During the Kern County Board of Supervisors meeting, the Public Health Department gave an update on inspections conducted at detention centers in Kern County and on the county’s authority. Ultimately, Public Health Director Brynn Carrigan stated that while they can inspect the centers if let in, they do not have the authority to enforce anything.
She stated that in 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1132, which amended Health and Safety Code 101045 to authorize county health officers to investigate private detention centers but does not grant the county enforcement authority. Carriagan stated that instead, they have to submit a report to the Board of State and Community Corrections.
Community members still urged the county to move forward with inspections of the detention centers, emphasizing that Kern County is home to half of California’s detention centers. Magdalena Lopez stated that the county’s inability to enforce the inspection findings is not a valid reason not to go.
“That is a cop out. Even if you yourself cannot do something about the inspection doesn’t mean that there doesn’t need to be a paper trail, right? We talk about government is big on black and white. Make sure it’s written down, right? So do that. Do that part. We can figure out as we go along, what more can we do,” said Lopez. “But like, take that step at a minimum. Don’t just not take that step just because you’re like, well, there’s nothing I can do. Write it down.”
Carrigan stated that a team from the public health department conducted inspections at the California City Detention Center on three different days in 2026 for the various permits that the detention center has. Their inspections do not include speaking to any detainees, reviewing medical records, or evaluating clinical care.
For operating as a food facility, they were inspected on January 15, March 17, and June 15; no violations were observed in the latest inspection, according to Carrigan. They were inspected as a small quantity hazardous waste generator on June 18, and two moderate violations were observed. On June 18, they were also inspected as a business plan where four minor violations were observed. Lastly, on June 18, they were inspected as an above-ground storage tank; one minor violation was observed. All, except the food facility, were noted in the presentation as being inspected once every three years.
Golden State Annex was inspected as a food facility on September 9, 2025, and January 9, 2026, where one non-critical violation was observed. Central Valley Annex was inspected as a food facility on September 23, 2026, April 27, 2026, and June 25, 2026, when one non-critical violation was observed. Mesa Verde was inspected as a food facility on September 3, 2025, February 27, 2026, and June 2026, when no violations were observed.
Emma De La Rosa gave public comment and stated that she believes there is a lack of transparency in the report from the public health department and asked for the report to be made available to the public.
“I think it’s also a little, there’s a lack of transparency in the sense that the minor violations that were recorded were not described during this meeting. There should be information shared with the public as to what those minor violations are, regardless of how minor those are. And lastly, I’d like to request that the report that needs to be submitted to the Board of State and Community Corrections be provided to the public as well, be added to the minutes for this agenda item, so that the public has the ability to review the report,” said De La Rosa.
Several community members spoke during public comment and asked the supervisors to visit the California City Detention Center; some noted that District Two Supervisor Chris Parlier was not present for the meeting despite the detention center being in his district. Community member Alicia Huerta stated after the meeting that she believes Parlier is aware of the complaints against the detention center and that it is unfortunate he was not present to “hear the community’s outcry for help.”
District Five Supervisor Leticia Perez said after the public comment that she found it “astonishing” that Parlier was not present, adding that she plans to visit the California City Detention Center and will ask him to join her.
“So then I can plan with a group that’s here today to go out to Cal City. I can invite the supervisor who’s absent today and see how he feels about it. But I’m certainly, I am more than happy to be a facilitator and to try to help bring some clarity here because I’m confused as well, to be honest, and I’d like to look through more specifically these reports. I don’t know what the county can do more from its bureaucratic abilities. What I’m hearing from the public is they want to see their elected officials give a darn. That’s what I’m feeling from the community.”
Another point two community members made was that if a crime is committed within the detention centers, the local police department or sheriff’s office will respond, and that it should be no different for the health department.
Eddy Laine mentioned a Bakersfield Police report from May 2025 where they investigated a broken finger at Mesa Verde.
“Did the City of Bakersfield take seriously a report of a broken finger? Yes. Did the City of Bakersfield consider the health and safety of this detainee? Yes,” said Laine. “For months and months, the County of Kern has received reports, repeated reports, regarding a lack of basic medical care in California City’s ICE Detention Center, individuals passing out from lack of necessary medication, including one passing out because of epileptic seizures, reports of unsanitary drinking water, reports of rats and cells, a report of untreated cataracts, leaving a detainee nearly blind, a report of an untreated and painful hernia. The list goes on and on. The response? Passing the buck.”
Prior to public comment, Perez asked Carrigan if they had been in contact with the attorney general about his reports on the detention centers, and Carrigan stated they had not been. Abby Power asked during public comment that the board of supervisors start the conversation with federal agencies to address enforcement.
“Can we start a conversation with the federal agencies who are in charge of oversight and enforcement? Because this is happening in our county. People have died in detention centers in California, and if we know about this, we have a responsibility to do something about it,” said Power. “All of us here as residents, we’re trying to use our limited power to get to talk to someone who has more power, and you all do have a lot of power to work with these federal agencies, and I’m just urging you to do that, to start those conversations and to see what can be done.”
She added that it is not fair for those living in the detention centers and that there needs to be change.
“These conditions need to change. It is not humane. It’s not fair for people to be living in these conditions, to be scared for their lives, for surviving it. So please do whatever you can to work with the federal agencies to actually enact oversight and enforcement,” said Power.
