Kern County Criminal Records Search: Cases & Public Records
Kern County Criminal Records Search: Cases, Arrests and Public Court Records
To search Kern County criminal records, start with the Kern County Superior Court’s official Case Information Search. You can look up publicly available criminal case information, including eligible felony and misdemeanor cases, after registering for the court’s online portal.
For current jail custody, use the Kern County Sheriff’s Office inmate search instead. For your own statewide fingerprint-based criminal-history record, use the California Department of Justice Record Review process. These services are separate and do not provide identical information.
Official sources reviewed October 16, 2026.
Where to Find Kern County Criminal Records
The right place to search depends on whether you need a court case, an arrest, current inmate custody, an official criminal-history check or a certified document.
| What you need | Official source | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal case lookup | Kern Superior Court Case Information Search | Public case data and register of actions where available; account required. |
| Certified judgment or disposition | Superior Court Judicial Records Request | Request through the appropriate criminal division; copy and certification fees may apply. |
| Recent arrest information | Sheriff’s Arrest Records Unit | Certain public arrest information for current custody and recent releases. |
| County jail inmate lookup | Kern County Sheriff Inmate Search | Search the public inmate directory using available identifiers. |
| Your own California criminal history | California DOJ Record Review | Fingerprint-based personal criminal-history review with a processing fee or eligible waiver. |
| Federal criminal case | PACER | Federal cases involving Kern County generally fall within the Eastern District of California. |
How to Search Kern County Criminal Cases Online
Kern County Superior Court uses a public case-information portal connected to its case management system. The court’s eCourt guidance explains that users must create an account or sign in to view case information.
The portal displays permitted case details and a register of actions. According to the court’s published portal information, general public users are limited to 50 case searches per hour.
Step-by-step criminal case lookup
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Open the Superior Court Case Information Search page.
Read the court’s disclaimer. Scroll to the registered-user section and select Accept and Enter.
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Create an account or log in.
The court requires account registration to search case data. Follow the registration process on the official portal. Your email address serves as the account login ID.
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Open the case-search function.
Choose the appropriate criminal case search or case category where offered. The portal is not limited to criminal cases, so make sure the results relate to the correct case type.
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Enter a case number or defendant’s name.
Use the available search fields. A complete case number is especially useful when several people share a common name.
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Review the matching results.
Check the case number, defendant information, court division and other displayed details. Do not conclude that a name match identifies the correct person without further verification.
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Open the register of actions.
When a case is available for public viewing, selecting it can display the register of actions—a chronological summary of publicly available case events and filings.
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Check the final disposition.
Look for later court action such as a plea, judgment, dismissal, sentence, probation order or other final disposition. A charge alone does not establish conviction.
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Request the original document if necessary.
If the online information is insufficient, contact the filing division for a copy of the judgment, sentencing document, dismissal order or other accessible court record.
What the online portal can show
Depending on case type and public access restrictions, an eligible criminal case may have a case number, court location, party information, events, hearing details and register of actions.
The portal’s content is informational rather than an official certified court record. The court expressly warns that case data may contain errors or omissions.
For official technical instructions, see the court’s eCourt FAQ published August 25, 2025.
How to Request Kern County Criminal Court Documents
Finding a Kern County criminal case online is not the same as obtaining its original court file. The Superior Court explains that criminal documents must be requested through the division where the case was filed.
This distinction matters when you need a signed judgment, conviction disposition, sentencing order, dismissal order or another document for legal, employment, licensing or personal purposes.
What you should prepare
- The defendant’s full name as it appears in the case.
- The criminal case or docket number, if known.
- The division or courthouse where the case was filed.
- The specific document requested.
- The approximate filing or judgment date.
- Whether an ordinary copy or certified copy is required.
- Your mailing or contact information for a lawful request.
How to submit your request
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Locate the criminal case in the court portal.
Record the case number and the court division listed in the result.
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Open the court’s Judicial Records Request page.
Review the instructions, disclaimer, fee requirements and case information fields.
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Identify the documents.
For example, request a judgment, dismissal order or a specific filing rather than simply asking for every record involving a name.
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Confirm the division handling the record.
Criminal document requests are directed to the filing division, which may be Bakersfield, Delano, Lamont, Mojave, Ridgecrest or Shafter.
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Check the current fees and delivery instructions.
Requesting copies or certification may involve charges. Follow the court’s current mailing, payment and response instructions.
Can you request a case-number lookup by telephone?
The court’s records guidance specifically says that it does not take case-number lookup requests by telephone and does not provide case-specific information by phone.
Use the online portal or follow the courthouse and written-request procedures instead. Telephone numbers are useful for confirming office hours and general procedures.
Confidential criminal court documents
Some criminal records are confidential even where the surrounding case has public information. The court’s local forms include KRN SUP CRT CR-2300, Petition to Obtain Copies of Confidential Criminal Court Records, which involves identifying the documents and explaining the basis for access.
See the official Kern County local court forms directory. The existence of a petition form does not mean confidential records will be released without the required legal authorization or court approval.
Kern County Criminal Court Locations and Contact Information
Kern County covers a large geographic area, and criminal matters can be assigned to different courthouse divisions. The county’s criminal court information identifies Bakersfield and regional branches serving Delano, Lamont, Mojave, Ridgecrest and Shafter.
Use the court shown on the case docket, summons or judgment to determine the correct office. Do not assume that every criminal file is stored at the same Bakersfield building.
Metropolitan Division
1415 Truxtun Avenue
Bakersfield, CA 93301
Phone: 661-610-6000
The court identifies this as a Metropolitan criminal court location, including misdemeanor-related operations.
View official location →Metropolitan Justice Building
1215 Truxtun Avenue
Bakersfield, CA 93301
Phone: 661-610-6000
A separate downtown court building. Check your case information before deciding which location or records counter to visit.
View official location →Delano
1122 Jefferson Street
Delano, CA 93215
Phone: 661-610-7300
Use the Delano division for matters assigned to that location and verify the current calendar and filing instructions.
Court locations directory →Lamont
12022 Main Street
Lamont, CA 93241
Phone: 661-610-7100
Use the official court directory for public counter hours and to confirm which case types are currently handled here.
Court locations directory →Mojave
1773 State Highway 58 Business
Mojave, CA 93501
Phone: 661-610-7400
A regional courthouse serving assigned cases in eastern Kern County.
Court locations directory →Ridgecrest
132 East Coso Avenue
Ridgecrest, CA 93555
Phone: 661-610-7450
Use this courthouse when your Kern County criminal case is assigned to Ridgecrest.
Court locations directory →Shafter
325 Central Valley Highway
Shafter, CA 93263
Phone: 661-610-7200
The Shafter courthouse handles assigned regional matters. Confirm the case location rather than relying on residence alone.
View official location →How to Find Kern County Arrest Records
Kern County Sheriff’s Office has a separate Arrest Records Unit that processes booking-related records for the Inmate Reception Center and its booking facilities in Ridgecrest and Mojave.
The unit explains that California Government Code section 7923.610 requires disclosure of certain contemporaneous arrest information. Its published guidance describes public arrest information concerning people currently in custody or released within the preceding 60 days.
What you may request
- Eligible contemporaneous arrest information disclosed under California law.
- Information about your own Kern County Sheriff’s Office arrest or booking.
- Guidance on local arrest records and identification issues.
- Information about how to obtain a qualifying local clearance letter.
The Sheriff’s Office states that someone who was arrested may obtain information about their own arrest or arrests from its Arrest Records Unit without charge.
It also states that booking photographs are not released by Arrest Records staff to the public or media. An eligible person may obtain their own booking photograph under the Sheriff’s published identification and payment requirements.
Sheriff’s Arrest Records contact
Kern County Sheriff’s Office
1350 Norris Road
Bakersfield, CA 93308
Arrest Records phone: 661-391-7624
What about an older arrest report?
An older police or incident report may require a records request through the law-enforcement agency that created it. The Sheriff’s public records request process does not provide unrestricted statewide criminal-history information and cannot supply records held by other agencies.
Use the official Kern County Sheriff public records request form (PDF) when seeking eligible records held by that office.
If a Bakersfield Police Department officer or another agency created the report, contact that agency rather than assuming the Sheriff’s Office maintains it.
Kern County Inmate Search: Booking and Custody Information
The Kern County Sheriff’s Office operates an official online inmate search. This is the appropriate source when you are checking available county detention or booking information rather than looking up a completed criminal court judgment.
How to use the inmate search
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Open the official inmate-search page.
Use the Sheriff’s Office site rather than a commercial inmate directory.
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Enter a name or available search value.
The Sheriff’s search interface instructs users to enter at least three characters.
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Review the possible matches.
The results interface can include booking number and identifying information. Compare the available details rather than relying on a name alone.
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Check the displayed custody information.
Read the available booking or inmate details and any current status information the system makes public.
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Verify consequential information directly.
Custody can change because of release, transfer or court action. Contact the Sheriff’s Office for assistance when the information is urgent or unclear.
State prison versus county jail
Kern County jail custody and California state prison custody are different systems. If you are researching someone held under the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, use the official CDCR Inmate Locator.
California DOJ Criminal History Records for Kern County Residents
The California Department of Justice maintains California’s statewide summary criminal-history records. This is not the same database as the Kern Superior Court case portal.
Individuals may request a copy of their own California criminal-history record for review of accuracy and completeness. The DOJ does not allow an ordinary private requester to obtain someone else’s confidential statewide rap sheet through its personal record-review procedure.
How to request your own California criminal history
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Open California DOJ Record Review.
Read the eligibility and fingerprinting instructions.
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Complete the appropriate request form.
California residents use Live Scan form BCIA 8016RR, with Record Review as the application type and reason.
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Visit a permitted Live Scan provider.
Provide the completed form, identification and fingerprints.
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Pay the required charges or apply for an eligible waiver.
The DOJ lists a $25 processing fee. The Live Scan provider can charge a separate fingerprint-rolling fee.
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Review your DOJ response.
If the information is incorrect or incomplete, follow the DOJ’s formal challenge procedure and obtain supporting court records where required.
Can someone else search your DOJ criminal history?
Not through the ordinary personal Record Review process. California DOJ restricts statewide criminal-history disclosure to the record subject and agencies or persons specifically authorized by law.
For authorized employment and licensing checks, follow the requesting agency’s specific fingerprint and authorization procedure rather than submitting your own personal review document.
Are Kern County Criminal Records Free to Search?
Some Kern County public case information can be accessed through the court portal after registration. The court also states that members of the public may conduct an in-person courthouse case-number search without a case lookup fee. However, copies, certified records, clerk-performed research and DOJ fingerprint checks can cost money.
| Service | Published cost or access rule | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Court portal case search | Account registration required | Public case data only; general public limit of 50 case searches per hour. |
| Self-service courthouse lookup | No charge for searching a case yourself | Applies to permitted courthouse public research. |
| Clerk-performed general research | Court’s request page lists an initial $15 generic search fee | Verify how the current fee schedule applies to your request. |
| Photocopies | 50 cents per page | Additional certification or retrieval charges may apply. |
| Certified criminal documents | Depends on the documents and current fee schedule | Confirm with the filing division before submitting payment. |
| Sheriff inmate search | Public online search | Does not provide a complete statewide criminal-history report. |
| DOJ personal criminal-history review | $25 DOJ processing fee | Separate fingerprint-rolling fee may apply; eligible fee waivers are available. |
For the most current charges, check the Kern County Court Filing Fee and Fee Schedules and the Judicial Records Request instructions.
Understanding Kern County Criminal Case Status and Disposition
A criminal court record can contain several different types of entries. Reviewing a charge without the later disposition can lead to an incorrect conclusion.
| Case entry | What it generally means | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Felony complaint | A formal criminal accusation involving an alleged felony offense. | Court outcome, amendment of charges and any later sentencing record. |
| Misdemeanor complaint | A formal accusation of a qualifying misdemeanor offense. | Plea, dismissal, trial outcome or sentence. |
| Arraignment | An early court hearing addressing charges and plea procedures. | Later proceedings and disposition. |
| Preliminary hearing | A hearing in certain felony proceedings concerning whether sufficient evidence supports further proceedings. | Subsequent charging and trial-court events. |
| Dismissed | An identified charge or proceeding was dismissed. | Whether every count was dismissed or other matters remain. |
| Convicted | A qualifying conviction outcome was entered. | Exact charges, judgment, sentence and subsequent orders. |
| Failure to appear | A required appearance may have been missed. | Whether a warrant or another court order remains active. |
For criminal procedure and the different types of charges, see the Superior Court’s Criminal Division information.
Why You Cannot Find a Kern County Criminal Record Online
A missing online result does not automatically mean the person has no criminal record. The cause may be a search limitation, incorrect identifier, restricted record or different court jurisdiction.
| Problem | Possible reason | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Cannot open case results | You may not have registered or logged in. | Return to the registered-user portal and complete the account process. |
| No defendant-name match | Different spelling, wrong court division, incorrect name or unavailable public data. | Try the case number and verify the court location. |
| Case exists but documents are missing | The portal displays case information, not unrestricted criminal case files. | Request the document through the filing division. |
| Old case not in portal | Historical records, archives or differences in electronic case availability. | Ask the appropriate court about in-person or mailed record requests. |
| Sheriff inmate search returns nothing | The person may not be in county custody or may have been released or transferred. | Check the court case separately, or use CDCR if relevant. |
| You need a statewide criminal-history report | The county court portal does not search the DOJ’s entire fingerprint-based repository. | Use the lawful California DOJ record-review process for your own history. |
| Record is sealed or restricted | Juvenile confidentiality, statutory privacy, sealing or record-relief rules. | Follow the lawful court access procedure; do not attempt to bypass restrictions. |
Can you look up a Kern County arrest warrant?
The Sheriff’s Arrest Records Unit states that it does not disclose warrant information by telephone. It directs the public to the court for warrant-related questions, and lists the Kern County criminal court phone number as 661-610-6000.
If a warrant may concern you personally, contact a qualified defense attorney or the responsible court before taking action. Do not treat an informal internet search as confirmation that no active warrant exists.
What if your court record is incorrect?
If the error is in a Kern County case document, contact the court that maintained the case about its correction procedures. If the error appears in your California DOJ criminal-history response, the DOJ has a separate challenge process using Form BCIA 8706.
Official guidance: California DOJ Record Review and Challenges.
Federal Cases, Sex Offender Records and California Record Cleaning
Federal criminal cases involving Kern County
Federal court cases are not part of Kern County Superior Court’s case database. Kern County is within the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, with the relevant federal venue generally associated with the Fresno division and designated proceedings in Bakersfield.
Search federal cases through PACER. Federal court searches and documents may create usage charges.
For jurisdiction-specific details, see the Eastern District of California jurisdiction and venue guidance.
California Megan’s Law Registry
California DOJ maintains an official public Megan’s Law website for specified registered sex offenders. It is a separate registry, not an all-purpose criminal history search.
Use the California Megan’s Law website and read its disclaimer and legal restrictions before searching.
Not all registered individuals are publicly displayed, so the absence of a result cannot establish a complete criminal-history finding.
Clearing or sealing an old Kern County record
California provides different record-relief processes for arrests that did not lead to convictions, certain misdemeanor convictions and qualifying felony convictions.
For example, California court forms include CR-409 for qualifying arrest-record sealing and CR-180 for certain conviction dismissal requests. The correct option depends on the case outcome and eligibility requirements.
Review the California Courts Clean Your Record guide rather than assuming an old record has automatically disappeared.
Can Kern County Criminal Records Be Used for Background Checks?
Publicly accessible court information can help someone identify and understand a specific criminal proceeding. However, a public case search is not automatically a complete or identity-confirmed criminal background check.
Kern County case data may exclude restricted matters, and the online portal itself warns that its records may contain errors or omissions.
For employment, housing, licensing or another eligibility decision, additional federal and California laws may regulate what information can be collected and considered.
California’s Fair Chance Act, for example, generally restricts when covered employers may inquire into criminal history and imposes additional protections when criminal history is considered. Exceptions and other rules can apply.
See California Courts — Criminal History and Job Applications for state-specific guidance.
Kern County Criminal Records Search FAQs
1. How do I search Kern County criminal records online?
Open the Kern County Superior Court Case Information Search page, accept the terms and enter the registered-user portal. Create an account or log in, then use the available criminal case search to look up public case information.
2. Is the Kern County criminal case search free?
The court provides public case-information access through its registered portal and allows members of the public to search for a case themselves at the courthouse without a lookup charge. Clerk-performed research, copies and certified records may involve fees.
3. Do I need an account to use the Kern County court portal?
Yes. The official Kern County Superior Court portal requires users to register or log in before searching case data. The court also limits general public portal searches to 50 cases per hour.
4. Can I search Kern County criminal cases by name?
The court portal offers case-search functionality using available case or party information. Follow its search fields and verify possible name matches with the case number, court and other lawful identifying details.
5. Can I download a complete criminal court file online?
Not through unrestricted access to the case-search portal. The court says criminal documents must be requested through the division where the case was filed. Contact the court for specific public documents and certified copies.
6. How much are copies of Kern County criminal records?
Kern Superior Court lists a 50-cent-per-page photocopy charge and an initial $15 generic research fee on its records request information. Other fees, including certification, depend on the request. Confirm current charges through the official fee schedule.
7. Where can I find Kern County arrest or jail records?
Use the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Arrest Records Unit for eligible arrest information and its official Inmate Search for current public jail information. These are separate from the Superior Court case portal.
8. How do I get my own California criminal-history record in Kern County?
Use California DOJ’s personal Record Review process. California residents generally submit Live Scan fingerprints with Form BCIA 8016RR. The DOJ lists a $25 processing fee, with separate fingerprint fees and possible fee waivers.
9. Why is an older Kern County criminal case missing from the website?
The case may be archived, under a different identifier, assigned to another division, unavailable through electronic public access or legally restricted. Search by case number where possible, or follow courthouse record-search procedures.
10. Are Kern County arrest records the same as convictions?
No. An arrest or booking entry does not establish a conviction. Check the Superior Court’s case history and final disposition to understand whether charges were dismissed, resulted in conviction or had another outcome.
Kern County Criminal Records: Verified Sources
The following official resources provide the court access rules, document request procedures, courthouse contacts and agency records described in this guide.
- Kern County Superior Court — Case Information Search
- Kern County Superior Court — Registered Case Portal
- Kern Superior Court Portal — Registration, Search Limits and Access Information
- Kern Superior Court — eCourt FAQ
- Kern Superior Court — Criminal Division
- Kern Superior Court — Court Records Instructions
- Kern Superior Court — Judicial Records Request
- Kern Superior Court — Fees and Copy Charges
- Kern Superior Court — Locations and Contact Information
- Kern County Sheriff’s Office — Inmate Search
- Kern County Sheriff’s Office — Arrest Records Unit
- California Department of Justice — Personal Criminal History Review
- California DOJ — Record Review Fee Waiver
- California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation — Inmate Locator
- California DOJ — Megan’s Law Registry
- PACER — Federal Court Records