If you searched “Central Receiving Facility Bakersfield” because someone you love was just arrested, you may be about to drive to the wrong building. For years, 1415 Truxtun Avenue was where Bakersfield arrests were booked. Plenty of websites still say so, and so did an earlier version of this page.

That is no longer how it works. Booking, release and bail for Bakersfield arrests now happen north of town at Lerdo. Here is what changed, where your person most likely is, and what to do next.

Quick facts: Central Receiving then and now

Old name

Central Receiving Facility (CRF)

Current name

Metro Court Holding Facility, Kern County Sheriff’s Office

Address

1415 Truxtun Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93301

Phone

661-868-6850

What it does now

Court holding only. It houses no one, and it is not a booking site.

Where arrests go

Inmate Reception Center (IRC), Lerdo Jail Complex, 17801 Industrial Farm Rd, Bakersfield, CA 93308, 661-391-3100

We’re available

24 hours a day, every day. Se Habla Español.

What changed, and what it means for your family

The building at 1415 Truxtun Avenue is still there and still run by the Sheriff. Its job is different now. The Sheriff describes it as “a court-holding facility only.” People who are in custody and have a court date that day are brought down from the Lerdo facilities in the morning, held at Metro Court Holding until their hearing, and taken back to Lerdo afterward. The Sheriff’s Detentions Bureau lists it as “currently not housing any incarcerated persons.”

The Sheriff hasn’t published the date this change took effect. What matters for families is simple: don’t go to Truxtun Avenue to find someone who was just arrested or to post their bail. They aren’t booked there and aren’t held there, and the inmate search will show them at Lerdo.

Where someone arrested in Bakersfield goes now

According to the Sheriff, the Inmate Reception Center (IRC) at the Lerdo Jail Complex is “the main hub for booking and releasing new arrests,” and its deputies process approximately 30,000 new arrests a year. Most people arrested in the Bakersfield area by any agency are taken there for booking. That includes Bakersfield police, CHP and Sheriff’s deputies. For the full step-by-step, see Arrested in Bakersfield? Here’s how to get released.

Facility

Inmate Reception Center, Lerdo Jail Complex

Address

17801 Industrial Farm Road, Bakersfield, CA 93308

Phone

661-391-3100

Property release

Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It can take 30 minutes to 3 hours, and once it starts you must stay.

There are two exceptions. The Sheriff also runs the Mojave Jail (661-824-7141), which receives people arrested in the Mojave area and holds them until they are released or transferred to Bakersfield. And the Taft Police Department runs its own small jail at 320 Commerce Way (661-763-3101). Bail can be posted there before anyone is moved to Bakersfield, but call first. If someone is transferred out of Taft, they go to the county system at Lerdo, not to Truxtun Avenue. See our Taft jail guide.

How to find someone who was just arrested

1. Search the Sheriff’s official database at kernsheriff.org/inmate-search. Use the person’s full legal name and try spelling variations.
2. Give it time. People usually don’t appear until booking is finished, which commonly takes hours.
3. Call the Inmate Reception Center at 661-391-3100 if the search still comes up empty or doesn’t make sense.
4. Or call us. We can usually confirm someone’s status faster than the public search will.

Our Kern County inmate locator guide walks through the common snags, like misspelled names, arrests by another county and people still in a city jail.

Posting bail now that Central Receiving is closed to bookings

Bail for a new Bakersfield arrest is handled through the Lerdo complex, not downtown. You have two basic choices:

• A bail bond. Cowboy Bail Bonds writes bonds 24 hours a day, every day. Call 661-324-6009. We’ll confirm the booking, the bail amount and any holds, then handle the posting. See our 24-hour bail bonds page.
• Cash bail posted yourself. The Sheriff doesn’t publish bail-posting hours, so call the jail at 661-391-3100 before you go to confirm when and how it is accepted. Cash bail is generally refundable after the case ends, subject to court processes. A bond premium is a non-refundable fee. See Do you get your bail money back?

What a bond costs: The premium is most commonly 10% of the bail amount. It isn’t fixed by statute. Each surety files its rates with the California Department of Insurance, and its agents charge the filed rate. Many sureties file as low as 8% for qualifying cases. Ask what filed rate applies to your case. We offer payment plans and easy-to-qualify terms. For how amounts are set, see how the Kern County bail schedule works.

Release timing: The Sheriff says the release process after bail is posted “can take up to 8 hours.” It varies with how busy the jail is, so please don’t plan around a specific time.

Court dates are still downtown

This is the part of the old picture that hasn’t changed. Criminal cases in Bakersfield are heard by the Kern County Superior Court’s Metropolitan Division downtown. The Metropolitan Division is at 1415 Truxtun Avenue, and the Justice Building is at 1215 Truxtun Avenue (court phone 661-610-6000). The release or court paperwork names the building, department, date and time, so check it rather than guessing.

Someone who stays in custody usually sees a judge within 48 hours of arrest, not counting Sundays and holidays, under Penal Code 825. Saturdays count. For them, the downtown trip happens through Metro Court Holding: they are transported from Lerdo that morning and returned afterward. Someone who has been released goes to court on their own. Missing that date can lead to a warrant and a forfeited bond. For the bigger picture, see what happens after an arrest in Kern County and our courthouse locations page.

What Metro Court Holding still does

• Court-day holding. In-custody defendants are held there while they wait for their hearings next door.
• Money deposits. The Sheriff lists Metro Court Holding as one of the places with a kiosk where you can deposit money to someone’s jail account. You can also deposit by phone at 1-866-345-1884 or online through Access Corrections.

It does not house anyone overnight, book new arrests or run a visiting program.

Visiting is at Lerdo

Because no one is housed at Truxtun Avenue, visits happen at the Lerdo facilities. Kern County uses Securus Technologies for inmate phones and video visitation. The Sheriff’s “Public Visiting” page has the current rules. Our Lerdo Pre-Trial Facility guide covers visits, directions and what to bring.

Old Central Receiving vs. today

Frequently asked questions

Is the Central Receiving Facility in Bakersfield still open?

The building at 1415 Truxtun Avenue is still in use, but not as a jail. The Kern County Sheriff says the Central Receiving Facility is now the Metro Court Holding Facility, which no longer houses anyone and operates as a court-holding facility only.

Where are people arrested in Bakersfield booked now?

Most are booked at the Sheriff’s Inmate Reception Center at the Lerdo Jail Complex, 17801 Industrial Farm Road, Bakersfield, CA 93308. The phone number is 661-391-3100. The Mojave Jail and the Taft Police Department jail handle some arrests in their own areas.

Can I post bail at 1415 Truxtun Avenue?

No. Metro Court Holding is not a booking or bail site. Bail for a new arrest is handled at the Lerdo complex. The Sheriff doesn’t publish bail-posting hours, so call 661-391-3100 before posting cash bail yourself, or call Cowboy Bail Bonds at 661-324-6009 for a bond at any hour.

How do I find out if someone is in custody?

Search the Sheriff’s official database at kernsheriff.org/inmate-search. Someone usually appears only after booking is finished, which commonly takes hours. If the search comes up empty, call the Inmate Reception Center at 661-391-3100.

How long does release take after bail is posted?

It varies. The Kern County Sheriff says the release process can take up to 8 hours after bail is posted. It varies with how busy the jail is.

Can I visit someone at Metro Court Holding?

No. No one is housed there, and people are held there only on their court days. Visits happen at the Lerdo facilities through the Sheriff’s public visiting program, including video visits through Securus.

The Lerdo Pre-Trial Facility is the largest jail in Kern County and the first stop for the vast majority of people arrested in the Bakersfield area. With a capacity of roughly 1,232 inmates — both male and female — it’s where pre-trial detainees wait for their cases to move through the courts. If a family member calls you in the middle of the night to say they’ve been arrested, this is almost certainly where they ended up.

This guide walks through the practical questions families ask us every day: how to confirm your loved one is there, how the bail process actually works, what visiting looks like, what to bring (and not bring), and how long it takes to bring them home. We’ve been doing this for over 50 years from our office on Blanche Street, just minutes from the facility.

Quick facts about Lerdo Pre-Trial

Address

17695 Industrial Farm Rd, Bakersfield, CA 93308

Operated by

Kern County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO)

Capacity

Approximately 1,232 beds

Houses

Pre-trial inmates, both male and female

Bail accepted

Call the jail first to confirm

Distance

~15 minutes north of downtown Bakersfield, off Hwy 99

One important distinction: KCSO operates several buildings on the Lerdo campus. Pre-Trial is for inmates whose cases have not yet been resolved. The Justice, Maximum/Medium Security, and Minimum Security facilities house sentenced inmates. If you’re not sure which building your person is in, the inmate search databases below will tell you — or just call us.

How to confirm someone is at Lerdo Pre-Trial

Before driving out to the facility — or before posting bail — confirm where they actually are. Two public databases will tell you:

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

Search by full legal name. If you have a booking number, use that — it’s the most reliable way to find them. Once you find the record, you’ll see their charges, current bail amount, custody status, and which Lerdo building they’re in.

Posting bail at Lerdo Pre-Trial

The Sheriff doesn’t publish bail-posting hours, so call the jail first to confirm before you go. There are two basic paths.

Cash bail (the entire amount, paid directly)

You can pay the full bail amount in cash at the lobby. The advantage: when the case is resolved and your loved one has appeared at every required court date, the cash is returned (minus court fees). The disadvantage: you tie up the entire amount — sometimes tens of thousands of dollars — for the months or years a case can take to resolve.

Surety bond through a bail bondsman (the more common path)

You pay a state-mandated 10% premium of the bail amount to a licensed bail bond company, and the bondsman posts the full bail on your loved one’s behalf. The premium is non-refundable, but you’re never out the full bail amount. We offer flexible payment plans and no-collateral options for qualified families.

The process if you call us:

1. Call 661-324-6009. A licensed agent answers any time.
2. We confirm the bail. We pull the booking record so you know the exact amount and charges before you commit.
3. You sign the paperwork. By phone, online, or in person at our office.
4. We post the bond directly at the facility.
5. Your loved one is released to the lobby. Typical wait: 2 to 6 hours after posting.

Visiting an inmate at Lerdo Pre-Trial

KCSO has moved most visiting at Lerdo to a video visitation system. You can connect from a kiosk on-site at the facility, or remotely from your own phone, tablet, or computer. Traditional in-person visits, where allowed, generally require advance scheduling.

Visiting policies, hours, and rules can change without public notice. Before driving out, always confirm current information directly with KCSO at their official site or by calling the facility. The guidance below is general and not a substitute for the latest official rules.

What to bring

• A valid government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, passport).
• The inmate’s full legal name and ideally booking number.
• If using video visit from home: a stable internet connection, webcam, and microphone.

What not to bring

• Cell phones inside the visiting area — lockers may be available, or leave it in the car.
• Cameras, recording devices, or large bags.
• Food, drink, or gifts — nothing can be passed to the inmate.
• Weapons of any kind, including pepper spray or pocket knives. These are illegal on jail property.

Dress code

KCSO enforces a dress code for visitors. Generally: no clothing matching inmate uniform colors (typically orange, red, or blue — check current policy), no revealing clothing (tank tops, low-cut tops, short skirts or shorts, transparent fabrics), no clothing with offensive language or imagery, and closed-toe shoes are recommended.

Sending money and phone calls

Phone calls

Inmates can make outgoing collect or pre-paid calls through the jail’s phone vendor. Friends and family can set up a pre-paid account with the vendor so calls don’t fail mid-conversation. Vendors change periodically — check the KCSO website for the current provider and instructions.

Commissary and trust account deposits

Inmates use deposited funds for commissary purchases (snacks, hygiene items, writing supplies) and to pay for phone calls or video visits. You can deposit money online through the jail’s deposit vendor, via kiosk in the Lerdo lobby (cash or card), or by mail with a money order — address it carefully and include the inmate’s full name and booking number.

Deposit limits and fees vary by deposit method. Confirm the current vendor and fee schedule on the KCSO website before sending money.

Directions and drive times

From downtown Bakersfield, head north on Highway 99. Take the Industrial Farm Road exit. The Lerdo campus is clearly marked. Free parking is available on site.

Our office at 1710 Blanche Street is just minutes from Lerdo. If you’d rather meet in person before bail is posted, or pick up paperwork on the way to the facility, we’re close.

What happens after release

Once bail is posted and processed, your loved one will be released to the Lerdo lobby. They’ll have whatever personal property they were booked in with (returned in a sealed bag), and any release paperwork — including their next court date, which is the most important piece of paper they’ll leave with.

A few things to plan for:

• Release time can be unpredictable — we typically tell families to expect 2 to 6 hours but it can be longer during busy weekends.
• There is no shuttle from Lerdo. Plan to pick them up.
• The cell phone they were booked with may have a dead battery. Bring a charger if possible.
• If they have a court date within 48 hours, make sure they have transportation to the correct courthouse. We can help confirm which one.

Coming to Lerdo from Taft and west Kern

Families driving up from Taft, Maricopa and the west Kern oil communities have a longer trip than most — and often an extra step before it. If the arrest happened inside Taft city limits, your loved one is first held at the Taft Police Department jail at 320 Commerce Way, where bail can be posted locally. It is short-term holding, so anyone who stays in custody is transported to the county jail, now booked through the Sheriff’s Inmate Reception Center at Lerdo (the old Central Receiving, now Metro Court Holding, no longer takes in prisoners).

An arrest outside city limits is different: the Sheriff’s Taft Substation is a patrol base, not a booking facility, so deputies drive straight to Bakersfield and Lerdo is where you will find them. Our step-by-step Taft arrest timeline walks through the whole sequence, and the Taft bail bonds page covers what we handle out there.

Frequently asked questions

Can I post bail at the Lerdo lobby myself?

Yes — cash bail can be posted at the jail, but the Sheriff doesn’t publish bail-posting hours, so call first. Most families work with a bail bondsman so they’re not out the full amount.

How long until my loved one is released after I post bail?

Typically 2 to 6 hours. Release timing depends on jail volume, current intake/release operations, and the time of day. Late nights and weekends are usually slower. We’ll give you our best estimate when bail is posted.

What if there’s a hold on my loved one?

“Holds” can include warrants from another county, parole or probation holds, or PC 1275.1 holds (which require a hearing on the source of bail money). A hold means even if bail is posted, the inmate may not be released. Always confirm hold status before posting bail. We can check this for you when you call.

Will the bail bondsman drive to Lerdo for me?

Yes. We handle every step of posting bail at Lerdo. You don’t need to go to the facility unless you want to be there for the release.

Does Lerdo Pre-Trial accept credit cards for bail or commissary?

Cash bail is typically accepted at the lobby. For commissary deposits, online and kiosk options accept cards. Vendors and acceptance rules change — verify with KCSO before you go.

Are video visits free?

On-site kiosk video visits are typically free; remote video visits from home or mobile usually have a per-minute fee through the jail’s vendor. Check the current vendor’s pricing on the KCSO site.