BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — After years of struggling with a lack of jail bed space that led to early releases for countless low-level criminals in Bakersfield, the City Council is set to discuss potential policy decisions during its regular Wednesday meeting.
The City Council is expected to make requests to city staff for future action after discussing the following policy considerations, according to the meeting agenda:
Liability and risk exposure
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The meeting is scheduled to begin at 5:15 p.m. Oct. 21 at 1501 Truxtun Ave.
While Bakersfield has seen significant reductions in violent crimes over the past five years, quality-of-life crimes — such as vandalism, theft, littering and more — are still a point of concern, according to city officials.
According to officials, the city makes about 400 arrests per month in relation to such crimes.
However, over 80% of the chronic low-level offenders booked into Kern County jail are released within 12 hours, the agenda said.
“They are not receiving treatment. They are not facing consequences for quality-of-life crimes. This is not an enforcement issue,” officials said in the agenda. “This is an accountability issue in our criminal justice system.”
The lack of jail bed space was identified as the “major gap” in creating accountability in the city’s criminal justice system, according to the report.
After several discussions and a failed effort to reach a solution for more jail bed space with the county, the city created a Jail Bed Task Force in September 2025 — spearheaded by Councilman Bob Smith.
The task force held public forums in the following months to identify challenges, past and ongoing efforts for improvement and potential solutions, according to officials.
City staff also researched jailing in other California cities and counties to understand challenges, opportunities and best practices, the agenda read.
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