BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The city of Bakersfield now has a potential starting date on when it can start using extra jail beds to hold chronic low-level offenders for longer periods, according to city officials.
The Jail Bed Task Force — created in September of 2025 in response to limited jail capacity leading to rapid releases of low-level offenders — met briefly at noon on Wednesday to discuss updates since its last report, covering topics of jail beds in Taft, partnership and funding options, wrap-around services and more.
Watch ‘After Sunrise’ on KGET+; Click to learn how to get KGET+ on your smart TV devices
On Jan. 21, the Bakersfield City Council asked city staff to work with the Taft Community Correctional Facility as a solution for more jail space.
The option to use Taft’s facility is estimated to cost the city about $7.5 million to operate 120 beds, 60 beds in each of the two dorm rooms, on top of about $250,000 to $500,000 to improve the facility…