Bakersfield Criminal Records

Criminal records in Bakersfield come from two main sources: the Bakersfield Police Department and the Kern County Superior Court. The BPD handles police reports and arrest records for crimes that happen within city limits. After charges are filed, the case moves to the county court system. Bakersfield is the largest city in Kern County and the county seat, so the main courthouse is right in town. You can access some records online, while others require an in-person visit or a mailed request. The Kern County Sheriff also maintains arrest records and runs the county jail system.

Bakersfield Police Records

The Bakersfield Police Department manages police reports and arrest records for crimes that occur inside city limits. You can request records through the BPD Records Division. The department has an online portal at bakersfieldcity.us/464/Records where you can find information about the request process and submit forms. Walk-in requests are also accepted at the police department. Have the report number handy if you have one. Staff can search by name and date, but it goes faster with a case number.

Bakersfield is a large city spread across a wide area of the southern San Joaquin Valley. The BPD divides the city into patrol zones and each zone generates its own volume of reports. If you are not sure which agency handled your case, keep in mind that the BPD only covers crimes inside city limits. Anything outside city boundaries falls to the Kern County Sheriff's Office. The jurisdictional line matters when you are trying to get the right records.

Note: Crime victims in Bakersfield may be able to get copies of their police reports at no charge. Ask the Records Division about victim exemptions when you submit your request.

Kern County Court Criminal Cases

Criminal cases from Bakersfield go through the Kern County Superior Court. The main courthouse is at 1415 Truxtun Avenue in Bakersfield. You can search for case information online through the court's public portal at portal.kern.courts.ca.gov. The portal lets you look up cases by defendant name or case number. Copies of court documents cost 50 cents per page. Certified copies are $40. A record search that takes more than ten minutes costs $15.

The Kern County Sheriff's Office also maintains arrest records. You can contact them at (661) 391-7500 or visit their website at kernsheriff.org/Arrest_Records for information about arrest record requests. The sheriff handles bookings and jail operations for the entire county, including Bakersfield. Their records overlap with but are different from police reports. The sheriff's arrest record shows booking details, while the police report covers the incident itself.

For court documents, the clerk's office is your best bet. Call the courthouse or go in person if you need certified copies or documents from older cases that may not be in the online system yet. Some older Kern County records have been digitized, but not all of them.

Bakersfield Inmate Search

People arrested in Bakersfield are booked into the Kern County jail system. The Kern County Sheriff runs the jails. The main facility is the Lerdo Justice Facility north of Bakersfield. Once someone is booked, they show up in the sheriff's inmate search system. You can call (661) 391-7500 for inmate information. Search by name or booking number. The system shows current custody status, charges, bail amount, and next court date.

For people sentenced to state prison, use the CDCR's inmate search tool called CIRIS at ciris.mt.cdcr.ca.gov. This covers anyone in the state prison system from anywhere in California. County jail and state prison are separate systems. Someone in county jail is either awaiting trial or serving a shorter sentence. State prison holds people with longer terms.

Note: Booking information may take several hours to appear in the online system after an arrest in Bakersfield.

Background Checks in Bakersfield

Bakersfield has multiple Live Scan locations for fingerprint-based background checks. The California DOJ runs the statewide criminal history database. To get a copy of your own record, visit a Live Scan site and submit your prints using form BCIA 8016RR. The DOJ fee is $25. Each Live Scan location charges its own rolling fee too. Find a site near Bakersfield through the DOJ Live Scan locator.

After submitting your fingerprints, track your status at applicantstatus.doj.ca.gov using your ATI number and date of birth. Processing takes about 48 to 72 hours when no criminal history is found. It takes longer when the DOJ finds a record that needs manual review by a technician. Employers in Bakersfield who need background checks use the same system but must be authorized by the state first.

Clearing Criminal Records in Bakersfield

If you have a criminal record from Bakersfield, California law gives you several ways to clear or reduce it. The main option is Penal Code Section 1203.4. This lets you petition the Kern County Superior Court to dismiss a conviction after completing probation. You file the petition at the courthouse where your case was heard. The conviction then shows as "dismissed" on your record. It does not disappear completely, but it changes how it looks to employers and landlords.

Other paths exist depending on your situation. Some people qualify for arrest record sealing, resentencing, or marijuana conviction relief. Legal aid organizations in the Bakersfield area can help you figure out which option fits your case.

• PC 1203.4 dismissal for completed probation cases
• PC 851.87 arrest record sealing when no conviction resulted
• Prop 47 resentencing for nonviolent drug and theft felonies
• Prop 64 marijuana conviction relief
• Certificate of Rehabilitation for prison sentences
• PC 1203.4a dismissal for misdemeanors without probation

Note: None of these options happen on their own in Bakersfield or anywhere else in California. You must file the right paperwork with the court to start the process.

Kern County Criminal Records

Bakersfield is in Kern County. All criminal court cases from the city go through the Kern County Superior Court at the Truxtun Avenue courthouse.

Nearby California Cities

These nearby cities also have criminal record resources you can search.