If someone you love was arrested in downtown Bakersfield, there’s one thing that actually works in your favor: everything happens in the same few blocks. Downtown is the civic heart of Kern County, and the arrest, the booking, and the first court date all take place on Truxtun Avenue — the police department’s headquarters, the jail’s Central Receiving Facility, and the county’s main courthouse are practically neighbors.

Cowboy Bail Bonds has worked these downtown blocks for over 50 years from our office at 1710 Blanche Street, a short drive from the jail and the courthouse. This guide explains what happens after a downtown arrest, what bail costs, where the case is heard, and how we bring your loved one home.

Quick facts for downtown Bakersfield arrests

Law enforcement

Bakersfield Police Department (HQ, 1601 Truxtun Ave)

Where they’re booked

Central Receiving Facility, 1415 Truxtun Ave — then Lerdo

Bail cost

10% of the full bail amount (California state rate)

Courthouse

Metropolitan Division, 1215 Truxtun Ave (downtown)

ZIP codes

93301 and the central 93305 corridor

We’re available

24 hours a day, every day — Se Habla Español

Who handles arrests downtown?

Downtown sits squarely inside Bakersfield city limits, so arrests are made by the Bakersfield Police Department, whose headquarters is right downtown at 1601 Truxtun Avenue. After an arrest, your loved one is taken to the Central Receiving Facility at 1415 Truxtun Avenue — the intake jail where every city arrest is booked and photographed. From there, people who aren’t released quickly are typically transferred to the Lerdo Pre-Trial Facility north of town while the case is pending.

Because downtown is so compact, the entire early process — from the police station to the jail to the courthouse — happens within walking distance. That’s unusual, and it means bail can often be posted and paperwork handled without long drives across the county.

Confirm where they are first

Before you head to the jail, confirm where they’re being held:

1. kerninmatesearch.org — the most up-to-date public Kern County inmate database.
2. kernsheriff.org → “Inmate Search” — the official Sheriff’s database.

How bail works for a downtown arrest

1. Call 661-324-6009. A licensed agent answers any time, day or night.
2. We confirm the bail. We pull the booking record so you know the exact charges and bail amount before you commit.
3. You sign the paperwork. By phone, online, or in person at our office — minutes from downtown.
4. We post the bond at Central Receiving. Because the jail is right downtown, we can get there fast.
5. Your loved one comes home. Release typically takes 2 to 6 hours after the bond is posted.

In California the bail premium is 10% of the full bail amount, set by state law. On a $10,000 bail that’s $1,000. We offer payment plans and easy-to-qualify terms. Want a quick estimate? Try our free bail bond calculator, or read how to post bail in Bakersfield step by step.

Which courthouse will handle the case?

Downtown cases — and in-custody arraignments across the Bakersfield metro area — are heard at the Kern County Superior Court Metropolitan Division at 1215 Truxtun Avenue, the county’s main criminal courthouse. It’s steps from where booking happens, so the whole first phase of a case unfolds within the same downtown corridor. The arraignment is usually held within a couple of court days of the arrest.

The most reliable source is always the release or court paperwork your loved one receives, which lists the courthouse, department, date, and time. For addresses and contacts across the county, see our Kern County courthouse locations page.

The downtown Bakersfield you know

Downtown covers the blocks around the Mechanics Bank Arena and Convention Center, Mill Creek Linear Park, the county administrative buildings, the Amtrak station, and the restaurants and offices along Chester Avenue and 19th Street. Arrests here run the range you’d expect in a busy urban core — DUIs after a night out, public-order charges, disputes that escalate. Whatever the situation, the process starts the same way, and we handle it discreetly and fast.

Drive times from downtown

Frequently asked questions

Who arrests people in downtown Bakersfield?

The Bakersfield Police Department, headquartered downtown at 1601 Truxtun Avenue. City arrests are booked at the Central Receiving Facility a few blocks away at 1415 Truxtun.

How much does a bail bond cost?

The premium is 10% of the full bail amount, set by California law and the same at every licensed bondsman. We offer flexible payment plans and easy-to-qualify terms.

How fast can my loved one get out?

Once paperwork is signed we post the bond right away, and our office is minutes from the downtown jail. Release from the county jail typically takes 2 to 6 hours, though it can run longer on busy nights and weekends.

Can I post bail in the middle of the night?

Yes. We’re available 24 hours a day, every day, including holidays. Bail at the county jail can be posted around the clock.

What if there’s a hold?

An immigration detainer, an out-of-county warrant, or a probation or parole hold can keep someone in custody even after bail is posted. We’ll check for holds before you pay anything.