Wasco is about 24 miles northwest of Bakersfield, where Highways 43 and 46 cross — close enough that most people know the drive, and far enough that nobody wants to make it at 2 a.m. That’s the point of calling a bondsman who already knows north Kern: we do the legwork, and you wait at home for the call that they’re on their way out.

Cowboy Bail Bonds is family-owned and has written bail bonds across Kern County for more than 50 years. We serve Wasco, Shafter, McFarland, Delano, Lost Hills, Buttonwillow and the rest of the county from our office at 1710 Blanche Street in Bakersfield.

Bail bond services for Wasco families

How to get a bail bond in Wasco

1. Call 661-324-6009 with the person’s full name and date of birth.
2. We locate them and confirm the charges, the bail amount, and whether there are any holds.
3. You sign the paperwork by phone, online, or in person, and choose a payment option.
4. We post the bond at the facility holding them.
5. They’re released, usually within a few hours of the bond being posted. Timing isn’t guaranteed and depends on the facility and how busy it is.

Helpful to have ready when you call: the person’s full name and date of birth, where and when they were arrested if you know, and your own photo ID. Our documents checklist has the full list.

What a bail bond costs in Wasco

The premium is most commonly 10% of the bail amount — $1,000 on a $10,000 bail. It isn’t fixed by statute: each surety files its rates with the California Department of Insurance and its agents charge the filed rate, and many file as low as 8% for qualifying cases, so ask what filed rate applies to yours.

If the full premium isn’t in the budget tonight, ask about a payment plan — we offer easy-to-qualify terms. Try the free bail bond calculator for a quick estimate.

After a Wasco arrest: where they’re held

Wasco has had its own police department since April 18, 2024, when the city took over from the Kern County Sheriff’s Office after 43 years of contract policing. Wasco PD handles arrests inside city limits; outside city limits, it’s generally Sheriff’s deputies or the CHP.

There’s no county jail in Wasco. Anyone who isn’t cited and released is taken to Bakersfield and booked into the Kern County jail system — usually the Lerdo facilities, where new arrests are booked at the Sheriff’s Inmate Reception Center (the old Central Receiving, now Metro Court Holding, no longer books anyone). We confirm exactly where before we post, and post the bond there. (Anyone under 18 goes to juvenile hall, where bail doesn’t apply.)

Wasco State Prison is a state prison for people already sentenced — bail doesn’t apply there. Someone who was just arrested is in county custody instead.

Cowboy Bail Bonds

661-324-6009 — 24/7

Wasco police

748 F Street — 661-758-7266 (non-emergency, 24 hours)

Booking

Kern County jail system in Bakersfield — Sheriff’s Inmate Reception Center at Lerdo

Nearby court

Superior Court, 325 Central Valley Hwy, Shafter — 661-610-7200

Find an inmate

Kern County Sheriff’s official inmate search

The closest courthouse is the Kern County Superior Court branch in Shafter, 10 to 15 minutes from Wasco, though some cases may be heard in Bakersfield. The release or court paperwork names the courthouse, date and time — if it isn’t clear, call us and we’ll confirm it.

Bail bonds near Wasco

Along with Wasco, we write bail bonds throughout north Kern:

• Shafter bail bonds — the neighboring city to the southeast.
• Delano bail bonds and McFarland — up Highway 99 to the northeast.
• Lost Hills and Buttonwillow — unincorporated communities to the west and southwest.
• Everywhere else in the county — see Kern County bail bonds.

Frequently asked questions

Do you write bail bonds in Wasco?

Yes. Cowboy Bail Bonds writes bail bonds for people arrested in Wasco and throughout north Kern County, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 661-324-6009 to reach a licensed agent.

Do I have to come to Bakersfield to bail someone out?

Usually not. Most paperwork can be completed by phone or online, and our agents post the bond at the facility where your loved one is held.

How much does a bail bond cost?

The premium is most commonly 10% of the bail amount, or $1,000 on a $10,000 bail. It is not fixed by statute; each surety files its rates with the California Department of Insurance and its agents charge the filed rate, and many file as low as 8% for qualifying cases. Ask what filed rate applies to your case. Payment plans are available.

Do you offer payment plans?

Yes. We offer payment plans and easy-to-qualify terms. Tell us what you can put down and we will walk you through the options.

Can you help with a warrant?

Yes. If someone has an outstanding Kern County warrant, we can often arrange a bond so they can turn themselves in and be released quickly, instead of waiting to be picked up.

Where do people arrested in Wasco go?

Wasco has had its own police department since April 2024, but there is no county jail in town. Anyone not cited and released is booked into the Kern County jail system in Bakersfield, usually the Lerdo facilities, where new arrests are booked at the Sheriff’s Inmate Reception Center. We confirm where they are held and post the bond there.

Can someone at Wasco State Prison be bailed out?

No. Wasco State Prison is a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation prison, including a reception center, for people who have already been sentenced to state prison. Bail does not apply there.