Find a Kern County Booking and Verify the Charge Through the Court
A Kern County arrest can create a Sheriff booking record, crime report, local arrest record, bail entry and Superior Court case. These records are maintained separately and may update at different times.
This guide explains the current inmate search, the Sheriff’s 60-day public-information rule, court-record fees, facility contacts, visits, digital mail, phone accounts, commissary, warrants, statewide California histories and record-cleaning options.
Current custody or release within the previous 60 days.
Provided by Arrest Records at no charge.
$5 with in-person photo identification.
$0.50 per page; generic search starts at $15.
County and state sources checked July 27, 2026.
Choose the record that answers your question
Use the KCSO inmate list to find the booking number, facility, arrest details, bail and scheduled hearing.
Request the arrest or crime report from KCSO or the city police department that created it.
Search the Superior Court portal and obtain the filed complaint, docket, order or disposition.
Submit fingerprints to the California DOJ for your complete Record of Arrest and Prosecution review.
How to search the Kern County inmate list
What each Kern County inmate field means
| Field | What it identifies | What it does not prove | Best next action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Booking number | The Sheriff identifier assigned to the person’s custody record. | It does not describe the final court outcome. | Use the full seven-digit number for mail, deposits and phone services. |
| Jail | The person’s current listed housing facility. | Housing can change because of classification, court, medical or transfer needs. | Confirm the facility before visiting or sending privileged mail. |
| Holding | Whether the system shows a qualifying custody hold indicator. | A false value does not guarantee immediate release. | Review all cases, warrants and bail restrictions. |
| ID process complete | Whether the identity process is shown as completed. | It does not certify the person for every outside purpose. | Use the booking number and birth date to avoid a same-name error. |
| Court case number | The Superior Court case connected with the booking. | The case may not yet contain a final disposition. | Search the number in the Kern court portal. |
| Crime case number | The law-enforcement report or incident identifier. | It is not the same as the court case number. | Provide it when requesting the Sheriff or police report. |
| Booking type | The reason or procedural category associated with the booking. | A label such as open charges or probation violation is not a final judgment. | Read the underlying court case and charge entries. |
| Bail amount | The amount presently associated with a particular case or charge. | Paying one amount may not clear another no-bail case or hold. | Confirm the total bail and every restriction before arranging payment. |
| Release date | The listed date for release from the custody episode when available. | Release does not mean dismissal or acquittal. | Search the court docket for the later case outcome. |
| Hearing details | The currently listed hearing date, location and department. | The event cannot change. | Recheck the court portal shortly before the hearing. |
Why a Kern County arrest may not appear
Who can obtain a Kern County arrest record?
| Requester | What is available | Important restriction |
|---|---|---|
| General public | Contemporaneous arrest information for a person currently in custody or released within the previous 60 days. | This is not unrestricted access to a complete lifetime criminal history. |
| Person who was arrested | Information about their own Kern County arrest through the Arrest Records Unit at no charge. | Statewide history requires California DOJ fingerprints. |
| KCSO arrestee seeking a mugshot | Their own booking photograph for a $5 fee. | Must appear in person with valid photo identification. |
| Media or unrelated member of public | Legally releasable arrest information. | KCSO does not release booking photos to the public or media through Arrest Records. |
| Victim or authorised representative | Eligible crime reports under California disclosure rules. | Protected information is redacted, and some report categories cannot be released by the unit. |
Requesting your own records from outside Kern County
Kern County detention locations and current functions
| Facility | Current function | Address or phone |
|---|---|---|
| Lerdo Justice Facility | Primary facility for receiving arrested persons; medium and maximum-security housing. | 17801 Industrial Farm Road, Bakersfield · 661-391-3100 |
| Lerdo Pre-Trial Facility | Largest KCSO detention facility; houses male and female county inmates and some state or federal contract inmates. | 17695 Industrial Farm Road, Bakersfield · 661-391-7900 |
| Lerdo Max/Med | Housing is temporarily suspended; the facility remains a booking location for contract inmates. | 17645 Industrial Farm Road, Bakersfield · 661-391-7856 |
| Mojave Jail | Receives people arrested in the Mojave area pending release or transfer into Bakersfield. | 661-824-7141 |
| Ridgecrest Jail | Currently not housing incarcerated people and listed as under construction. | 760-384-5919 |
| Metro Court Holding | Used for court holding services and not as a regular inmate housing facility. | 661-868-6850 |
What happens after an arrest in Kern County?
How Kern County bail and warrant information works
Reading bail in the inmate result
Warrant verification
| Warrant or case type | Contact | What to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | 661-610-6000, option 4 | Full legal name, birth date and court case number. |
| Misdemeanor | 661-610-6000, option 4 | Name, birth date, citation or case number. |
| Traffic | 661-610-7000, option 1 | Citation number, case number and identity details. |
Kern Superior Court states that a warrant remains active until law enforcement arrests the person, the person appears in court or bail is posted. Failure to appear after posting bail can cause forfeiture and a new warrant.
How to verify what happened after the arrest
How to interpret common criminal statuses
| Status | Practical meaning | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Pending | The case has not reached a final disposition. | Check the most recent filing and next hearing. |
| Dismissed | A charge or case was dismissed. | Determine whether every count was dismissed and whether dismissal was final. |
| Diversion | The defendant may be completing a qualifying programme before final resolution. | Check whether the programme was completed and the charge was dismissed. |
| Not guilty | The defendant was acquitted on the identified count. | Confirm whether any other count remained. |
| Guilty or no contest | A conviction can result from a guilty plea, no-contest plea or guilty verdict. | Read the judgment and sentence for the final code section. |
| Closed | The case is no longer being treated as active. | Closed alone does not explain the legal outcome. |
Kern County criminal court locations
| Location | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Division | 1415 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301 | 661-610-6000 |
| Delano | 1122 Jefferson Street, Delano, CA 93215 | 661-610-7300 |
| Lamont | 12022 Main Street, Lamont, CA 93241 | 661-610-7100 |
| Mojave | 1773 State Highway 58 Business, Mojave, CA 93501 | 661-610-7400 |
| Ridgecrest | 132 E. Coso Avenue, Ridgecrest, CA 93555 | 661-610-7450 |
| Shafter | 325 Central Valley Highway, Shafter, CA 93263 | 661-610-7200 |
How to obtain Kern County criminal court records
Kern Superior Court does not provide unrestricted Internet access to the contents of criminal case files. View the physical file at the courthouse or request specific documents in writing.
| Service | Published amount | How to avoid unnecessary cost |
|---|---|---|
| Viewing a known public file in person | No copy charge | Bring the exact case number and confirm the file location first. |
| Criminal document copy | $0.50 per page | Request only the complaint, docket, judgment or order needed. |
| Generic search | Initial $15 fee | Find the case number in the online portal before requesting clerk research. |
Mailed criminal record request checklist
How to obtain a Kern County Sheriff crime or arrest report
Bakersfield, CA 93308
Public hours: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Arrest Records: 661-391-7624
Crime Reports: 661-391-7431
Crime report eligibility
The Crime Reports Unit maintains reports produced by KCSO in the Bakersfield metropolitan area and its substations. Eligible victims and authorised representatives may obtain releasable reports at no cost.
Kern County visiting days, booking steps and restrictions
Lerdo Pre-Trial Facility
| Last-name group | Visiting days | Appointment windows |
|---|---|---|
| A–F | Tuesday and Friday | Morning appointments begin 11 a.m.; last morning start 2 p.m. Evening begins 5:30 p.m.; last evening start 7:30 p.m. |
| G–M | Wednesday and Saturday | Same appointment windows. |
| N–Z | Sunday and Thursday | Same appointment windows. |
Lerdo Justice Facility
Tuesday–Sunday, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. and 5–7 p.m., following the same A–F, G–M and N–Z last-name day groups.
One 60-minute visit or two 30-minute visits per week.
Two visitors: two adults or one adult and one minor.
Remote video hours
8–11:45 a.m.
12:30–5:45 p.m.
6:30–8 p.m.
Sunday through Saturday.
Shown by Securus during scheduling.
Identification and child rules
Current Kern County inmate mailing address
Effective June 1, 2025, ordinary physical personal mail is scanned and distributed digitally through inmate kiosks and tablets.
Seven-Digit Booking Number
C/O Securus Digital Mail Center
P.O. Box 25397
Tampa, FL 33622
Mail checklist
Legal and privileged mail
The Digital Mail Center change does not apply to private or privileged mail from legal institutions. Attorneys and approved legal senders should use the current direct facility address and clearly follow privileged-mail identification requirements.
How to add money or send an approved care package
Locate the inmate using the name or booking number and review the fee before confirming the deposit.
Access Corrections supports telephone deposits and selected retail locations.
Kiosks are available at the Central Receiving Facility and Lerdo Max/Med location.
What KCSO initially provides
Security toothbrush, toothpaste, razor, comb, soap and an orientation packet.
An inmate with less than $3 in the trust account may order an indigent kit once per week.
Paper, envelopes, hygiene items, pencil, soap, shampoo and limited aspirin packets.
Care-package rules
Families may order approved care packages through the contracted Access Securepak catalogue. Do not mail food, hygiene products or personal-property packages directly to the jail.
Kern County inmate phone support
KCSO uses Securus Technologies for inmate telephone accounts and video visitation. Inmates initiate outgoing communications; family members manage the funded Friends and Family account.
| Support route | Contact | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Customer support | 800-844-6591 | Account setup, payments, blocked calls and general service issues. |
| Spanish support | 866-561-6718 | Spanish-language telephone assistance. |
| Customer_service@correctionalbillingservices.com | Non-urgent account assistance and documentation. | |
| Mail payments | P.O. Box 650757, Dallas, TX 75265-0757 | Provider account payments under current Securus instructions. |
| Mail correspondence | P.O. Box 1106, Addison, TX 75001 | Provider account correspondence—not inmate personal mail. |
Receive custody-status notifications
California State VINE provides custody-status notifications for participating counties and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
How to obtain your California DOJ criminal history
California resident process
Applicant living outside California
Bureau of Criminal Identification and Analysis
Record Review & Challenge Section
P.O. Box 160207
Sacramento, CA 95816-0207
Record Review questions: 916-227-3849
Challenging incorrect California DOJ information
When the response contains criminal information, the DOJ includes form BCIA 8706, Claim of Alleged Inaccuracy or Incompleteness. State the exact error and attach available court, law-enforcement or identity documents supporting the correction.
Sealing a Kern County arrest or dismissing a conviction
Arrest that did not result in a conviction
Penal Code section 851.91 may permit sealing when no charges were filed, charges were dismissed, diversion was completed and dismissed, deferred entry of judgment was completed or the person was found not guilty.
Factual innocence
Factual-innocence sealing and destruction requires a stronger showing that there was no reasonable cause for the arrest. KCSO states that when no court case was filed, a petition must be submitted to the arresting agency within two years. When the person appeared in court and was found factually innocent, the petition is filed with the court and copied to the District Attorney.
Misdemeanor or eligible felony conviction dismissal
| Situation | Possible procedure | Important condition |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor with completed probation | Petition for Dismissal, CR-180; proposed order CR-181 | No new case pending and not on probation or parole in another case. |
| Misdemeanor without probation | CR-180 and CR-181 | Generally wait at least one year after conviction. |
| Eligible felony with probation or county jail | Dismissal petition and possible Penal Code section 17(b) reduction | Eligibility depends on the offence, sentence and completion status. |
| Eligible state-prison felony | Discretionary dismissal may be available after the applicable period | Specified exclusions apply, including sex-offender registration cases. |
| Qualifying Proposition 47 offence | Request felony reduction to misdemeanor | Only qualifying drug or lower-value theft offences and eligible applicants. |
Kern County arrest, jail and court contacts
| Office | Contact | Best reason to call |
|---|---|---|
| KCSO Arrest Records | 661-391-7624 | Recent arrest information, your own arrest record and booking-photo procedure. |
| KCSO Crime Reports | 661-391-7431 | Eligible Sheriff crime-report copies. |
| KCSO Detentions main | 661-391-7500 | Detention routing and general facility questions. |
| Lerdo Justice Facility | 661-391-3100 | Justice Facility housing, property and visit questions. |
| Lerdo Pre-Trial Facility | 661-391-7900 | Pre-Trial housing and facility information. |
| Pre-Trial visitation booking | 661-391-7901 | Schedule an eligible Pre-Trial public visit. |
| Metropolitan criminal court | 661-610-6000 | Bakersfield felony and misdemeanor court questions. |
| Revenue Recovery | 661-610-7500 | Delinquent criminal fines and financial re-evaluation. |
Kern County Sheriff Records Section
The Sheriff’s Arrest Records and Crime Reports units are located at 1350 Norris Road, Building B, Bakersfield, California 93308.
What should you do with the record you found?
Save the booking number, jail, cases and bail, then verify the current status before paying or travelling.
Use the crime case number to request the report from the agency that made the arrest.
Search the court case and request the disposition, judgment or dismissal order.
Use a court-issued copy rather than a jail screenshot or third-party people-search result.
Correct the information through KCSO, the court or California DOJ that controls the disputed field.
Choose arrest sealing, factual innocence, conviction dismissal or another procedure based on the exact disposition.
Kern County arrest record questions answered
How do I search Kern County arrest records?
Use the KCSO Inmate Information page for current bookings. Open the booking-number result and compare the date of birth, facility, charges, bail, crime case number and court case number.
How long does Kern County release arrest information to the public?
KCSO states that arrest information is public when the person is currently in custody or was released within the previous 60 days.
Can I obtain another person’s Kern County mugshot?
KCSO Arrest Records does not release booking photographs to the public or media. A KCSO arrestee may purchase their own photo for $5 by appearing in person with photo identification.
Why does the inmate page tell me to check the court portal?
KCSO warns that system changes and partner-agency updates may affect the accuracy of the inmate result. The Superior Court portal should be used to verify current case information.
Are Kern County Sheriff crime reports free?
Eligible victims and authorised representatives may obtain releasable KCSO crime reports at no cost. Protected information is redacted, and some report categories cannot be released by the unit.
How much are Kern County criminal court copies?
The court lists copies at $0.50 per page. A generic clerk search begins at $15 when the case number is not known.
How do I check a Kern County warrant?
KCSO does not release warrant information by telephone. The subject may appear with photo ID at the Justice Facility Inmate Receiving Center, or contact the criminal court at 661-610-6000, option 4.
Where do I send Kern County inmate mail?
Send ordinary personal mail to Securus Digital Mail Center, P.O. Box 25397, Tampa, FL 33622. Include the incarcerated person’s full name and seven-digit booking number.
How much is a California DOJ Record Review?
The DOJ processing fee is $25, plus the Live Scan provider’s fingerprint rolling fee. Eligible applicants can request a DOJ fee waiver.
Can a Kern County arrest be removed from public access?
Some arrests without convictions qualify for sealing under Penal Code section 851.91, and some records receive automatic DOJ relief. Conviction dismissal and factual-innocence procedures are separate and have different requirements.