Search Kern County Released Inmates

Released inmate records for Kern County are available through the Kern County Sheriff's inmate search tool and the statewide CIRIS database. Kern County is one of the largest counties in California and processes a high volume of bookings at its jail facilities in Bakersfield. The sheriff's office runs an online inmate search where you can check who is currently in custody and find information about recently released inmates. This page walks through how to use the Kern County search tools, what fees to expect, and how California law governs access to these records.

Kern County Sheriff Inmate Search

The Kern County Sheriff's Inmate Search is the primary resource for looking up people in the county jail. The tool is on the sheriff's official site and lets you search by name. Results show booking information, charges, bail amount, and current custody status. If someone has been released from the Kern County Jail, the record still appears in the system for a period after their release. This makes it useful for checking on Kern County released inmates even if they are no longer in custody.

Kern County keeps released inmate data accessible to the public for 60 days after someone leaves custody. That is a longer window than many California counties offer. During that time, you can look up the person's booking charges, arrest date, and release information without filing a formal records request. After 60 days, you may need to contact the Kern County Sheriff's Office directly to get copies of older records.

The sheriff's main number is (661) 391-7500. For questions about a specific person in the Kern County Jail, call (661) 391-7624. Staff can confirm whether someone has been released and provide basic custody information over the phone.

How to Look Up Kern County Inmates

The Kern County Sheriff runs its inmate search directly on the department website. Go to the search page and type in the person's name. You do not need an account. The system pulls records from the Kern County Jail and shows matches based on the name you enter. Each result lists the person's name, booking number, charges, and status. If they have been released, you will see that in the results.

For state prison records, the CIRIS database from CDCR handles inmates who served time in California's prison system. Kern County is home to several state prisons, so there is a large population of released inmates who were incarcerated within the county's borders but held in state facilities rather than the county jail. CIRIS lets you search by name or CDCR number and gives you details like the commitment county, admission date, and parole hearing outcomes.

When searching for a Kern County released inmate, consider checking both systems. Someone arrested in Bakersfield might start at the county jail and later get transferred to a state prison. Using both the sheriff's tool and CIRIS gives the most complete picture. Here is what each tool covers:

• Kern County Sheriff Inmate Search covers local jail bookings and releases
• CIRIS covers state prison records for inmates connected to Kern County
• VINELink provides real-time alerts on custody changes in Kern County
• CDCR Public Records Portal handles formal state-level document requests
• Bakersfield Police records portal covers city-level arrest data

Note: Kern County provides 60 days of public access to released inmate records through the sheriff's site.

California Law on Kern County Releases

Government Code 7923.610 is the California statute that requires the Kern County Sheriff to share arrest data with the public. The law says agencies must disclose the full name, physical description, date of birth, arrest and booking dates, bail, charges, and release details for every person arrested. This applies to all bookings at the Kern County Jail. The only exception is when releasing a specific detail would endanger someone or interfere with an investigation. This statute took effect on January 1, 2023, and replaced older provisions in the California Public Records Act.

Penal Code 3003 governs parolee releases in Kern County. CDCR must notify local law enforcement when a released inmate is heading to Kern County on parole. The information shared includes the person's name, birth date, physical description, tattoos, scars, offenses, and where they plan to live. Because Kern County has multiple state prisons within its borders, a significant number of parolees end up in the area. Those who lived in Kern County before their sentence must return there unless CDCR approves a move.

Copies of Kern County released inmate reports cost just $5 each. Clearance letters are also $5. These are among the lowest fees in California. You can submit a public records request to the Kern County Sheriff's Office or use the DOJ PRA page for state-held documents. Agencies must respond within 10 calendar days under the California Public Records Act.

VINE Notifications for Kern County

VINE provides custody alerts for people in the Kern County Jail and California state prisons. You can sign up for phone calls, emails, or text messages that go out whenever a person's status changes. The service is free and runs 24 hours a day. Call 1-877-411-5588 to register by phone. TTY access is at (866) 847-1298. VINE supports over 200 languages and covers roughly 2,900 detention facilities nationwide.

For families and victims in Kern County, VINE is the fastest way to learn about a released inmate without calling the jail. Once you register for an alert, the system sends a message as soon as the person is released, transferred, or their status changes in any way. This is especially helpful given the volume of bookings that flow through the Kern County Jail each year. You can set up alerts for multiple people at once if you need to track more than one Kern County inmate.

Kern County Inmate Search Portal

The Kern County Sheriff hosts its inmate search tool at kernsheriff.org. The screenshot below shows the search interface where you can look up current and recently released inmates from the Kern County Jail.

This is the main page you land on when you visit the Kern County Sheriff's inmate search. Enter a name to pull up booking records and custody status. The tool is free and available to anyone without an account. Results include charges, bail, and release information for Kern County inmates. For records that go back further than what the online tool shows, contact the sheriff's office at (661) 391-7500 to request older Kern County released inmate files.

Kern County Released Inmate Records

Getting formal records from Kern County costs less than most places in California. Report copies are $5 each. Clearance letters cost $5 as well. You can pick up records in person at the Kern County Sheriff's Office in Bakersfield or send a written request by mail. For state-level records tied to Kern County released inmates, submit a request through the CDCR Public Records Portal. CDCR responds within 10 calendar days and can take an extra 14 days for complicated requests.

If you need records from the Bakersfield Police Department, they have their own process separate from the county. The Bakersfield Police records line is (661) 326-3854, and they also accept requests through their JustFOIA portal. City police records cover arrests made by Bakersfield officers, while the Kern County Sheriff handles everything else in the county including jail records for released inmates.

Counties Near Kern County

Kern County borders several other California counties. Released inmates often have connections to more than one area, so checking nearby county systems can help fill in the picture.

Kern County Cities With Records

Bakersfield is the largest city in Kern County and the only one with a population over 100,000. The Bakersfield Police Department maintains its own arrest records separate from the Kern County Sheriff.