Searching for criminal ancestors in California? This page curates prison records, court documents, inmate registers, and newspaper archives to help you trace offenders, outlaws, and forgotten figures in your California family history.
Some of California’s most surprising criminal histories are hiding in plain sight, and you may already be related to one…
Search billions of historical records on Ancestry, including census records, immigration records, military records, court records, prison records, newspaper archives, and family trees that may reveal new details about your ancestors' lives.
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San Quentin Prison 1900, Index of Prisoners
Surnames A – I ~ Surnames J – Z
San Quentin Prison 1930, Index of Prisoners
Surnames A – H ~ Surnames I – Z
Lincoln Heigts Jail, Los Angelas
1920 Census
Notable Jail Birds of San Francisco
Includes pictures and biographies
Alcatraz Escapes
Has anyone ever escaped Alcatraz? Yes!
Alcatraz inmate register
1934 – 1963
Alcatraz Inmate List
Also a list of 651 famous inmates in Alcatraz
Kern County Jail
1930 Index of prisoners
State Prison at Folsom
1909 roster of officers and employees
California Outlaws & Criminals
Joaquin Murieta
A biography on the outlaw.
Notable Jail Birds of San Francisco
Includes pictures and biographies
California Court Records
California Courts
The judicial branch of california
Court, Government, & Criminal Records
Court records are an often overlooked, yet very valuable tool for finding information to assist you in your research. Land records, such as deeds, allow you to tie an ancestor to a specific place at a point in time. Other court records like those dealing with finances and estates often list related family members or give interesting details like the total value of property owned by your ancestors to add interest to your family history.
California Executions
Executions in California
1778 – 1967
California executions 1978 – present
number of executions since 1893 and other statistics
Capital Punishment
History
Lynchings in California
1875-1947
Hangings in San Francisco
A Record of Legal Executions in California
The First Two Official Hangings in San Francisco
? Tips for Researching California Criminal Ancestors
If you’re having trouble finding records, try:
- Searching for name variations or aliases
- Looking in nearby counties or states
- Checking newspaper archives for arrests or trials
- Cross-referencing census records with prison records
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If you haven’t found what you’re looking for yet, explore other regions or browse additional criminal ancestor records across the site. New records and profiles are added regularly.