Search Free Kern County Arrest Records (Public Lookup)

Run a free Kern County arrest records search right away with the guidance this resource provides.

Members of the public can view these arrest records as a result of the California Public Records Act. Patrons can seek arrest records at no cost from local agencies to help them find details of offenders in custody, but knowing exactly where to look is crucial to an effective search.

This resource provides a step-by-step explanation of acquiring arrest records from official channels using information directly from public agencies in Kern County, California.

How To Track Down Updated Kern County Arrest Records, Inmate Rosters & Mugshots for Free

Citizens in California may need to look up arrest records for a myriad of reasons, including finding missing friends and family or trying to get some background information on a new acquaintance. State, county and local agencies are mandated to make arrest records public due to the California Public Records Act – Gov. Code, § 6250-6270.¹

This mandate makes it such that anyone, including family, friends, banks, employers, or non-profit organizations, can search through a person’s arrest records without providing a reason. Certain documents are exempt from public access pursuant to Gov. Code, § 6254—these include investigation and sealed records, personnel and medical data.

Accessibility to arrest records in the county is also possible due to the National Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This law obliges federal agencies to provide most of the data they produce available for public consumption, with a few exceptions. These include trade secrets and data that touch on National security.

California public record repositories contain large swatches of arrest data spread over 58 counties, including Kern County; therefore, before seeking this data, it is important to have sufficient information to look through these documents before seeking it.

At the very least, requesters will need to know the last and first names of the inmates when contacting public agencies. It is also crucial to know which agency made the arrest, i.e., what county and whether the defendant is in custody with the county sheriff’s office or a local city police department. Sometimes, the date of birth (DOB) may be a requirement.

The search can be quicker if the patron has the case or arrest number.

To find recent arrests, citizens in Kern County can turn to the Sheriff’s Office and the Superior Court.

Acquire Recent Arrest Records via the Sheriff’s Office: The Kern County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) is tasked with maintaining law and order in the county and has the added responsibility of apprehending suspects and placing them in county jail. As per Gov. Code, § 6254, the KCSO has to make these arrest records public as long as the subject is in custody or if the release is within the past 60 days.

The KCSO maintains an Online Inmate Roster that is free for public use.² A full list is on display, but requesters can search through the records by name and print the data. Mugshots (photographs) can only be released to the subject of the record.

Each detainee record contains the following information:

• Full Names
• Booking Number
• Date of Birth
• Jail Location
• Holding (False/True)
• Offense Information (Offense Type, Description)
• Arrest Information (Date, Time)
• Bail Information (Date & Time, Type)
• Hearing Information (Date, Time, Location)

Interested individuals may also contact the Kern County Sheriff’s Office by calling the Arrest Records division at 661.391.7624 or visiting the office at the address below to retrieve or ascertain arrest records from the online database.³

Kern County Sheriff’s Office
1350 Norris Road 
Bakersfield, California 93308

View Arrest Data Through the Superior Court: The Kern County Superior Court provides a viable county source to seek arrest records. When an offender is in custody and booked by the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, they will have a court hearing at the Superior Court. A record of their arrest and charges will be created when this happens.

These records can be found online using the Kern County Case Search Tool, which users can utilize at no cost to find civil and criminal cases.

Since arrest records stem mainly from criminal cases, patrons must utilize the Kern County Criminal Case Search Tool which is free to use.⁴ Users can find criminal records using the defendant’s name, court case number or the date filed. They may also select the court where the case was heard (East Division, Metro Division, South Division etc).

Information from the record will include the following:

• Full Names & Aliases
• Birth Year
• Court Case Number
• Filing Date
• Bail Information (Amount, Status & Amount)
• Charges
• Sentence Information (Length, Location)

Retrieve Arrest Date From Local Jurisdictions: Local city police departments are also tasked with arresting individuals, and they may also hold offenders in custody before transferring them to county jail.

This means that often arrested individuals can be found at these agencies quicker than county agencies since transferring and processing them to the sheriff’s office takes additional time. The largest city in Kern County – Bakersfield – will serve as an example on seeking local arrest records.

The Bakersfield Police Department doesn’t have an online database of detainees. However, citizens can contact the department by calling 661.327.7111 or visiting the department. Citizens may also seek police records from the city; this will be delved into in the following sections.

Bakersfield Police Department
Building B
1601 Truxtun Avenue 
Bakersfield, California 93301-5109

In addition to the aforementioned public agencies, interested parties can acquire arrest information from third-party vendors like VINELink; this company provides apprehension data from law enforcement agencies throughout the state.⁶ These companies can be a viable alternative for individuals who want to avoid navigating through official channels.

Sometimes, citizens need to view older arrests and criminal records as part of running background checks to get insights into individuals’ run-ins with law enforcement. The next section shows how to obtain this information from county and state agencies.

How To Uncover Information on Previous Offenses & Arrests Made in Kern County California

The agencies above provide citizens with methods to acquire arrests that have just occurred, which is ideal for finding new inmates; however, they can also provide older arrest and criminal records. This is particularly helpful when employers, landlords or curious citizens need to get background information on an individual’s criminal past.

To find prior arrests and criminal records, patrons can turn to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office and the Superior Court. Turning to state agencies, particularly the California Department of Justice, is also likely to be fruitful.

Seek Earlier Arrest & Criminal Records via the Sheriff’s Office: The Kern County Sheriff’s Office has custody of arrest records in its index. Patrons can request these records through the Records Section, which is composed of arrest records and crime reports.

Interested parties can request copies of these records in person or by mail. Requestors must show valid ID such as a driver’s license and passport at the sheriff’s office address below (for criminal records). Crime records from the crime reports unit are available at no cost and are accessible Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM at the office address below:

Kern County Sheriff’s Office
1350 Norris Road
Bakersfield, California 93308

Mail requests submitted via U.S. mail should be made with a notarized written request with the right thumbprint affixed, a copy of the photo ID, and applicable fees (paid in money order).

To obtain a copy of local criminal history, applicants must submit fingerprints to the California Department of Justice by appointment Monday to Thursday, 7 AM to 3 PM. A $10.00 fee applies for the service, and a $25.00 charge is levied. Processing takes 2-20 weeks.

For arrest records, patrons will need to visit the Central Receiving Facility located at the following address:

Kern County Sheriff’s Office
Central Receiving Facility
Metropolitan Division
1415 Truxtun Ave
Bakersfield, CA 93301

Call for arrest records at 661.391.7624 or crime reports at 661.391.7431.

Acquire Prior Arrest & Criminal Data Through the Superior Court: The Kern County Superior Court is a viable source for seeking criminal and prior arrest records since information will always remain in the court’s databases. The only exception to this is if the defendant elects to petition to seal and destroy arrest records.⁷

Criminal records are part of court documents and become this way once an offender is found guilty of a crime; additionally, prior arrest records will remain on the court docket even if they resulted in a dismissal or not guilty verdict.

The most convenient way to view both sets of records would be to use the Kern County Court Criminal Case Search Tool, which is available free of charge. The process of how to do this was discussed earlier.

Interested parties can visit these courthouse locations to view case records via computer terminals for free or request the clerk to find the records for them; charges for searches conducted by the clerk can be found in this fee schedule.⁸

Mail requests will be sent to the relevant locations above and must include the research fee, applicable copy fees, and a self-addressed envelope for the return of documents.

For other counties in the state, patrons may use this Find Your Court link that will lead them to other superior courts throughout the state.

Search Arrest & Criminal Records Through Local Agencies: The City of Bakersfield will again be an example of acquiring local prior arrest and criminal records. Citizens can submit a records request through the city’s police department through online, in-person and mail requests. Crime reports are free and may take up to ten business days to process.

Patrons may request copies online; these may be for crime reports and prior arrest records.

To initiate mail requests, applicants should make a written statement of what records they need. They will need to include the case number, date of filing, parties involved, and telephone number of the requestor. These requests can also be done in person at the Bakersfield Police Department, Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 3 PM; mail requests are at the same address:

Bakersfield Police Department
1601 Truxtun Avenue 
Bakersfield, CA 93301-5109

Inquirers are encouraged to call 661.326.3854 with any questions about crime reports or records.

Search Prior Arrest & Criminal Records via the Department of Justice: Citizens can look at their own criminal records and prior arrest information through the California Department of Justice. Requests from third parties are not authorized. To run a criminal and arrest record check, citizens must submit their fingerprints at public live scan locations.

Each record check costs $25.00, but applicants can request a fee waiver.

They will use the Live Scan form (Spanish) and check Record Review as the ‘Type of Application’ and the ‘Reason for Application.’ Out-of-state residents must use the State Summary Criminal History Record Form and contact their local law enforcement agency.⁹

To submit manually, applicants must include a personal check (drawn on a U.S. bank), money order or certified check payable to the ‘California Department of Justice.’ Mail the application, fingerprint card and payment to the following address:

California Department of Justice
Bureau of Criminal Identification & Analysis
Record Review and Challenge Section
Post Office BOX 160207
Sacramento, California 95816

Upon successfully finding an offender in jail, citizens may need to remove their family and friends from custody. This is done by paying a bond amount if the court has posted an amount for the inmate; the process to accomplish this is delved into below.

How To Find a Bail Bondsman or Post Bail for Someone Arrested in Kern County

Having loved ones in custody can be an extremely stressful situation for the inmate and those on the outside.

When someone is taken into custody, a bond amount is often set by the Kern County Superior Court from this bond schedule after an arraignment hearing, which – when paid – will permit the inmate’s release, allowing them to attend court hearings while being free.

Patrons should confirm that the inmate is still in custody by searching this Kern County Detainee Search Tool or calling the Arrest Records Division at 661.391.7624. They’ll also need to obtain a confirmation of the bond amount.

If they can afford the bond amount, they can proceed to visit the Kern County Courthouse Locations seen in the table in the previous section.¹⁰

Alternatively, citizens can visit the Central Receiving Facility of the sheriff’s office at the location listed below:¹¹

Kern County Sheriff’s Office
1415 Truxtun Avenue
Bakersfield, CA 93301

661.868.6850

If the bond amount is too high, individuals may hire a bonds agent to post bail on behalf of their clients. These companies charge a rate of between 12% and 20% of the total bond amount posted—this fee is non-refundable as this is how these companies make their money. Sometimes, bond agents allow clients to get on a payment plan for this surety amount.

Bond agents can be found online, over the phone or in person. Some agents may require clients to put up collateral against the full bond amount should the client flee or fail to make payments. These agents will need the offender’s information, such as full names and where they’re being held.

They’ll then contact the relevant public agencies to get the inmate out of custody. The search for Kern County arrest records is necessary to find missing persons or obtain background information on individuals; this article provides versatile information, such as aggregate links, to acquire this data.