State Conducts Scheduled Audit of Riverside County's Jails

In June 2015, the State of California's Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) concluded its mandated Biennial Inspection of all Riverside County Jail Facilities. These scheduled audits of the jail system have been ongoing as mandated by state law since 1971. The State of California provides specific direction and legal oversight of all jail systems in California's 58 counties. The BSCC is an independent statutory agency that provides leadership to the adult and juvenile criminal justice systems, expertise on Public Safety Realignment issues, a data and information clearinghouse, and technical assistance on a wide range of community corrections issues. In addition, the BSCC disseminates regulations for adult and juvenile detention facilities, conducts regular inspections of those facilities, develops standards for the selection and training of local corrections and probation officers, and administers significant public safety-related grant funding. Locally, BSCC provided $100 million in grant funding for the new East County Detention Center (ECDC) now under construction in Indio. The comprehensive inspections include visits to each of Riverside County's jails and court holding facilities. The state evaluates the physical structure, space allocation, living conditions, safety and security, and medical and mental health services for the inmates, assuring that all state standards are being followed. These standards are described in detail in Title 15 and Title 24 of the Code of Regulations (Title 15 defines minimum standards for inmate programs, services, facility safety and security, and medical and mental health services. Title 24 outlines the precise requirements for the design and construction of detention/jail facilities). The inspectors also audited all jail policies and procedures, security logs, incident reports, and staffing levels to ensure state minimum standards are being met or exceeded. In the resulting inspection report, the BSCC noted the lack of adequate jail staffing, an issue the Sheriff has repeatedly made known to the Board of Supervisors over the past few years. The report also noted the jail system continues to operate above its rated capacity. However, the BSCC also applauded the Department's efforts in creatively dealing in a variety of areas with the overcrowding challenges in Riverside County. Finally, the BSCC report praised the Sheriff's Inmate Training and Education Bureau (SITE-B), which provides inmate programs at all five of Riverside County jails. The BSCC representative reported that they were pleased to see the evidence-based practices and programs that the Riverside County Sheriff's Department has been expanding since AB 109 took effect in 2011, which meet the ultimate goal of reducing recidivism and achieving measurable outcomes to ensure any services provided and the resources used are effective.