Last Updated on: May 6, 2026
This page is for people leaving incarceration, their families, and case workers looking for reentry support in Bakersfield.
Bakersfield has several strong reentry resources for people with criminal records. Below you will find an updated list of all reentry tools, programs and resources. You will find support with housing, employment, legal aid, education, mental health, substance use counseling, and related reentry needs and more.
Notice: For statewide help and/or other California cities, see our full guide to Reentry Programs in California. You may also find our Reentry Survival Guide for Felons helpful.
List of Reentry Programs in Bakersfield, CA
Turning Point of Central California – Male Community Reentry Program (MCRP)
Address: 1100 Union Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Phone: (661) 861-6111
Best For: Men completing their sentences who need housing, job training, and substance abuse treatment in a residential setting.
What It Offers: The program provides transitional housing, employment placement, addiction treatment, and case management to help men successfully reintegrate into the community.
Bakersfield Reentry Center
Address: 1101 Union Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Phone: (661) 447-4666
Best For: Federal and state-referred individuals seeking comprehensive reentry services.
What It Offers: This 35-bed facility offers food, shelter, job placement, family reunification, medical and dental services, counseling, and drug and alcohol abuse treatment.
Female Community Reentry Program (FCRP) – Bakersfield
Address: 1932 Jesse Street, Bakersfield, CA 93305
Phone: (661) 447-4666
Best For: Women completing their sentences in Kern County who need rehabilitation services, education, and job training.
What It Offers: The FCRP provides a 75-bed facility where women can serve the final portion of their sentence while receiving substance abuse treatment, employment services, mental health support, and family reunification help.
Casa Aurora – Custody to Community Transitional Reentry Program (CCTRP)
Address: 1932 Jesse Street, Bakersfield, CA 93305
Phone: (661) 447-4666
Best For: Women approaching release who need transitional housing and reentry preparation.
What It Offers: This program allows women to complete their sentences in a community-based setting with on-site support, workshops, and referrals to employment, housing, and rehabilitation services.
California Reentry Program
Address: Statewide resource (offices in Bakersfield available)
Phone: Contact through website
Best For: People incarcerated in California prisons seeking pre- and post-release education and resource connections.
What It Offers: The program provides education, resource navigation, and support to reduce recidivism for individuals preparing for or managing reentry.
Halfway Houses and Transitional Housing in Bakersfield
Stable housing is one of the biggest reentry needs in Kern County. Some programs provide transitional housing directly, while others connect people to shelters, sober living, supportive housing, or coordinated entry services.
For a larger housing guide, visit Felon Friendly Apartments & Housing – How to Find Housing With a Criminal Record.
Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center
Address: 200 19th Street, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Phone: (661) 325-8626
Best For: People with alcohol and drug addiction who need drug-free residential treatment and housing.
What It Offers: The Salvation Army provides no-fee residential rehabilitation programs with Christian counseling, life skills training, job readiness classes, meals, and transitional housing.
The Mission at Kern County – Christian Life Discipleship Program
Address: 816 E. 21st Street, Bakersfield, CA 93304
Phone: (661) 325-0863
Best For: Men and women experiencing homelessness or substance abuse who need long-term residential support.
What It Offers: The 18-month program includes dormitory-style housing, Christian counseling, spiritual-based addiction recovery, meals, clothing, hot showers, medical/dental/mental health clinics, and life management skills training.
The Mission at Kern County – Lee and Krystyna Jamieson Recovery Home
Address: 816 E. 21st Street, Bakersfield, CA 93304
Phone: (661) 325-0863
Best For: Women with children experiencing homelessness and needing safe shelter and supportive services.
What It Offers: The program provides emergency shelter, case management, counseling, and support services for women and their children.
Housing Solutions for People With Criminal Records in Bakersfield/Kern County
Housing can be difficult with a felony record, especially when landlords use background checks. Do not pay application fees until you ask whether felony records are automatic denials or reviewed individually.
For more help, read Felon Friendly Apartments & Housing – How to Find Housing With a Criminal Record. You may also want to review our guide to Public Housing for Felons.
Housing Authority of the County of Kern
Address: Multiple locations throughout Kern County
Phone: (661) 631-8500
Best For: Low-income individuals and families seeking affordable rental housing throughout Kern County.
What It Offers: The Housing Authority provides affordable apartments, Project-Based Voucher programs, and supportive housing for formerly homeless persons, including units in Bakersfield like 6th Street Apartments and 889 Oak Street.
2-1-1 Kern County Information & Referral Line
Address: Countywide resource (Call or visit website)
Phone: 2-1-1 or (661) 398-4520
Best For: Anyone needing information on housing, food, healthcare, employment, and all community services.
What It Offers: 2-1-1 connects you to housing programs, emergency shelter, transitional housing, supportive services, and other community resources available in Kern County.
Kern County Department of Human Services (KCDHS)
Address: 100 E. California Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93307
Phone: (661) 631-6000
Best For: People needing CalFresh, Medicaid, CalWORKs, housing assistance, and emergency support services.
What It Offers: KCDHS administers CalFresh, CalWORKs, emergency assistance, housing programs, and connections to supportive services for people with criminal records.
Emergency Food, Clothing, and Basic Needs
If you just got out of jail or prison and need food, clothing, hygiene items, emergency shelter, or benefits, start with these resources.
For more options, read Emergency Financial Help for Felons. You can also check whether you qualify for Food Stamps (SNAP) as a Felon.
CAPK Food Bank (Wonderful Community Food Center)
Address: Countywide (200+ access points throughout Kern County)
Phone: 2-1-1 or (661) 398-4520
Best For: People experiencing food insecurity seeking emergency food assistance.
What It Offers: The CAPK Food Bank distributes emergency food through 42 EFAP sites, 113 pantry sites, and 35 Commodity Supplemental Food Program sites for seniors, plus free farmers market produce.
First Congregational Church Food Pantry
Address: 5 Real Road, Bakersfield, CA 93309
Phone: No phone registration needed (Walk-ins welcome)
Best For: Anyone needing emergency food assistance without registration requirements.
What It Offers: The FCC Food Pantry distributes free groceries to over 800 people weekly on Wednesdays from 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM.
St. Vincent de Paul
Address: 316 Baker Street, Bakersfield, CA 93305
Phone: (661) 323-2942
Best For: People needing emergency assistance with food, clothing, rent, or utilities.
What It Offers: St. Vincent de Paul provides emergency food baskets, clothing, emergency furniture assistance, and rent/utility help as funds are available.
Kern County Department of Human Services – Food and Benefits
Address: Multiple county locations
Phone: (661) 631-6000 or 1-800-690-1997
Best For: People applying for CalFresh (SNAP), emergency assistance, or basic needs support.
What It Offers: KCDHS administers CalFresh, emergency food stamps, WIC, housing assistance, and referrals to food pantries and services.
The Mission at Kern County – Overnight Shelter & Daily Services
Address: 816 E. 21st Street, Bakersfield, CA 93304
Phone: (661) 325-0863
Best For: Homeless men needing emergency shelter, meals, and access to case management.
What It Offers: The Mission provides overnight shelter (240 beds), three meals daily (500 served), clothing, hot showers, medical/dental/mental health clinics, and job readiness training.
Free or Low Cost Healthcare and Mental Health Help
Many people coming home from jail or prison need medication, therapy, addiction treatment, dental care, mental health care, or a primary doctor. These Bakersfield resources may help. You can also read our guide to Health Insurance for Felons for more coverage options.
Kern Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (KernBHRS)
Address: 1401 L Street, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Phone: (661) 868-8080 or 24-hour SUD Access Line: 1 (866) 266-4898
Best For: People with mental illness, substance use disorders, or co-occurring conditions needing comprehensive behavioral health services.
What It Offers: KernBHRS provides outpatient counseling, medication management, crisis intervention, substance abuse treatment, mobile crisis response, and supportive housing services.
Bakersfield Recovery Station – Telecare
Address: 312 Kentucky Street, Bakersfield, CA 93305
Phone: (661) 336-6400
Best For: Adults with intoxication, mental health, and substance use crises who need immediate screening and referral.
What It Offers: The Recovery Station provides screening, crisis stabilization, linkage to ongoing substance abuse and mental health services, and warm hand-offs to community providers.
Turning Point of Central California – Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Address: 1100 Union Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Phone: (661) 861-6111
Best For: People struggling with addiction and mental health issues needing comprehensive treatment.
What It Offers: Turning Point provides detoxification, residential treatment, outpatient counseling, medication-assisted treatment, psychiatric evaluations, and group therapy.
Clinica Sierra Vista – Healthcare
Address: Multiple locations in Bakersfield and Kern County
Phone: (661) 327-4325
Best For: Uninsured and underinsured individuals and families needing affordable primary care and mental health services.
What It Offers: Clinica Sierra Vista provides primary medical care, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, dental care, and specialty services on a sliding fee scale.
SAMHSA National Helpline
Address: National phone and referral service
Phone: 1-800-662-4357
Best For: Substance abuse and mental health treatment referrals nationwide
What It Offers: SAMHSA provides free, confidential referrals to local treatment providers for mental health and substance abuse needs.
Legal Help, Expungement, and Documents
Legal help can make a major difference after incarceration. People may need help clearing records, reducing charges, getting IDs, handling warrants, dealing with child support, fixing tickets, or understanding employment rights. For more on record clearing, see our Felony Expungement & Sealing Information. You may also find our guides to Background Check Laws and Seven Year Background Check States helpful.
Kern County Public Defender – Clean Slate Program
Address: 1315 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301 (multiple branch offices)
Phone: (661) 868-4799
Best For: People who cannot afford a lawyer and need help with expungement and record clearing.
What It Offers: Clean Slate is a free, confidential program that helps people clean up and expunge their criminal records, improving access to jobs and housing.
California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA)
Address: Multiple locations including Bakersfield
Phone: (661) 325-5341 (Bakersfield); Delano: (661) 725-4350; Arvin: (661) 854-3839
Best For: Low-income agricultural workers and rural residents needing free legal aid.
What It Offers: CRLA provides free legal assistance including expungement help, immigration services, family law, housing rights, and employment law.
Bakersfield Community Legal Services
Address: Multiple locations in Bakersfield
Phone: (661) 329-6644
Best For: Low-income individuals needing affordable legal representation and advice.
What It Offers: The organization provides legal aid for expungement, family law, housing disputes, benefits appeals, and other civil legal matters.
Kern County Superior Court – Truxtun Avenue
Address: 1415 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Phone: (661) 868-6600
Best For: Filing expungement petitions and handling criminal record clearing in Kern County.
What It Offers: The court processes expungement petitions under California Penal Code 1203.4 and AB 1076 Clean Slate laws.
Employment Help for Felons in Bakersfield
Finding work with a felony record is one of the biggest reentry challenges. These Bakersfield organizations help with job readiness, placement, skills training, and employer connections. For a broader list, read our guide to Jobs For Felons & Companies.
America’s Job Center of Kern (AJCC)
Address: Multiple locations throughout Kern County
Phone: (661) 839-6500
Best For: Job seekers needing free employment services, career planning, and job placement.
What It Offers: AJCC provides job search assistance, resume workshops, interview training, skills assessments, job matching, and referrals to training programs.
Bakersfield Adult School – Career Resource Department
Address: Multiple locations in Bakersfield
Phone: (661) 322-7492
Best For: In-school youth (16-18) and out-of-school young adults (18-24) seeking job training and employment.
What It Offers: The department provides free job training, career development, paid work experience, employer connections, and stipends for program completion.
Bakersfield Youth Jobs Program (BYJP)
Address: City Hall and nonprofit partner locations in Bakersfield
Phone: Contact through Kern Community Foundation
Best For: Youth ages 16-30 seeking paid internships, apprenticeships, and career pathway development.
What It Offers: The program offers paid summer internships, paid apprenticeships, paid fellowships with City departments, nonprofit internships, and comprehensive career development.
CSU Bakersfield Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Address: California State University, Bakersfield
Phone: (661) 654-3073
Best For: People interested in starting their own business or becoming self-employed.
What It Offers: The SBDC provides free one-on-one business consulting, training workshops, and mentorship for entrepreneurs.
Substance Abuse and Addiction Treatment
Recovery is possible, and treatment can make a major difference in successful reentry. Many programs accept Medicaid, sliding scales, or offer free services.
Kern Behavioral Health and Recovery Services – Substance Use Disorder Treatment
Address: 1401 L Street, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Phone: 24-hour SUD Access Line: 1 (866) 266-4898
Best For: Adults and youth with substance use disorders needing assessment, treatment planning, and ongoing care.
What It Offers: KernBHRS provides outpatient counseling, residential treatment, medication-assisted treatment (methadone, buprenorphine), and specialized services for pregnant and parenting clients.
Gateway Services – Substance Abuse Screening and Referral
Address: Multiple Gatekeeper locations in Kern County
Phone: 1 (866) 266-4898 (24 hours a day)
Best For: People needing substance abuse screening and connection to appropriate treatment level.
What It Offers: Gateway Services provides free assessments and referrals to outpatient, intensive outpatient, residential, and inpatient substance abuse programs.
Aegis Medical Systems Inc – Methadone and Detox Services
Address: 1018 21st Street, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Phone: (661) 327-2225
Best For: People with opioid addiction needing methadone maintenance or detoxification.
What It Offers: Aegis provides methadone maintenance, methadone detoxification, and outpatient addiction counseling.
SAMHSA National Helpline
Address: National referral line
Phone: 1-800-662-4357
Best For: People who need free, confidential referrals to local substance abuse or mental health treatment
What It Offers: SAMHSA connects callers to treatment providers, support groups, and community-based organizations nationwide.
Family, Youth, and Community Support
Reentry affects families, children, and the whole community. These organizations may help with mentoring, family support, youth programs, community connection, and advocacy.
Wendale Davis Foundation – Mentoring and Support Services
Address: Multiple locations in Bakersfield (3501 Edison Hwy, 1330 3rd Street, 4201 Wilson Rd)
Phone: (661) 829-2038
Best For: At-risk youth (8-17), adults on probation, ex-offenders, and families needing mentorship and support.
What It Offers: The foundation provides youth mentoring, adult support groups, tutoring, recreational programs, and family outreach services.
Garden Pathways Inc. – Mentoring and Community Building
Address: Downtown Bakersfield
Phone: (661) 323-3533
Best For: Children, youth, ex-offenders, and families transitioning to self-sufficiency.
What It Offers: Garden Pathways offers comprehensive mentoring, family counseling, arts programming, education services, and support for formerly incarcerated individuals.
Stay Focused Ministries – Reach 4 Greatness (R4G) Mentoring
Address: Multiple locations in Bakersfield
Phone: Contact through website
Best For: At-risk youth (6-19) needing mentorship, job training, and community connections.
What It Offers: R4G matches youth with trained adult mentors, provides job shadowing, college visits, life skills training, and leadership development.
Community Empowerment Organization (CEO)
Address: Bakersfield
Phone: Contact through website
Best For: At-risk youth and families seeking mentoring, arts programs, and community service opportunities.
What It Offers: CEO provides youth mentoring, arts mentoring, community service learning, and family engagement programs.
Bakersfield Angels – Dare to Dream Mentoring
Address: Bakersfield
Phone: (661) 832-5437
Best For: Children, youth, and families needing one-on-one mentorship and support.
What It Offers: Bakersfield Angels provides mentoring relationships that help youth set and achieve goals, with mentors committing to at least one year of regular contact.
Kern Community Mentoring AmeriCorps
Address: Serves youth throughout Kern County including Arvin, Bakersfield, and Delano
Phone: Contact through website
Best For: Youth aged 6-25 in Kern County seeking structured mentoring and community support.
What It Offers: AmeriCorps members deliver structured mentoring including academic support, behavioral coaching, career preparation, community service, and leadership development.
Other Helpful Resources
These guides may also help if you are rebuilding your life in Bakersfield/Kern County:
Reentry Programs in California
Best For: Statewide reentry help
What It Offers: A larger list of California reentry programs, housing resources, job help, legal support, and basic needs resources.
Jobs For Felons & Companies
Best For: People looking for work with a criminal record
What It Offers: A list of companies and job types that may be more open to hiring people with felony convictions.
Felon Friendly Apartments & Housing
Best For: People who need housing after incarceration
What It Offers: Practical advice for finding apartments, asking about background checks, and locating housing options that may review applicants individually.
Emergency Financial Help for Felons
Best For: People who need immediate help with money, food, bills, or basic needs
What It Offers: Emergency assistance ideas and places to look for short-term help.
Grants for Felons
Best For: People looking for financial assistance to rebuild after incarceration
What It Offers: A guide to grants that may be available to people with felony records.
Scholarships for Felons
Best For: People with records who want to pursue education
What It Offers: A list of scholarships that may be available to formerly incarcerated people and those with criminal records.
Resources for Felons
Best For: General reentry help
What It Offers: A broader collection of resources for people with felony records.
What Makes a Good Reentry Program in Bakersfield?
A good reentry program should do more than hand you a phone number. Look for programs that offer direct help, clear intake steps, realistic services, and staff who understand criminal records.
Strong reentry programs usually help with:
- Housing or housing referrals
- Job readiness and employer connections
- Substance abuse or mental health support
- Legal aid or expungement referrals
- Identification documents
- Family reunification
- Case management
- Transportation or basic needs referrals
- Long-term support, not only one appointment
Tips for Choosing a Reentry Program in Bakersfield
Call before you go. Ask whether you need an appointment, ID, proof of release, probation paperwork, parole paperwork, Medicaid information, or referral documents.
Ask these questions:
- Do you work with people who have felony convictions?
- Do you help with housing, or only give referrals?
- Do you help people who are homeless right now?
- Do you help with jobs or only resume classes?
- Do you help with expungement or record clearing?
- Is there a waitlist?
- Do I need to live in Bakersfield/Kern County?
- Do you accept walk-ins?
- Are services free?
- What should I bring to my first appointment?
Disclaimer
This page is for general information only. Reentry program details, eligibility rules, phone numbers, locations, funding, and services can change at any time. Always contact the program directly before visiting. Help For Felons does not guarantee that any organization will accept you, provide housing, offer financial help, remove a criminal record, or place you in a job. This information is not legal advice. Program information on this page was gathered from official program websites, county and city sources, and direct program listings. If you find outdated or incorrect information, please contact us.
