Free Kern County Warrant Search: Verify Wanted Status

Perform a free Kern County warrant search today to check who’s wanted in your area. Several record custodians host warrant information, and knowing which one to check with is crucial for finding the right details.

Some official agencies allow members of the public to perform a warrant search online at no cost; this is usually done through databases containing court case records. You can determine if you or someone you know has a warrant in Kern County, California, by following the guidance of this streamlined article.

An Overview of Conducting a Kern County Warrant Search

Before you conduct a warrant search in Kern County, you should know some basics about public records law as it pertains to warrants. The California Public Records Act grants every person in the state the right to access public information.¹ Section 7921.300 prevents government agencies from placing limitations on access to public records if the records are subject to disclosure.

A ‘public record’ is defined as a writing that contains information relating to a government agency’s conduct of public business. A warrant is a writ created by a court or law enforcement agency that complies with the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which prevents the government from unreasonable searches and seizures.² An arrest warrant authorizes a government official to bring someone into custody for committing a crime.

In California, the warrant must comply with specific requirements by including the name of the defendant, date and time of issuance, city or county, alleged offense, place and time of court appearance, and signature of a judge. A search warrant also must comply with specific rules and can only be issued when property is stolen, used in the commission of a felony or other public offense, or is DNA evidence.

Although California is an open records state, warrants generated by law enforcement fall under one of the statute’s exceptions.³

If a public record is compiled by a law enforcement agency and it relates to a complaint or investigation, it is not subject to disclosure, only to the extent that disclosure would endanger a person involved in the investigation or threaten the successful completion of an investigation.

This is why most warrants are not released to the public until after they have been executed or served. If a law enforcement agency were to make warrants public before they have been served, then the person named on an arrest warrant would likely flee, and a thing to be searched in a search warrant would likely be destroyed.

There are times, however, when an active arrest warrant is made public before it is executed. This occurs when law enforcement cannot locate a dangerous suspect it has charged with a violent crime or when an inmate has escaped prison. These individuals are often placed on wanted lists.

This also occurs when courts provide daily warrant lists of individuals who have failed to appear in court or failed to pay a court-ordered fine. Nonetheless, you can often find this information online for free.

Warrant information can be searched through several county records custodians. When you search for someone else’s warrant, you have to at least know the person’s full name. It would also be helpful to know the county where they live or where the warrant was served. This can help you locate the information online through an agency’s database.

Warrant information is publicly available. Several different types of warrants will be explained in further detail in subsequent sections. Find out how you can view warrant information in Kern County below.

How To Verify if You or Someone Else Has an Active Warrant in Kern County California

It is important to distinguish a little about the types of warrants here. The section below will provide more in-depth information.

Warrants are issued by courts and law enforcement agencies. However, only law enforcement agencies execute or serve warrants. They have the police power from states to do so.

All arrest warrants from a law enforcement agency turn into a criminal case heard in a court of law. Courts of law also have the power to issue arrest warrants when a person fails to appear in court, pay child support, or not pay a fine.

When a criminal case is created, the arrest warrant is included in the case file. These files are sent to the courts and are generally available to the public for inspection and copying.

Where these case files go specifically depends on how severe the alleged offense is on the warrant. If the alleged offense is a felony with prison exposure or a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county jail, then the associated criminal case will be handled by the superior court. Traffic offenses and city ordinance violations will be handled by a municipal court.

The Kern County Superior Court of California has jurisdiction over the more serious cases.⁴ These cases can be searched online for free using the Kern County Criminal History by Defendant Name search.

To use the search, you must enter a first and last name. The maximum number of results is 200, so if possible, include a middle name as well.

Once results are generated, you may click on the case number to see a description of the charges. If you want to request to inspect or copy criminal case records, you may visit the courthouse, submit a request by mail, or submit an online form.

The in-person search is free of charge if you conduct it yourself. If you require a clerk to find a case for you, there is a $15 fee if the search takes longer than 10 minutes.

Requests by mail can be completed by submitting a Judicial Records Request online. Requesters must also mail a self-addressed stamped envelope and include all copying fees.

There is a $0.50 per page fee in addition to a general $15 search fee. Fees for copying cannot be determined in advance, so you must submit a blank check with the notation “Not to exceed $50”. Any remainder will be returned to you.

Kern County Superior Court
1122 Jefferson Street
Delano, California 93215

Phone: 661.610.7300

The Kern County Sheriff’s Office provides warrant service duties for the Superior Court.

They do not provide warrant information over the phone. If you or someone you know is the subject of a warrant, you must appear in person with a photo ID.

You will most likely be arrested upon discovery. You may contact the court that is handling your case to get warrant information. The sheriff’s office provides the numbers you should call depending on the type of offense.

• Felonies – 661.868.5393 ext. 4
• Misdemeanors – 661.868.2482
• Traffic – 661.868.2382

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

Phone: 661.391.7624
Email: [email protected]

Check out the Sheriff’s Office FAQ’s.

If you have a warrant in the City of Bakersfield, the Police Department has a program specific for you.⁸ If the warrant is for a misdemeanor, you can visit the Bakersfield Police Department to receive a citation and a new court date instead of a physical arrest.

To take advantage of this program, you must visit the police department between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. You must also provide photo identification.

The Bakersfield Police Department also provides the public with a free Wanted Warrant Suspects list.⁹ This is a list of individuals alleged to have committed serious or violent felonies and have yet to be apprehended. You may click on the name of a person on the list to see the alleged offense in the warrant.

Do not contact these individuals directly. If you have information on their whereabouts, contact the police department.

Bakersfield Police Department
Warrant Office
1601 Truxtun Ave, 2nd Floor
Bakersfield, California 933301

Phone: 661.327.7111

A Look at Warrant Types & Their Meanings

A warrant essentially gives the government the authority to arrest a person or search for something, even if it is in a private location. They may have different names, but most warrants maintain the same function – to arrest or to search.

Any of these warrants may be referred to as active. This just means that the warrants are outstanding and have not been served yet. Find out the reasons for the different names below.

Arrest Warrants: A summons issued by the government, always a court or law enforcement agency, that gives the government the power to physically bring a person into custody after they have been charged with committing a crime.

Bench Warrants: A form of arrest warrant issued by a court to bring a person to court after they failed to show up for an appointed hearing.

Probation and Parole Violation Warrants: Type of arrest warrant issued when a parolee fails to comply with all of the terms of their release. They will be rearrested and forced to complete their original sentence.

Traffic Warrants: Citations issued by traffic officers or state troopers to drivers who violate state driving laws. In some cases, it is at the officer’s discretion whether or not to arrest the driver.

Child Support Warrants: Issued by family courts when a parent fails to provide court-appointed child support payments.

Capias & Capias Pro Fine Warrants: Generally not recognized in California, these are arrest warrants executed on a person who fails to pay a court-ordered fine.

Fugitive Warrants: Type of arrest warrant issued when an inmate escapes confinement or when a suspect eludes law enforcement seeking to serve them with an arrest warrant.

Search Warrants: A legal order granting law enforcement the authority to perform a reasonable search of a place, thing, or person for evidence of a crime.

How Do I Resolve a Warrant in Kern County?

Knowing that you or someone you know has a warrant can be a heavy burden to bear. You should always use reason and good judgment with the information you have and ensure that you comply with the laws of the city, county, and state you are in.

If you discover that an individual that you are familiar with has an outstanding warrant, you could let them know if you think doing so is safe. If the offense is serious, some people may not want anyone else to know that they are fugitives. You could contact the county tip line.¹⁰

If you discover that you have an outstanding warrant, you do not have to panic. If the offense is minor, some courts will allow you to pay a fine and get a new court date without any further penalty.

If the offense is more serious, contact a criminal defense attorney and consider turning yourself in. You could end up on a most wanted list the further you delay the process. An attorney may be able to help you procure bail.

Perform a Kern County warrant search to find out if there are any outstanding; use the information in this article to help you today.