View Kern County Mugshots for Free (California Resource)

Discover who is currently in custody by conducting a cost-free Kern County mugshot search today.

Thanks to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the California Public Records Act, the public can access a variety of records to stay informed about individuals who have been arrested or are in custody.

This resource provides information on how to view mugshots in Kern County, California.

Where Can Mugshots Be Found for Free in Kern County California?

Residents of Kern County may want to view mugshots for a number of reasons. Some may do so for public safety, legal and background checks, research, educational purposes, or personal reasons.

California has recently passed a mugshot law that prohibits the display of photos of offenders alleged of non-violent crimes on social media.¹ While it is stated in Section 13665 of the Penal Code that ‘social media’ does not include police department websites and repositories, most local departments do not display photos.²

Although limited in the state of California, mugshots can be viewed or obtained in Kern County through the sheriff’s office, some of the cities’ police departments, and the Megan’s Law website hosted by the California Department of Justice.

The next section covers how to access mugshots, providing guidance to those specifically looking to search for these records within Kern County.

How To Search Kern County Mugshots at No Cost

Arrest records, held by the Kern County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO), are made available to the public in compliance with Government Code 7923.610.^{3, 4} Such records can be found through the KCSO jail roster.

This includes the name, date of birth, jail information, booking number, arrest location, arrest and booking dates and times, case information, and charges among others. However, mugshots are only released to the person on record.

Arrestees may obtain their own booking photo by visiting the KCSO in person, for a fee of $5. A photo ID must be presented.

Kern County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO)
1350 Norris Rd.
Bakersfield, California 93308-2231

Phone (Arrest Records): 661.391.7624
Email: [email protected]

For more in-depth information, a tutorial for accessing arrest records in Kern County is also available.

On the other hand, VINELink may also be helpful in viewing records and mugshots for those that are available. Simply provide the partial or full name of the offender to return results.

Inmate Services

Families and friends of people who are incarcerated may offer support through various means. They can send money, post bail, or maintain contact through phone calls, providing supplies, and visitations.

• Phone Services: Set up an inmate phone account through the third-party service provider partner of the Kern County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO).
• Mail: Send letters to inmates following the rules set by the KSCO.
• Inmate Supplies & Commissary: Avail or purchase supplies like hygiene kits, stationery, and food.
• Send Money: Send money to inmates through a third-party service provider partnered with KCSO.
• Visitations: Visit loved ones by following the guidelines provided by the KCSO.
• Post Bail: Temporary release of an inmate will be allowed once the bond amount set by the Kern County Superior Court is paid.⁶

How To Look Up Mugshots via Cities Within Kern County CA

When seeking information about recent arrests, it is important to note that such records are typically made and managed by the city police department. Thus, the most updated records can be accessed through their online portals or by contacting them directly.

Some city police departments in Kern County provide records of crime and arrests on their respective websites. However, only Taft City displays mugshots. Taft City has a database for criminal activities in their community, including arrests, which is displayed along with the arrestees’ mugshots.⁷

Just select ‘Arrests’ from the left panel, and it will display the arrestees’ booking dates, locations, and actions, names, charges, personal details, and photos. The list can be filtered using a date range or name.

For further information, the Taft City Police Department can be reached by phone at 661.763.3101 or visited in person at:

Taft City Police Dept.
320 Commerce Way
Taft, California 93268

Citizens can contact other city police departments to request mugshot or custody information directly, since they don’t offer public databases with booking photos online.

• Wasco Police Department: (661)758.7266
• Tehachapi Police Department: (661)822.2263
• Shafter Police Department: (661)746.8500
• Ridgecrest Police Department – Records: (760)499.5100
• McFarland Police Department: (661)792.2121
• Delano Police Department: (661)721.3377
• California City Police Department – Records: (760)373.7044
• Bakersfield Police Department: (661)852.7850
• Arvin Police Department: (661)854.5583

Note: Interested citizens can read the overview of accessing public records in Kern County to learn more about the other records that can be retrieved through local police agencies and other offices; examples of this public information include divorces, marriages, crimes, warrants, and even background check reports.

How To View Prison Mugshots (California State & Federal Inmate Photos)

If someone is in a state prison, their mugshots might be available online, though this varies by state. County-level resources may also won’t provide these results, even for local offenders.

The California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation (CDCR) offers an online search tool that provides details such as the offender’s name, CDCR number, age, admission date, current location, and commitment county, but it does not include police photographs.⁸ However, for registered sex offenders in the state, you can find mugshots on the California Department of Justice’s Megan’s Law website.

At the federal level, you can use the Bureau of Prisons’ inmate locator to find information by entering the person’s name or BOP number. However, it doesn’t show mugshots.

Public access to this information is made possible by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the California Public Records Act.^{9, 10} However, it is expected of the citizens not to use the public records illegally and inappropriately, such as for harassment and intimidation.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) also provide additional guidelines for the professional use of this information in the workplace.

There are various reasons a person may have for conducting a Kern County mugshot search; whatever the purpose may be, it’s important to handle such records responsibly and ethically.