Kern County Felony Records Search

Kern County felony records are held by the Superior Court and Sheriff Department. The court runs an online portal where you can search for case information. A scam alert on the court website warns that scam texts claiming to be from the court have been reported. The court does not send texts requesting payment. The Sheriff maintains arrest records and provides inmate info through phone lines and online systems. Kern County has a population of about 900,000 and includes the city of Bakersfield in the southern San Joaquin Valley.

Kern Superior Court Portal

The Kern County Superior Court operates an online court portal at portal.kern.courts.ca.gov. Search by name or case number to find criminal cases. The portal shows case details, charges, court dates, and status. The search is free for public access. The court has posted a scam alert warning that scam texts claiming to be from the court have been reported. The court does not send texts requesting payment. Be aware of scams that target people with pending cases.

The main courthouse is at 1215 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301. Other criminal courthouses are located in Ridgecrest, Delano, Taft, Lamont, and Mojave. Each courthouse handles cases for its region. For questions about criminal cases, call or visit the courthouse where your case is located. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at most locations.

Kern Sheriff Arrest and Inmate Records

The Kern County Sheriff maintains arrest records under California Government Code Section 7923.610 which dictates that arrest information must be made available to the public. Arrest information is considered public if the subject is currently in custody or if the subject's release date is within the past 60 days. This means recent arrest records are accessible to the public for a limited time window.

For inmate information and jail services, contact the Detentions Bureau at (661) 391-7500. The Records Section can be reached at (661) 391-7624. These offices can help you find custody status, booking info, and arrest records. The Sheriff provides law enforcement for unincorporated areas and many contract cities. Cities like Bakersfield have their own police departments that keep arrest records for arrests within city limits.

Finding Felony Records in Kern County

Start with the court portal. Go to portal.kern.courts.ca.gov and search by name. Results show case numbers and basic info. Click on a case to view details. If you need copies of documents, call the court to ask about copy fees and procedures. Be aware of scam texts that claim to be from the court. The court does not send texts requesting payment.

For arrest records and custody info, contact the Sheriff. Call the Detentions Bureau at (661) 391-7500 for inmate information. Call the Records Section at (661) 391-7624 for arrest records. Under state law, arrest info is public if the person is in custody or was released within the past 60 days. Older arrest records may not be as easily accessible to the general public.

City police departments keep their own arrest records. If an arrest was made by city police, contact that department. The Sheriff handles arrests in unincorporated areas. All felony cases are filed with the Superior Court no matter which agency made the arrest. Check the court portal for case status once charges are filed.

Cities in Kern County

Kern County includes the city of Bakersfield which is the largest city and county seat. Other smaller cities include Delano, Ridgecrest, Taft, and Tehachapi. Felony cases from any city in the county are filed with the Superior Court. Each city may have its own police department that keeps arrest records.

Nearby Counties

Kern County borders San Luis Obispo County and Santa Barbara County to the west, Ventura County and Los Angeles County to the south, San Bernardino County to the east, and Tulare County and Kings County to the north. Each county has its own court and sheriff.