What happens after an arrest in Bakersfield — and how to get your loved one home fast
When someone you love is arrested in Bakersfield, the minutes feel like hours. You may not know which facility they're being held in, what the bail amount is, or how long the process takes. The Kern County jail system processes thousands of bookings each year across multiple facilities, and understanding how it works gives you the power to act — not just wait.
This guide covers everything families in Bakersfield and Kern County need to know: which jail handles new bookings, what the step-by-step booking process looks like, what the Kern County bail schedule means for common charges, and how a bail bond gets your loved one home for a fraction of the full bail amount.
Need help right now? Skip the reading and call directly: (626) 478-1062. A licensed agent answers 24/7 — we locate your loved one, confirm the bail amount, and start the bond process immediately.
Arrests in Bakersfield are processed through the Kern County Sheriff's Office Central Receiving Facility, located at 1415 Truxtun Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93301. This is the primary booking facility for all new arrests in the Bakersfield area, operated by the Kern County Sheriff's Office (KCSO). You can reach the facility at (661) 868-4100.
Once the booking process is complete, inmates who are not bailed out may be transferred to the Lerdo Justice Facility at 17801 Industrial Farm Rd, Bakersfield, CA 93308 — Kern County's main long-term detention facility located north of the city. This transfer typically happens when a defendant is held past the initial booking period without bail.
Bakersfield arrests handled by the Bakersfield Police Department (BPD) or the Kern County Sheriff's Office go through the Central Receiving Facility. Smaller city arrests in the service area — Delano, Shafter, Wasco, McFarland — may involve local holding facilities before transfer to the main Kern County system if the defendant remains in custody.
The Kern County Sheriff's inmate locator at kernsheriff.org is the official tool for finding someone's booking status. In practice, booking records appear 2 to 6 hours after arrest — searching immediately and finding nothing does not mean the person hasn't been booked yet.
Booking at the Central Receiving Facility is not a single event — it is a multi-step process that must be completed before bail can be posted. Here is what happens from arrest to bail eligibility:
Felony bookings at the Central Receiving Facility typically take 6 to 12 hours from arrest to bail eligibility. Misdemeanor bookings can be faster. Weekend nights, holidays, and high-volume periods extend these timelines. Property releases are handled weekdays during business hours, but bail bonds can be posted at any hour.
The Kern County Superior Court publishes a bail schedule each year that sets the standard bail amount for each charge — the amount a defendant must post to be released before arraignment. Kern County uses both a Felony Bail Schedule and guidance from the California Judicial Council's Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedules.
The following amounts are representative of Kern County's bail schedule for common charges. Actual amounts may vary based on enhancements, prior record, and judicial discretion at arraignment:
| Charge | Code Section | Typical Bail Amount |
|---|---|---|
| DUI — first offense, no injury | VC 23152 | $5,000 |
| DUI with injury | VC 23153 | $100,000 |
| Drug possession for sale | HS 11351 | $30,000 |
| Assault with a deadly weapon | PC 245(a)(1) | $30,000 |
| Assault with a firearm | PC 245(a)(2) | $50,000 |
| Burglary — first degree (residential) | PC 459 | $50,000 |
| Robbery — first degree | PC 211 | $100,000 |
| Grand theft | PC 487 | $20,000 |
Bail amounts are set at booking based on the schedule. At arraignment, a judge may raise bail (especially for serious felonies with priors), lower it, or grant own recognizance (OR) release based on the defendant's ties to the community and flight risk. Posting bail before arraignment locks in the schedule amount — this is why timing matters.
Arrested in Bakersfield? Call Angels Bail Bonds (626) 478-1062 — 24/7, licensed since 1958. We confirm the bail amount the moment it's set and start the bond process immediately — no waiting for business hours.
Most families cannot pay the full bail amount in cash — and they don't have to. A bail bond lets your loved one get out of Kern County Jail for 10% of the total bail amount, as set by California Insurance Code § 1800.4.
Here is how the process works:
We also offer zero-down payment plans for qualifying clients. You do not need the full 10% premium in hand at 2am — call us and we will work through the options with you.
Bakersfield families have been calling Angels Bail Bonds since 1958. Here is what sets us apart from other bondsmen serving Kern County:
Angels Bail Bonds serves all of Kern County — and our agents are standing by right now to help your family.
A licensed agent answers every call. We locate your loved one, confirm bail, and start the bond process — day or night, including weekends and holidays.
(626) 478-1062Booking at the Kern County Central Receiving Facility typically takes 4 to 12 hours for felony arrests. Misdemeanor bookings can be shorter. Weekend nights and holidays push toward the longer end. Bail cannot be posted until the booking is fully entered into the system — but call us immediately, because we start the process as soon as the bail amount is confirmed.
Under California Insurance Code § 1800.4, the standard bail bond premium is 10% of the total bail amount. For a $30,000 bail, you pay $3,000 — not the full $30,000. Angels Bail Bonds also offers zero-down payment plans for qualifying clients. The 10% premium is non-refundable once the bond is posted.
The Kern County Central Receiving Facility — the primary booking facility for Bakersfield arrests — is located at 1415 Truxtun Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93301. Longer-term housing after booking may be at the Lerdo Justice Facility at 17801 Industrial Farm Rd, Bakersfield, CA 93308. We handle bonds at both facilities.
Yes. Kern County Jail accepts bail bonds 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including all holidays. Our agents are available around the clock and have posted bonds at every hour of the night. The facility processes the bond whenever it is received.
Yes. Angels Bail Bonds serves all of Kern County, including Bakersfield, Delano, Shafter, Wasco, McFarland, Tehachapi, and Oildale. We handle bonds at Kern County Jail and the Lerdo Justice Facility. No matter where in Kern County the arrest occurred, call us and we handle the rest.
This article is for general informational purposes only. Bail amounts, hold policies, and processing timelines are subject to change. For advice specific to your case, contact a licensed bail bond agent at (626) 478-1062. Angels Bail Bonds holds California Insurance License #1K06080.
