Recent California Court Cases
Most recent California court filings indexed in the Open Public Records database. Each case links to a public-record summary with docket details and parties.
| Docket | Parties | Indexed |
|---|---|---|
| Bankruptcy26-02023-CL7 | Michael E Fleury, Jr. | 05/09/2026 |
| Bankruptcy26-02024-7 | Corina Santiago | 05/09/2026 |
| Bankruptcy26-02025-CL7 | Luis Angel Villasenor and Nora Evelyn Villasenor | 05/09/2026 |
| Bankruptcy26-02033-7 | Steven Ryan Basurto | 05/09/2026 |
| Bankruptcy26-02034-CL7 | Kayce Lee Rowan | 05/09/2026 |
| Civil26-02035-CL13 | Jeanne L. Wilson | 05/09/2026 |
| Bankruptcy22-00389-7 | Kia, Incorporated | 05/09/2026 |
| Bankruptcy26-00525-CL7 | Laura Tonett Budzynski | 05/09/2026 |
| Bankruptcy26-00525-CL7 | Laura Tonett Budzynski | 05/09/2026 |
| Civil24-02202-CL11 | The Roman Catholic Bishop of San Diego | 05/09/2026 |
| Bankruptcy26-01278-CL7 | Latonda Erica Eastman | 05/09/2026 |
| Bankruptcy26-01123-7 | Mariah Adelgais | 05/09/2026 |
Crime statistics · Taft, CA · FBI UCR 2024
Reported offenses for the Taft jurisdiction, total population 9552. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program.
| Violent crimes | Property crimes |
|---|---|
|
Total: 83 Murder & non-negligent manslaughter: 0 Rape: 6 Robbery: 8 Aggravated assault: 71 |
Total: 405 Burglary: 105 Larceny / theft: 297 Motor-vehicle theft: 43 Arson: 7 |
Reporting period: calendar year 2024. Numbers reflect offenses known to law-enforcement agencies serving Taft.
California Public Records Act
Records held by Taft city offices, the Kern County Sheriff, and the Kern County Superior Court are subject to the California Public Records Act (Cal. Gov. Code § 7920 et seq.). Agencies must respond within 10 calendar days. Booking photos and arrest information are public per Sacramento Bee v. Yuba County and Penal Code § 13300. Body-cam footage related to officer-involved shootings is releasable within 45 days under SB 1421 and AB 748.
Where to file a records request in Taft
Police records: file with the Taft Police Department or via the Kern County Sheriff for unincorporated areas.
Court records: Kern County Superior Court handles criminal, civil, family, and probate matters. Felonies and most misdemeanors flow through the Superior Court system.
Booking and inmate records: Kern County Sheriff publishes a public inmate roster including booking photos and charges.
Common Questions
Answers verified against official agency websites and state statutes.
How do I run a background check in Kern? ▼
Background checks for Kern County, California go through state-level agencies, not the county. Two paths: (1) California DOJ criminal history record review (your own record only) at https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints. Get a Live Scan fingerprint capture at any local vendor — Bakersfield area has many: KCSO Live Scan station, IdentoGO, Certifix, A1 Live Scan. Find a vendor at https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/locations. Complete BCIA 8016RR form, pay $25 California DOJ state fee plus a rolling fee (typically $20–$50). For an FBI national check, add the federal fee. Fee waiver at https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/record-review/fee-waiver. Turnaround 5–10 business days; results mailed only. (2) Court records (third-party visible): Kern County Courts portal at https://portal.kern.courts.ca.gov/ and Case Information…
How do I find a probated will in Bakersfield? ▼
A probated will in Bakersfield, California is filed at the Kern County Superior Court, Probate Division — 2100 College Ave, Bakersfield CA 93305, phone (661) 868-7311 (probate). When a will is filed for probate, it becomes a public record. Three steps: (1) Find the case via Kern Superior Court Case Information Search at https://www.kern.courts.ca.gov/online-services/case-information-search — free name search by decedent's name. Search returns the case number, executor/administrator, asset summary, and document docket. (2) Order a copy from the Clerk's office at the Probate Court — certified copy fee $40 first 5 pages + $0.50 each additional page (Cal. Gov. Code § 70626); non-certified $0.50 per page. Search-record fee $50 for archived files. The court also charges a search reques…
Where do recent arrests show up in Boron? ▼
Boron is an unincorporated community in Kern County's high desert, so all arrests flow through the Kern County Sheriff's Office (KCSO). Sources, in order of speed: (1) KCSO Inmate Information at https://www.kernsheriff.org/Inmate_Info — searchable list of current detainees with booking number, holding jail, bail amount, release date. Sortable by booking number (newest first) at https://www.kernsheriff.org/Inmate_Info?sortby=booking-number-descending. (2) KCSO Inmate Search at https://www.kernsheriff.org/inmate_search — name-based lookup. Note (effective June 1, 2025): all physical personal mail for incarcerated individuals is scanned and distributed digitally on the inmate kiosk. (3) Kern County Courts portal at https://portal.kern.courts.ca.gov/ — KCSO recommends this for up-to-date cas…
How do I look up property records in Lost Hills? ▼
Lost Hills is an unincorporated community in Kern County's western edge, so property records run through the county. (1) Kern County Assessor-Recorder — main office at 1530 Truxtun Ave, Bakersfield CA 93301, phone (661) 868-3485, https://www.kerncounty.com/government/departments/assessor-recorder. The combined Assessor-Recorder office handles BOTH parcel valuation AND deed recording. (2) Recorded Documents Index at https://recorderonline.co.kern.ca.us/ — free public access to Official Records, Marriage Records, and Death Records. (3) Recording fees (per the Kern Recorder Fee Schedule and Cal. Gov. Code § 27361 et seq.): Deeds: $13 first page (8.5x11) + $3 each additional page; +$75 SB 2 fee per document for non-exempt real estate transfers; for the typical 1-page deed, plan on ~$…
How do I run a background check in Kern? ▼
Background checks for Kern County, California go through state-level agencies, not the county. Two paths: (1) California DOJ criminal history record review (your own record only) at https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints. Get a Live Scan fingerprint capture at any local vendor — the Bakersfield area has many: KCSO Live Scan station, IdentoGO, Certifix, A1 Live Scan, etc. Find a vendor at https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/locations. Complete BCIA 8016RR form, pay $25 California DOJ state fee plus a rolling fee (typically $20–$50). For an FBI national check, add the federal fee. Fee waiver at https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/record-review/fee-waiver. Turnaround 5–10 business days; results mailed only. (2) Court records (third-party visible): Kern County Courts portal at https://portal.kern.courts.ca.gov/ and Case In…
How do I look up an arrest in Kern? ▼
There's no single master arrest list in California. Records sit with the agency that made the arrest. In Kern County, that means Kern County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) for unincorporated areas + all county jail bookings, OR a city police department for arrests inside a city's limits (Bakersfield, Delano, Ridgecrest, California City, Tehachapi, Wasco, Arvin, Shafter, Taft, McFarland). Three quick lookups: (1) KCSO Inmate Information at https://www.kernsheriff.org/Inmate_Info — current detainees, booking number, charges, holding jail, bail, release date. Name search at https://www.kernsheriff.org/inmate_search. (2) Kern County Courts portal at https://portal.kern.courts.ca.gov/ for case info once charges are filed; free public Case Information Search at https://www.kern.courts.ca.gov/online-s…