civil and Criminal Cases, 1875-1878
- Santa Barbara County, Sheriff’s Office Record of Criminals, ca. 1889-1911
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!