Criminal records in Kern County, California, are available through several channels. KernCourt.us allows you to quickly find public information about criminal cases in the county. Additionally, records can be obtained through the official Kern County Superior Court case search system, county law enforcement agencies, and the court clerk's office — both online and in person or by mail.
How to Search Criminal Records in Kern
Start your search with KernCourt.us — the resource helps obtain public information about court cases in Kern County. For a more detailed search, use one of the methods below.
Online Search
- Kern County Superior Court Portal — go to the Case Information Search page. Enter the person's full name or case number. Note: Information on this portal is not an official court record but is provided as a public reference service.
- California Courts Portal — the general guide How to Look Up a Court Case explains how to find basic case information in any state court.
- CDCR Inmate Search — if the person was sentenced to state-level incarceration, use the California Incarcerated Records & Information Search (CIRIS). Results include name, CDCR number, age, current location, and county of conviction.
- Kern County Sheriff's Office — the Kern County Sheriff's website may contain information about arrests and inmates in the local jail.
In-Person Visit
Anyone can visit the courthouse and review case materials for free. If you need a clerk to find the case for you, a fee is charged according to the court's fee schedule. More details are on the Court Records page of the Kern County Superior Court.
Mail Request
Send a written request to the court clerk's office or use the Judicial Records Request form. To obtain your own state-level criminal history, submit a request to the California Department of Justice — fingerprints and a $25 fee are required (DOJ instructions).
What you need to start a search:
- Full name of the person
- Date of birth (preferably)
- Case number (if known)
Search Kern Criminal Cases by Case Number
Each case in the Kern County Superior Court has a unique number. In California, the case number format typically consists of several elements:
- Letter prefix — indicates the type of case. For example, "BF" or "RF" may denote a felony case, "BM" — a misdemeanor, depending on the court division.
- Filing year — two digits of the year the case was initiated.
- Sequential number — a unique sequence of numbers assigned to a specific case.
Example: BF1812345A — where "BF" indicates the type and division, "18" — the year, and the rest — the sequential number. If you know the case number, enter it in the search field on the court portal — this is the fastest way to get results. Partial numbers may also yield results, but an exact number ensures a definite match.
Charges, Case Status, Hearings, and Court Results in Kern
Search results for a criminal case in Kern County may include several categories of data. Below is an explanation of each.
Charges
| Element | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Statute Code | Reference to the California Penal Code (e.g., PC 459 — burglary) |
| Severity | Felony, Misdemeanor, or Infraction |
| Amended Charges | The prosecutor may modify or drop individual charges during proceedings |
Case Status
- Pending — the case is open, and a decision has not yet been made
- Active — proceedings are ongoing, hearings are scheduled
- Disposed — the court has made a final decision
- Closed — all procedures are complete, and the case is archived
Hearings
A criminal case goes through several stages:
- Arraignment — the first court session where the defendant is informed of the charges and states their plea (guilty/not guilty)
- Preliminary Hearing — the judge determines if there is enough evidence to proceed to trial (applies to felonies)
- Pre-Trial — parties discuss the possibility of a plea deal or prepare for trial
- Sentencing — punishment is assigned after a guilty plea or jury verdict
- Review — a review hearing to check compliance with the sentence conditions
Court Results
| Result | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Guilty | The defendant is found guilty |
| Not Guilty | The defendant is acquitted |
| Dismissed | The case is closed without a verdict |
| Acquitted | Complete acquittal after the case is heard on its merits |
| Nolo Contendere | The defendant neither admits nor disputes the charge, but the court treats it as a plea for sentencing purposes |
How to Request Certified Criminal Records in Kern
Certified copies of court records are issued by the Kern County Superior Court clerk's office. Full case materials are not available online — to obtain documents, you need to apply in person, by mail, or through an online request form.
Ways to Submit a Request
- In Person — visit the court clerk's office and request certified copies of the necessary documents.
- Online — use the Request Case Documents form on the court's website. Payment is calculated after the request is processed.
- By Mail — fill out the Judicial Records Request form and send it along with a check payable to "Kern County Superior Court." Leave the amount open, as the copying cost is determined after the page count.
State-Level Criminal History
To obtain a complete record of arrests and convictions at the California state level, contact the California Department of Justice. Fingerprints and a $25 fee are required. This process applies only to your own record.
Court Contact Information
Kern County Superior Court — Metropolitan Division (Bakersfield)
For identification when visiting in person, bring a valid photo ID. If requesting records for someone else, ensure the case is public — some criminal records may be sealed or restricted by court order.
Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times for Criminal Records in Kern
Kern County Superior Court charges fees for copying and certifying documents. Below are the main rates applicable according to the court's fee schedule and Government Code § 70600 et seq.
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Copy of court document | $0.50 per page |
| Document certification | $40 per document (according to Government Code § 70626) |
| Case search by clerk | $15 per name or case number (Government Code § 70626) |
| Criminal history review (DOJ) | $25 per request |
Processing Times
Requests submitted in person are usually processed the same day or within a few business days, depending on the volume of materials. Mail requests take longer, often from 2 to 4 weeks. Requests to the California DOJ for criminal history checks may take several weeks due to the fingerprint processing procedure.
Payment is accepted by check payable to "Kern County Superior Court." Check directly with the clerk's office for available payment methods, as card payment availability depends on the specific court division.