East Bakersfield is the oldest part of the city that isn’t downtown itself — it began as the separate town of Sumner in the 1870s, became Kern City, and merged into Bakersfield in 1910. Today it’s a dense, historic mix of neighborhoods centered on Old Town Kern and Baker Street, known for its Basque restaurants, and running out along Niles Street and East Truxtun. Being right next to downtown has one practical upside when someone is arrested: the jail and the courthouse are only minutes away.

Cowboy Bail Bonds has helped east Bakersfield families for over 50 years from our office at 1710 Blanche Street — itself just east of downtown, so we’re close to home for the east side. This guide explains what happens after an east Bakersfield arrest, what bail costs, where the case is heard, and how we bring your loved one home.

Quick facts for east Bakersfield arrests

Law enforcement

Bakersfield Police Department (city jurisdiction)

Where they’re booked

Central Receiving Facility, 1415 Truxtun Ave (downtown) — then Lerdo

Bail cost

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

Courthouse

Metropolitan Division, 1215 Truxtun Ave (downtown)

ZIP codes

93305, 93306, 93307

We’re available

24 hours a day, every day — Se Habla Español

Who handles arrests in east Bakersfield?

East Bakersfield is fully inside city limits, so the Bakersfield Police Department patrols it — the Old Town Kern district, the Baker Street corridor, Niles Street, and the neighborhoods around the Kern County Fairgrounds. After an arrest, your loved one is taken to the Central Receiving Facility at 1415 Truxtun Avenue for booking — a short drive west — and then typically transferred to the Lerdo Pre-Trial Facility north of town while the case is pending.

Because east Bakersfield sits right against downtown, it’s one of the closest parts of the city to the jail and the courthouse. That proximity can make the whole process a little faster and less stressful than it is for families out on the far edges of 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 an east Bakersfield 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 — just minutes from the east side.
4. We post the bond at the jail. You don’t have to be there in person unless you’d like to be.
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 see how to post bail in Bakersfield.

Which courthouse will handle the case?

East Bakersfield cases are heard at the Kern County Superior Court Metropolitan Division at 1215 Truxtun Avenue in downtown Bakersfield — just west of the east side, and the county’s main criminal courthouse. The first appearance, 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, which lists the courthouse, department, date, and time. For addresses and contacts across the county, see our Kern County courthouse locations page.

The east side we serve

East Bakersfield runs from the edge of downtown out past Baker Street and Niles Street — Old Town Kern with its historic storefronts and Basque restaurants, the neighborhoods around the Kern County Fairgrounds, and the older residential streets that were the city’s first expansion. It’s a busy, close-knit part of town, and the calls we get from here are often after a night out or a family situation that got out of hand. Whatever brought you to this page, we’ll walk you through it plainly and get moving fast.

Drive times from east Bakersfield

Frequently asked questions

Is east Bakersfield city or county jurisdiction?

City. East Bakersfield, including Old Town Kern, is inside Bakersfield city limits and patrolled by the Bakersfield Police Department. Arrests are booked at the downtown Central Receiving Facility.

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 the east side is close to 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.