Lerdo Maximum-Medium Security Facility Inmate Bail & Bonds

Begin with Kern County Inmate Search. New arrests from across the county normally go through Lerdo's Inmate Reception Center, the Sheriff's main intake point, 661-391-3100. After that, higher-security people are held at the Lerdo Pre-Trial Facility, 661-391-7900. Arrests in the Mojave area can go to the Mojave Jail first, 661-824-7141, before release or a move to Bakersfield.

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According to the Sheriff, Ridgecrest Jail is not housing anyone at present, and Metro Court Holding is used only to hold people for court. Ask the Sheriff at 661-391-7500 if someone from the Ridgecrest area is missing from the search.

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The Superior Court's 2026 schedule, in force since December 29, 2025, sorts charges into four codes. CR, cite and release, is for many misdemeanors and means $0 bail and a signed promise to appear. BR, book and release, is a $0 bail for certain felonies after booking. MR means a magistrate reviews the case, and AR means release waits until arraignment.

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A judicial officer looks at facts about the offense and the person, plus a risk report. The officer may release the person on a promise, release on conditions with no money, set money bail, or hold the question until arraignment. The Sheriff passes along the conditions. If the person refuses the conditions, release waits for arraignment.

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Anyone charged with a crime described in article I, section 12 of the California Constitution cannot be freed before arraignment. In Kern that can mean a capital charge, some violent or sex felonies, or a felony where great bodily harm was threatened. Offenses listed in Penal Code 1270.1 also need a hearing in open court first. Murder without special circumstances is no bail until arraignment, when a judicial officer decides.

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Residential burglary is $40,000. Assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm is $30,000. A felony domestic violence injury charge is $30,000, and selling certain drugs under Health and Safety Code 11351 is $30,000. Selling under 11352 is $40,000. Second-degree robbery is $60,000, and first-degree robbery is $100,000. Petty theft is $0. A starred code means the amount cannot be changed without a courtroom hearing.

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A misdemeanor marked CR gets $0 bail. Misdemeanor spousal battery is $5,000 and must be reviewed by a magistrate. Charges tied to domestic violence, stalking, or protective orders need a hearing before release. Look up the exact booking in Kern County Inmate Search.

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Kern's sheriff detention site gives no bail counter details, so dial 661-391-3100 to learn which Bakersfield location takes bail, its hours, and accepted payment types. The lobby kiosks at Justice, Max-Med, and Metro Court Holding add money to an inmate account for commissary and calls. That is not bail. Read more about county bail.

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Property release runs Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at the Lerdo Justice Facility. Clothing worn by an incarcerated person is not released. An out-of-custody person with a valid state or federal photo ID can receive money and property. Plan on 30 minutes to 3 hours.

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Only when a judge sets money you cannot pay yourself. Kern bondsmen mostly charge ten percent, state insurance officials say; every company files its rate, and the agent keeps that premium. Agents may not solicit you. Check the license and keep the paperwork.

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The court and Sheriff pages for Kern do not lay out a property-bond process. Phone the Criminal Division at 661-610-6000 to ask whether non-Kern property works, the equity required, and the lien timeline. Do not sign a deed over until you know.

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Criminal cases start at the Metropolitan Division, 1415 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, 661-610-6000. Branch courts are in Delano, 661-610-7300; Lamont, 661-610-7100; Mojave, 661-610-7400; Ridgecrest, 661-610-7450; and Shafter, 661-610-7200. A probation officer helps with misdemeanors at the Metro building on Monday to Thursday, 8:00 to 10:00 a.m.

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Warrant information is not given by phone. Go in person to the Inmate Receiving Center, 17645 Industrial Farm Road, with photo ID. The court also takes calls: felonies and misdemeanors at 661-610-6000, option 4. A warrant stays active until the person is arrested, appears in court, or posts bail.

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Anyone in custody has the right to arraignment within 48 hours of arrest, under Penal Code 825, not counting Sundays and holidays. The judge explains the charges, can raise or lower bail, and takes the plea. For a felony, a guilty plea at that stage requires a lawyer unless the right is waived.

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Refunds on cash bail are issued after the court orders them. Allow about 4 to 6 weeks from the order date. The county Auditor mails the check; call 661-868-3599, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The court does not text people about payments, so ignore messages that ask for money.

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Kern keeps arrested youth at the Kern youth detention center, 1831 Ridge Road in Bakersfield, 661-868-4300; intake is 661-868-4313. Delinquency cases are heard at the Juvenile Justice Center, 2100 College Avenue, 661-610-6900. The Probation Department is at 2005 Ridge Road, 661-868-4100.

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Ask the judge at arraignment. The court's juvenile page lists a Public Defender at 661-868-4285 and an Indigent Defense Program office at 661-334-4709. Give the case number and next court date when you call.

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California's top court said in April 2026 that judges can't do that. Unless the strict constitutional rules for denying bail are met, the amount set in Bakersfield must be one he could reasonably post. A attorney may request another bail hearing.

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Kern is a big county with court locations in Bakersfield and in outlying towns from Delano to Ridgecrest. Jail cases from the Lerdo facility mostly go to Bakersfield:

• Metropolitan division: 1415 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301 · 661-610-6000
• Justice building: 1215 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301 · 661-610-6000
• Juvenile justice center: 2100 College Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93305 · 661-610-6900
• Metropolitan traffic: 3131 Arrow Street, Bakersfield, CA 93308 · 661-610-7000
• Delano: 1122 Jefferson Street, Delano, CA 93215 · 661-610-7300
• Lamont: 12022 Main Street, Lamont, CA 93241 · 661-610-7100
• Mojave: 1773 State Highway 58 Business, Mojave, CA 93501 · 661-610-7400
• Ridgecrest: 132 East Coso Avenue, Ridgecrest, CA 93555 · 661-610-7450
• Shafter: 325 Central Valley Highway, Shafter, CA 93263 · 661-610-7200

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Kern belongs to the Fresno division of the Eastern District of California, but magistrate judges also hold sessions in Bakersfield. County bail and bondsmen don't play a role:

• The first hearing is before a magistrate judge, either in Bakersfield or at Fresno federal courthouse, 2500 Tulare Street, Fresno, CA 93721.
• Pretrial Services interviews him and writes up what it learns.
• Custody gets decided at a detention hearing; prosecutors can ask for three days, the defense for five.
• If released, he follows federal conditions. If held, the Marshals pick a contract jail.

Contact the Marshals at U.S. Marshals Service, 2500 Tulare Street, Fresno, 559-442-2858.

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The Kern Sheriff follows SB 54, so no one is held past release for ICE. ICE may get a release date only for people with a qualifying serious or violent conviction. Before any ICE interview inside a Kern jail, the person gets a TRUTH Act form and can say no.

Kern is in the San Francisco ICE field office, 630 Sansome Street, Room 590, San Francisco, CA 94111, 415-365-8800 area, and some of California's biggest ICE centers are right here in Kern:

• Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center: 425 Golden State Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301
• Golden State Annex: 611 Frontage Road, McFarland, CA 93250
• California City detention site: 22844 Virginia Boulevard, California City, CA 93505

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• Kern County Inmate Search: enter last and first name. It shows booking, housing at Lerdo or downtown, bail and court date.
• VINELink (https://vinelink.vineapps.com/): choose California and enter a name; shows custody and facility.
• Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator (https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/): federal register number or name. Pretrial federal cases: call 559-442-2858.
• CDCR Inmate Locator (https://inmatelocator.cdcr.ca.gov/): CDCR number or name. Kern has several state prisons, and they show here, not on the county search.
• ICE Online Detainee Locator System (https://locator.ice.gov/odls/): A-number or name and country of birth. People at Mesa Verde or McFarland appear here. If missing, call 415-365-8800.

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The Kern court's main line is 661-610-6000. Staff can confirm the current bail and where the case is set to be heard.

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