Bakersfield Busted Mugshots

Bakersfield busted mugshots are processed through the Kern County jail system since the city is the county seat of Kern County. With a population over 417,000, Bakersfield is the largest city in Kern County and one of the biggest in the southern Central Valley. The Bakersfield Police Department handles city arrests, but booking happens at the Kern County jail run by the sheriff. This page walks you through how to find busted mugshots from Bakersfield, which databases to check, and how to get copies of booking records through public records requests.

Where Bakersfield Busted Mugshots Are Stored

The Bakersfield Police Department patrols the city and handles arrests within the city limits. After an arrest, the person gets taken to the Kern County jail for booking. The Kern County Sheriff's Office operates the jail facility. This is where the mugshot gets taken and enters the county booking database. Bakersfield PD does not run its own jail or booking facility.

Kern County operates the Central Receiving Facility as its main booking location, along with the Lerdo Justice Facility north of Bakersfield. The CRF handles initial bookings for most Bakersfield arrests. From there, inmates may get transferred to Lerdo or another facility based on classification and available space. The booking record, including the mugshot, stays in the county system regardless of which facility holds the person.

Visit our Kern County busted mugshots page for more details on the full county booking system and all agencies that feed into it.

Search Bakersfield Busted Mugshots Online

The Kern County Sheriff provides online tools for searching current inmates in the county jail system. Check their website for the inmate lookup feature. Enter a name and see results for anyone currently in Kern County custody. The search is free. Results typically include the booking photo, charges, bail amount, and facility location. This covers all bookings processed through Kern County jails, including Bakersfield PD arrests.

The California DOJ provides guidance on requesting public records, including arrest and booking data held at the state level from Bakersfield and all other California cities.

Use the DOJ online form to submit a CPRA request for criminal history records that include Bakersfield arrest data.

The online search covers current inmates only. Once someone gets released, they disappear from the results. Bakersfield has a high volume of arrests compared to many California cities of similar size. The database changes frequently as new bookings come in and people bond out or complete their sentences. For older records from past arrests, a public records request to the sheriff's office is the correct approach.

Bakersfield Police Department Records

The Bakersfield Police Department maintains its own arrest reports and incident records. These are separate from what the county jail holds. The arrest report describes the events, the officers involved, and witness accounts. The booking record at the county jail covers the intake process and mugshot. To get the full story on a Bakersfield arrest, you may need records from both agencies.

Reach BPD at (661) 327-7111 for records requests. You can file a written California Public Records Act request for arrest reports, incident reports, and other documents the department maintains. They have 10 days to respond under state law. BPD is one of the larger departments in the Central Valley, so response times can vary depending on volume. But the legal deadline applies regardless.

BPD has been working on improving public access to data. Some crime statistics and call information may be available on the city's website without needing a formal request.

Public Records Requests for Bakersfield Mugshots

To get a booking photo from a Bakersfield arrest, start with the Kern County Sheriff. Contact their records division with the name and approximate arrest date. Under the California Public Records Act, they must respond within 10 days. Booking photos are generally considered public records. There may be some exemptions in cases involving certain protected categories, but for most adult arrests the records should be available.

The California DOJ is your second option. File a request through their online form. The DOJ holds statewide criminal history data that includes Bakersfield arrests. This is broader than what the county has in its own system. For personal criminal history, submit fingerprints through Live Scan with a $25 fee. The DOJ process takes longer but covers the whole state.

State Resources for Bakersfield Arrest Records

The California DOJ PRA page provides detailed guidance on requesting state-held records. This covers criminal history data from all law enforcement agencies in the state, not just Kern County. The information is useful if you need records that go beyond what the local sheriff or BPD can provide.

The CDCR CIRIS inmate locator covers inmates in California state prisons after transfer from county jails like Kern County.

The DOJ FAQ page answers common questions about the public records request process and what to expect.

The CDCR CIRIS search only includes state prison inmates. If someone was convicted in Bakersfield and received a prison sentence, they appear in CIRIS after transfer from county jail. People in the Kern County jail awaiting trial or serving shorter sentences will not show up. The Kern County Superior Court is another resource for case details. Court records show charges, plea deals, sentencing, and case outcomes for criminal matters filed in the county.

Removing Bakersfield Busted Mugshots

SB 1027 prohibits websites from charging money to remove mugshots. That applies across California, including Bakersfield arrests.

For clearing the record itself, Penal Code section 851.87 allows you to petition to seal an arrest if charges were not filed, dismissed, or you were acquitted. The Clean Slate Act under SB 731 automatically seals some records. Misdemeanors without charges seal after one year. Felonies without charges seal after three years. Expungement under Penal Code section 1203.4 addresses convictions but does not seal the arrest record by itself. File petitions with the Kern County Superior Court for Bakersfield cases. The courthouse is at 1415 Truxtun Avenue in Bakersfield. Legal aid resources in Kern County can assist with filings for those who qualify based on income level. Record clearing in California takes time, often a few months from filing to court order, but it can make a real difference for employment and housing prospects.

Nearby Cities

These cities in the region have their own busted mugshots pages. Bakersfield is the main city in Kern County, with other qualifying cities spread across surrounding counties.