Bakersfield Inmate Records

Bakersfield inmate population data is managed by the Kern County Sheriff's Office. Bakersfield is the county seat and largest city in Kern County, located in California's southern Central Valley. The city does not run its own jail. All inmates from Bakersfield go into the county system. The Kern County Sheriff operates the main jail in Bakersfield and a second facility in the area. You can look up current inmates online for free through the sheriff's website. This page covers that search tool, statewide options, and the laws around inmate records access.

Kern County Inmate Search

The Kern County Sheriff posts inmate information on its website. Go to the Kern County Sheriff Inmate Info page to search for current inmates. Enter a last name and first name. The system pulls up everyone matching that name who is in Kern County custody. Results show the booking date, charges, bail amount, and facility location. The search covers all people held in Kern County jails, including those arrested in Bakersfield by local police.

Kern County has two main jail facilities. The Central Receiving Facility is at 1415 Truxtun Avenue in Bakersfield. This is the primary booking point for arrests made in the city. Most Bakersfield Police Department arrests come through here. The Lerdo Justice Facility sits north of Bakersfield at 17801 Lerdo Highway in Shafter. Lerdo is the larger facility and holds most of the county's sentenced inmates and people awaiting trial. Kern County's average daily jail population runs around 2,000 to 2,500 people. A good chunk of that comes from Bakersfield since it is by far the largest city in the county.

The Kern County Sheriff's inmate information page is shown below.

Call (661) 861-3110 to reach the Kern County Sheriff if the online search is not giving you what you need.

Bakersfield City Jail Status

Bakersfield does not have a city jail. The Bakersfield Police Department handles arrests within city limits. Officers bring arrested people to the Kern County Central Receiving Facility for booking. The transfer from arrest to county jail is usually quick. Most people reach the county facility within a few hours of being picked up. If you are trying to find someone who was just arrested in Bakersfield, the county inmate search may not show them right away. Give it a few hours. Or call BPD at (661) 327-7111 to ask about a recent arrest.

The city and county work closely on law enforcement in the Bakersfield area. The Kern County Sheriff also patrols unincorporated areas around Bakersfield. Arrests made by sheriff's deputies go straight to the county jail without any extra steps.

Statewide Inmate Resources

Two statewide tools help with Bakersfield inmate searches. CIRIS covers California state prisons. If someone from Bakersfield was convicted and sentenced to state prison, CIRIS will list their current facility, admission date, and parole details. The tool is free and public. Enter a last name to search. It does not include county jail inmates from Kern County or anywhere else in California.

VINELink is the statewide jail notification system. It covers all 58 California counties, including Kern County. Search by name to find out if someone is in jail anywhere in the state. VINE is especially useful when you do not know which county holds the person. It also offers alerts. Register your contact info and VINE will tell you when an inmate's status changes. Call 1-877-411-5588 to use VINE by phone. For historical Bakersfield area jail data, the BSCC Jail Profile Survey tracks monthly jail population numbers for Kern County going back decades.

Bakersfield Inmate Records Laws

Booking records for Bakersfield inmates are public. Government Code 6254(f) requires California law enforcement agencies to release booking and arrest data. This covers names, charges, bail amounts, and booking dates. The Kern County Sheriff complies by posting inmate data online. Anyone can access it without providing ID or a reason. You can also make a written public records request for booking data if you need official copies.

Criminal history is a different matter. Penal Code 11105 restricts full criminal history records in California to authorized parties. Law enforcement, certain employers, and the individual themselves can access these records. For your own record, go to a Live Scan location in Bakersfield and pay $25 to the DOJ. There are several Live Scan providers in the Bakersfield area. The Kern County Public Defender's office at 1315 Truxtun Avenue can help residents understand their record and explore clearing eligible charges. Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance also provides free help with record issues for qualifying residents.

Note: Public jail rosters and booking data are different from criminal history. Know which type of record you need before you search.

Contacting Bakersfield Inmates

Kern County jail facilities allow scheduled visits. Central Receiving has limited visiting since most inmates transfer to Lerdo. Lerdo Justice Facility has a regular visiting schedule by housing unit. Check the Kern County Sheriff's website for current hours. You need a valid photo ID. Video visits are available at both locations. In-person visits use glass partition areas at most units.

Phone calls from Kern County jail carry fees set by the provider. Families can deposit funds online for an inmate's phone account. State prison calls are free in California since 2023, but county calls in Bakersfield still cost money. Mail should go to the facility where the person is held. For Lerdo, the address is 17801 Lerdo Highway, Shafter, CA 93263. Put the inmate's full name and booking number on each piece of mail. Electronic messaging and commissary deposits are available through the sheriff's approved vendor.

Nearby City Inmate Records

Fresno is the nearest major city with inmate population data. It sits in Fresno County to the north of Bakersfield.

For full county jail details, see the Kern County inmate population page.