Kern County
status
Discussed at Board of Supervisors · 2020-10-01
The Kern County Board of Supervisors established the Kern Countywide Oversight Board (Community Advisory Council) in October 2020 under a 2020 California DOJ stipulated judgment, not as a voluntary AB 1185 ordinance. The DOJ judgment was extended in 2024–2025 due to continued non-compliance by the Sheriff's Office. No independent AB 1185 ordinance has been identified.
Source: Kern Countywide Oversight Board — Meeting Information
What is AB 1185?
AB 1185 (2020) added California Government Code § 25303.7. It lets a California county establish civilian oversight of its sheriff — a sheriff oversight board, an Office of Inspector General, or both — either by action of the Board of Supervisors or by a vote of county residents.
The law is permissive, not a mandate: each county decides whether to create one. Where a county does, the Board of Supervisors may grant the body subpoena power.
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| Sworn officers | 975 | (44%) |
|---|---|---|
| Custody officers | 833 | (38%) |
| Civilian staff | 402 | (18%) |
| Total | 2,210 |
| Facility | Beds |
|---|---|
| Lerdo Pre-Trial Facility | 1,336 |
| Kern County Justice Facility | 796 |
| Lerdo Minimum Facility | 792 |
| Lerdo Maximum/Medium | 408 |
| Central Receiving Facility | 292 |
Civil Grand Jury investigations (5)
The Kern County Civil Grand Jury is required by Penal Code §919(b) to inquire annually into the condition of county jails, which the sheriff operates. Reports below investigate the sheriff's office, jails, deaths in custody, deputy conduct, or related matters. Sourced from civilgrandjury.org/kern.
- Report - Kern County Sheriffs Office Property Room
- Report: Kern County Sheriff's Work Release Program
- Report: Kern County Sheriff's Office / Coroners Office - 21st Century Facility For 21st Century Demands (website Only)
- Report: California Attorney General v. Kern County Sheriff's Office
- Report: Kern County Sheriffs Office Property & Evidence Facility
Statewide oversight reports on the sheriff or jails (7)
Reports from California state-level oversight bodies — auditors, inspectors, boards, and commissions — that mention Kern County in the context of the sheriff's office, jails, custody, deputies, or use-of-force.
- BSCC 1000+ Kern County Sheriff's Office Comp Inspection Rpt 23-24 I II CH THJ
- BSCC 1000+ Kern County Sheriff's Office Initial Inspection Rpt 23-24 II
- BSCC Kern County_Detention Facilities Inspection Report 20-22 Adult
- BSCC Kern County_Detention Facilities Inspection Report 20-22 Corrective Action
- BSCC Kern County_Detention Facilities Inspection Report 18-20 Adult
- BSCC Kern County_Taft Police Department Jail Inspection Report 16-18 TI
- BSCC Kern County_Detention Facilities Inspection Report 16-18 Adult