Kern County Registered Sex Offenders
Sex offender registration in Kern County takes place at the Sheriff's Office Registration Unit in Bakersfield. The office is at 1415 Truxtun Avenue and operates by appointment only. Call 661-868-5547 to schedule your visit. All individuals convicted under California Penal Code 290 must register here if they live in Kern County. The sheriff maintains local records and sends updates to the state database. You can search for registered sex offenders through the California Megan's Law website by entering a Bakersfield or other Kern County address. Offenders update yearly on their birthday or more often if classified as transients or sexually violent predators.
Kern County Quick Facts
Registration Unit Details
The Kern County Sheriff operates a dedicated Registration Unit for sex offenders. The office is in downtown Bakersfield at 1415 Truxtun Avenue. You cannot walk in without an appointment. Call 661-868-5547 ahead of time to set up a registration visit. Staff will ask for your name, date of birth, and reason for the appointment. They may have limited slots each day, so book early.
When you arrive, bring valid photo ID and proof of address. A utility bill, lease agreement, or mail with your name and current Kern County address will work. If you own a vehicle, bring the registration. The sheriff needs details on make, model, color, and license plate number. You also must disclose internet identifiers like email addresses and usernames for social media or other online accounts.
The registration process takes about 30 to 45 minutes. Staff will photograph you and collect fingerprints. You fill out forms with personal information, employment details, and vehicle data. An officer reviews everything and asks follow-up questions. Once complete, the sheriff submits your registration to the California Department of Justice. The state database updates within a few days. You can verify your information appears on the Megan's Law website after that.
Visit kernsheriff.org/Registration_Unit for more about the Registration Unit. The website explains policies and lists contact information. For questions about your specific case, call the unit directly. Do not email sensitive information. The sheriff prefers phone calls or in-person communication for registration matters.
Megan's Law Search
California's Megan's Law website is the main public tool for finding sex offenders. Go to meganslaw.ca.gov and enter a Kern County address. The map shows registered offenders near that location. You can search by street address, city name, or zip code. The map uses pins to mark each offender's location.
Click on a pin to see the profile. Most profiles include a photo, physical description, and conviction details. You see the tier level, which indicates how long the person must register. Tier One is ten years. Tier Two is twenty years. Tier Three is life. Some profiles show full street addresses. Others only display a zip code or are marked as undisclosed per court order.
The website updates daily. If someone just registered in Kern County, the profile might not appear until the next day or two. Not all registered offenders are on the public site. Some are excluded by law. Certain juvenile offenders and misdemeanor cases do not get posted. If you cannot find someone, call the sheriff at the number above to ask about that individual.
Registration Timelines and Requirements
New registrants must appear within five working days. This applies when you are released from jail or prison, when you move to Kern County from elsewhere, or when you first become subject to registration. Five working days means business days only. Weekends and holidays do not count. If released on a Thursday, you have until the following Thursday to register.
Annual updates happen on your birthday. The law requires updating within five working days before or after that date. If your birthday is September 20, you can register anytime from September 15 to September 25. The sheriff does not send reminders. You must track the date and make an appointment. Missing the window is a violation that can lead to criminal charges.
Transients update every 30 days. You are classified as transient if you lack a permanent residence. This includes living in a vehicle, staying in a shelter, or moving between temporary locations. The sheriff determines whether you are transient. If so, you must update every 30 days and report where you have been staying. This rule helps law enforcement track individuals who move around frequently.
Sexually violent predators update every 90 days regardless of housing status. This category includes individuals civilly committed as SVPs or those with certain convictions. The 90-day schedule is more frequent than the annual birthday update but less burdensome than the 30-day transient requirement. All these timelines are set by Penal Code Section 290.012.
Tier System Overview
Senate Bill 384 created California's tier system, which took effect in January 2021. Before that, most sex offenders registered for life. Now duration depends on the tier. Tier One is ten years for adults and five years for juveniles. Tier Two is twenty years for adults and ten years for juveniles. Tier Three is lifetime with no early termination option.
Your tier is assigned at conviction based on the specific crime. Rape under Penal Code Section 261 is typically Tier Three. Lewd acts with a child under Penal Code Section 288 can be Tier Two or Tier Three. Misdemeanor indecent exposure might be Tier One. The statute sets the tier. Judges and prosecutors cannot change it.
After completing the minimum period, Tier One and Tier Two offenders can petition the court for removal from the registry. The petition goes to the court that handled your original conviction. You may need legal help to prepare the paperwork. The court has 60 days to decide. If approved, you stop registering and your profile is removed from the public website. Tier Three offenders cannot petition unless they obtain a pardon or similar relief.
State and National Resources
The California Department of Justice oversees the statewide sex offender registry. Visit oag.ca.gov/sex-offender-reg for forms, FAQs, and policy information. You can download an Application for Exclusion from Internet Disclosure if you qualify. The DOJ also publishes statistics on total registrants and how they are categorized. Processing exclusion applications takes 30 to 90 days or longer.
For inmates in state custody, use the California Incarcerated Records and Information Search at ciris.mt.cdcr.ca.gov. Search by name or CDCR number to find current location, admission date, and parole hearing dates. This helps you know when someone will be released and required to register in Kern County or another location.
The National Sex Offender Public Website at nsopw.gov searches all state registries. Use it to check if someone has a registration history in another state before moving to California. The federal site combines data from every jurisdiction. It is free and does not require a login. The U.S. Department of Justice runs the site.
Legal aid organizations in Kern County can help with registration questions or petitions. Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance and California Rural Legal Assistance serve the area. Call their intake lines to see if you qualify for free services. Private attorneys also handle sex offender registry cases. Expect to pay for a consultation and legal work if you hire a lawyer.
Cities in Kern County
Kern County includes one major city over 100,000 population:
Other communities in Kern County register through the sheriff's office in Bakersfield.
Nearby Counties
For sex offender information in adjacent counties, see:
Tulare County | Kings County | San Luis Obispo County | Ventura County | Los Angeles County