Kern Criminal Records Search: Cases & Public Records

Where to Search Kern County Criminal Records

Kern County has different record systems for criminal court cases, jail bookings, police reports and statewide criminal histories. Use the following official sources based on the record you need.

How to Search Kern County Criminal Court Records Online

Kern County Superior Court uses an electronic case-information portal. Unlike some California courts that offer anonymous searches, Kern’s current portal requires users to create an account.

The court explained this process in its August 25, 2025 eCourt FAQ, which remains an important reference for the current system.

1. Open the official Case Information Search page. Visit kern.courts.ca.gov/online-services/case-information-search.
2. Read and accept the disclaimer. Scroll to the bottom of the court’s disclaimer and select Accept and Enter under Registered Users.
3. Register or log in. New users must create an account. The portal uses your email address as the account login identifier.
4. Choose the available case-search option. Once signed in, use the case search to locate publicly available records. Follow the portal’s search fields for a party name or case number.
5. Enter the defendant’s name or case number. A complete case number normally produces a more precise result. If searching by name, compare all possible matches rather than assuming everyone with the same name is the same person.
6. Review the matching case information. Check the case number, court division, parties, case type and dates shown.
7. Open the Register of Actions. The portal’s terms state that selecting a case number displays the available register of actions—the chronological list of recorded court events.
8. Check the final disposition and request documents if needed. Look for the latest relevant judgment, dismissal or sentencing information. Contact the correct Criminal Division for an official court document.

Can you view the complete criminal case file online?

Not through the ordinary case-information search. The court distinguishes public case-data access from access to the underlying criminal file.

Its eCourt FAQ states that noncriminal documents can be requested through the court website, while criminal court documents are requested through the division where the case was filed.

The court’s Court Records instructions also explain how to view available case files at the courthouse or request photocopies by mail.

Kern County Felony, Misdemeanor and Criminal Traffic Records

The Kern County Superior Court handles criminal prosecutions across its metropolitan and regional divisions. California no longer has a separate municipal trial-court system; criminal matters are heard within the unified Superior Court.

How to interpret a Kern criminal docket

A case may have multiple charges, amended allegations and later orders. The final outcome matters more than the charge initially entered.

How to Request Kern County Criminal Court Records and Certified Copies

When you need a judgment, sentencing order, dismissal or certified criminal disposition, contact the Superior Court division that maintains the original case.

Kern County’s court records department says the public can inspect available court files in person and request photocopies. Written requests by mail are also available.

If you already have a criminal case number

1. Identify the filing division. Use the eCourt case information to confirm whether the record belongs to Bakersfield, Delano, Lamont, Mojave, Ridgecrest or Shafter.
2. Write down the full case number. Include the defendant’s name and other available case-identifying details.
3. Identify the exact document. For example, request the judgment, sentencing minute order, order of dismissal or other public criminal filing.
4. Contact the appropriate criminal court division. Ask how to request the document in person or by mail and whether it is available for public copying.
5. Confirm certification requirements. If the receiving organization requires an official certified copy, specify that before paying.
6. Pay the applicable fees. Copy, certification, research and retrieval charges may apply.

If you do not know the case number

The Superior Court offers two ways to locate a case:

• At the courthouse: You may search available court records yourself without a research fee, or ask the clerk to conduct a search for the applicable charge.
• By postal mail: You may request research and copies by writing to the correct court division, including the required fees and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

See the court’s official Court Records instructions and fee schedules before submitting a written request.

Kern County Criminal Court Locations and Contact Information

Kern County covers a large geographic area, so the court hearing the case may be outside Bakersfield. Use the specific division shown in the case information or on the court notice.

Official Kern Superior Court Locations, Directions and Hours

Kern County Arrest Records and Sheriff’s Inmate Search

The Kern County Sheriff’s Office maintains an online inmate search and separately handles requests for arrest records.

How to search current Kern County inmates

1. Open the Sheriff’s Inmate Search. Visit kernsheriff.org/inmate-search.
2. Enter a name or available identifier. The search requires at least three characters.
3. Review matching booking entries. The system displays available inmate names and booking identifiers.
4. Open the relevant inmate record. Public information may include jail location, booking number, charges, bail, hearing dates and associated case numbers.
5. Verify the case through the Superior Court. Booking charges are not the final criminal court disposition.

Requesting older arrest information

For older arrest information, contact the agency that made the arrest. A Kern County Sheriff’s arrest record is not necessarily the same as a Bakersfield Police Department report or a California DOJ criminal-history record.

Can you obtain a Kern County mugshot?

The Sheriff’s Arrest Records Unit states that booking photographs are not released to the general public or media through its ordinary service. A person arrested by the Sheriff’s Office may purchase their own booking photograph for $5 by appearing in person with photo identification.

This is an important distinction from third-party mugshot websites, whose images may be old, misidentified or missing the final court outcome.

California DOJ Criminal History Checks: Can You Search Anyone?

The California Department of Justice maintains the statewide criminal-history repository, which contains qualifying reported arrests and criminal case dispositions.

California does not permit an ordinary member of the public to obtain another person’s complete DOJ criminal-history report. State summary criminal-history information is confidential and released only under authorized legal conditions.

How to request your own California criminal record

1. Open the California DOJ Record Review page. Visit the official Attorney General’s website.
2. Download the correct Live Scan form. California residents use Form BCIA 8016RR for Record Review.
3. Complete the identifying information. Select Record Review as the application type and follow the form instructions.
4. Visit an authorized Live Scan provider. Bring the completed form and required identification so your fingerprints can be submitted electronically.
5. Pay the appropriate fee. The DOJ lists a $25 processing fee for personal record review; additional fingerprint-rolling charges may apply.
6. Review the returned criminal-history information. Compare the recorded arrests, dispositions and identifying information against official court records.
7. Challenge incorrect information if necessary. Use the DOJ’s correction instructions and obtain supporting documents from the originating court or reporting agency.

The California DOJ also explains that it does not issue certified copies of a Kern Superior Court judgment or other local criminal case filing. Those documents must be obtained from the original court.

Kern Criminal Records Search Fees and Costs

The cost depends on whether you are viewing public case information, asking court staff to research a file, purchasing a certified court document or requesting a statewide DOJ history.

Other Kern County Criminal Record Search Options

There are two additional record systems worth checking when a person is no longer in a Kern County jail or when the case involves a type of offense maintained in a separate state database.

Federal criminal cases involving Kern County

Federal criminal prosecutions are not maintained as ordinary Kern County Superior Court cases. Matters filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California must be searched through the federal judiciary.

Use PACER Find a Case to locate available federal criminal dockets. Registration is free, but access fees may apply.

Sealed, Dismissed and Clean Slate Kern County Criminal Records

California has several distinct criminal record-relief procedures. The most important distinction is that having a conviction dismissed is not always the same as sealing or deleting the underlying record.

California’s automatic record-relief system

California Penal Code sections 851.93 and 1203.425 provide automatic record relief for qualifying arrests and convictions.

The California DOJ reviews eligible records and places a relief notation on the applicable entries. According to DOJ guidance, this process affects disclosure for many employment and licensing purposes, but the record is not simply erased from the state’s criminal-history repository.

Courts receiving notification of the relief also have obligations regarding disclosure of qualifying records.

Other common record-relief procedures

For help determining eligibility, consult the California Courts’ Clean Your Record self-help guide and the California DOJ’s Automatic Record Relief explanation.

What if you need confidential criminal court documents?

Kern Superior Court publishes local form KRN SUP CRT CR-2300 — Petition to Obtain Copies of Confidential Criminal Court Records. It is not a general-public workaround for confidentiality; court authorization and the applicable legal standards determine access.

See the court’s official Local Court Forms for this and other criminal forms.

Why Can’t You Find Kern County Criminal Records Online?

A missing search result may be caused by the wrong court, incomplete search information, public-access restrictions or the fact that the requested record is maintained by another agency.

Watch out for fake court payment messages

Kern Superior Court has published warnings about scam text messages containing fake payment links. The court says it does not send text messages requesting payment.

If you receive a suspicious payment demand or purported warrant notice, visit the court’s official website independently rather than using a link supplied in the message.

Responsible Use of Kern County Criminal Public Records

Public criminal records should be used carefully. The existence of a charge is not proof of guilt, an inmate booking is not a conviction, and a matching name does not necessarily identify the correct individual.

Before making a consequential decision, check the actual judgment, any dismissal or acquittal, later modifications and applicable confidentiality restrictions.

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