Kern County Busted Mugshots

Kern County busted mugshots are held by the Kern County Sheriff's Office, which runs the county's main jail system out of Bakersfield. With close to 917,000 residents, Kern is one of the larger counties in California by both land area and population. The sheriff's office books thousands of people each year into the Lerdo Justice Facility and the Central Receiving Facility. You can look up current inmates online. This page walks you through the tools and steps for finding busted mugshots in Kern County, from the sheriff's database to state-level records and public records requests.

Kern County Sheriff Inmate Search

The Kern County Sheriff's Office operates the county jail system and manages all booking records. You can call (661) 861-3110 for general inquiries or (661) 391-7500 for the jail directly. The sheriff's website provides information on current inmates held at their facilities. Most people booked in Kern County go through the Central Receiving Facility in Bakersfield before being housed at the Lerdo Justice Facility or another location.

The Kern County Sheriff's Office website is the starting point for looking up busted mugshots and booking data in the county.

Check the sheriff's site for links to inmate lookup tools and booking information for the county jail system.

When you search for an inmate, you can typically find the person's name, booking date, charges, bail amount, and housing location. The booking photo is part of the record. If the person has been released, their record may not show up in the current inmate search. For older records, you would need to submit a records request to the sheriff's office directly. Call (661) 861-3110 to ask about the process. You can also visit the main office at 1350 Norris Road in Bakersfield.

Finding Busted Mugshots in Kern County

Start with the sheriff's inmate search tool. Enter the first and last name of the person you want to find. If there are matches, the system shows a list of results. Click on a name to view the full booking record, which includes the mugshot photo when available. This covers people in Kern County jail custody right now.

For people no longer in custody, you have a few options. The Kern County Sheriff's Office accepts public records requests under the California Public Records Act. You can submit a written request by mail to 1350 Norris Road, Bakersfield, CA 93308, or call to ask about the process. Include the person's full name and approximate arrest date if you know it. The office has 10 days to respond under state law, though they can request a 14-day extension for complex requests.

Bakersfield Police Department handles arrests within city limits. Those arrests still get booked into the Kern County jail system. So even if BPD made the arrest, the mugshot ends up in the sheriff's booking database. You don't need to contact both agencies for the same booking record. The sheriff's office has it all.

State Resources for Kern County Records

The California Department of Justice maintains statewide criminal history data. You can submit a request through the DOJ public records form for state-level records. If you want your own record, you need to get Live Scan fingerprints done and submit form BCIA 8016RR with a $25 fee. The DOJ keeps records from all California law enforcement agencies, including Kern County.

The CDCR CIRIS database lets you search for inmates in state prison. This is different from the county jail. If someone was convicted in Kern County and sent to state prison, they would show up in CIRIS but not in the county jail search anymore. Kern County is home to several state prisons, including Kern Valley State Prison and North Kern State Prison. Inmates at those facilities are in the CDCR system, not the county system.

Under California law, specifically SB 1027, no website can charge you money to take down your booking photo. Third-party mugshot sites that scrape Kern County records cannot demand payment for removal. If your arrest did not lead to a conviction, you also have the right to petition for record sealing under Penal Code section 851.87. Once sealed, the mugshot becomes restricted from public access.

Kern County Court Records

The Kern County Superior Court handles all criminal cases filed in the county. Court records can give you more detail than what appears in a booking record. You can find charge details, case outcomes, plea deals, and sentencing information through the court system. This is useful when a busted mugshot only shows initial booking charges but you want to know the final disposition of the case.

The court has locations in Bakersfield, Delano, Mojave, Ridgecrest, Shafter, and Taft. Criminal case lookups are available through the court clerk's office. Some records are accessible online through the court's website, while others require an in-person visit or a written request. Fees for copies vary but typically run a few dollars per page. If you need certified copies for legal purposes, expect to pay more.

Clearing Kern County Arrest Records

California has several paths for clearing or sealing arrest records. Under Penal Code section 1203.4, you can petition to have a conviction dismissed after completing probation. This does not erase the arrest record or mugshot entirely, but it updates the record to show the case was dismissed. For arrests that never led to charges, Penal Code section 851.87 allows you to petition to seal the arrest record completely.

The Clean Slate Act under SB 731 added automatic sealing for certain records. Misdemeanor arrests where no charges were filed get sealed after one year. Felony arrests with no charges get sealed after three years. This happens without you having to file anything. For Kern County cases, file your petitions with the Kern County Superior Court in Bakersfield. Legal aid groups in the area can help if you cannot afford an attorney. The Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance office serves low-income residents in Kern County.

Cities in Kern County

Bakersfield is the only city in Kern County with a population over 100,000. It is also the county seat. Other cities include Ridgecrest, Delano, Wasco, and Tehachapi, but these are smaller communities. Arrests made by any city police department in Kern County go through the sheriff's jail booking system.

Nearby Counties

Kern County borders several other counties. Arrests near the county line could be processed in a neighboring jurisdiction depending on where they took place.