Bakersfield Background Check Records

Background check services in Bakersfield run through the Bakersfield Police Department and Kern County court system. This Central Valley city is the county seat and largest city in Kern County.

Kern County Handles Bakersfield Court Records

Bakersfield is the county seat of Kern County. All criminal cases for Bakersfield go through the Kern County Superior Court. The main courthouse is right in downtown Bakersfield. This makes it convenient for local residents to access court records in person.

The Kern County court has an online case search portal at portal.kern.courts.ca.gov. You can look up criminal cases by name or case number. Basic info shows for free. To get copies of documents, you need to contact the clerk and pay their fees. Most copies run $0.50 per page with certified copies at $40.

The Kern County Sheriff also provides services for unincorporated areas around Bakersfield. They have their own Live Scan program. Check with the sheriff if the Bakersfield PD options do not work for your needs. Multiple agencies serve this large county.

Live Scan Services in Bakersfield

The Bakersfield Police Department may offer Live Scan to the public. Contact them directly to confirm current availability and fees. Hours and services can change. It is best to call ahead before going to any government office for fingerprinting.

Private Live Scan operators are all over Bakersfield. Use the DOJ site locator at oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/locations to find certified sites near you. Enter your zip code and the tool shows every option. Private sites often have more flexible hours than police stations.

Rolling fees at private sites range from about $15 to $45 in the Bakersfield area. Add the state DOJ fee of $32 and FBI fee of $17 for a full check. Shop around if price matters to you. Some sites are much cheaper than others for the same service.

Getting Your Criminal Record in Bakersfield

California residents can get their own criminal record through a DOJ Record Review. The state fee is $25 plus whatever rolling fee your Live Scan site charges. Fill out form BCIA 8016RR and take it to any certified operator. They scan your prints and send them to Sacramento. Results come back in a few days for most people.

Court records from Kern County cases require a separate request. Use the online portal to find your case first. Write down the case number. Then contact the clerk for copies. You can go to the courthouse in downtown Bakersfield or mail your request. Fees apply either way.

The Bakersfield Police keep their own reports. Incident reports, arrest reports, and other police documents come from the PD records unit. These are different from DOJ and court records. Contact Bakersfield PD directly to request police reports. Each type of report has its own rules.

Background Check Processing Times

Live Scan checks from Bakersfield get processed by the state DOJ in Sacramento. Electronic submission means fast turnaround in most cases. When there is no matching record in the system, processing takes 48 to 72 hours. The check goes through automatically without human review.

If your prints match existing records, a DOJ technician must review your file by hand. This manual step can take extra days or weeks. The timeline depends on how busy the DOJ is and how complex your record is. Most checks still finish within a week even with records.

Check your status online at applicantstatus.doj.ca.gov. You need your ATI number from the Live Scan receipt. The portal shows pending, processing, or complete status. For questions, call DOJ support at (916) 210-2300. They can look up your request if you have issues.

Bakersfield Background Check Fees

State fees are fixed across California. DOJ charges $32 for a state criminal history check. FBI charges $17 for a federal check. You pay these at your Live Scan appointment along with the rolling fee. The rolling fee goes to whoever takes your prints.

Rolling fees in Bakersfield vary by site. Private operators set their own prices. Some charge $20. Others charge $40 or more. The DOJ locator shows some fee info but not always. Call ahead and ask for the total cost including all fees before you book.

Kern County Superior Court charges standard California fees for records. Basic copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $40 per document. If you need a clerk to research records, there may be a $15 per name fee. Ask the clerk office for an estimate before starting any request.

Legal Help in Bakersfield

The Kern County Bar Association has a lawyer referral service. They connect Bakersfield residents with attorneys for all types of legal matters. If you need help with expungement or record sealing, they can find someone who does that work. First consultations often have a set low fee.

Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance serves low income residents. They may help with criminal record relief at no cost if you qualify. Income guidelines apply. The California Courts self-help website has forms and guides for people who want to try expungement on their own.

Record relief options in California include conviction dismissal under Penal Code 1203.4 and arrest sealing under Penal Code 851.91. What you can do depends on your specific case history. A lawyer can review your record and tell you the options.

Nearby Cities

These California cities over 100,000 are in the region around Bakersfield.