RivCo Jail Deaths Declining, New Report

Riverside County jail deaths begins to show signs of decline, report says

RIVERSIDE — Following a 1reported increase in in-custody deaths over a 10-year period, the number of people who died in the custody of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department dropped precipitously — nearly 58% from 2021 through 2024, according to a report released Friday, Sept. 12.

In its report “Riverside Lives Lost,” the nonprofit Care First California — a coalition of community organizations that advocates for carceral reforms — categorized in-custody deaths as those occurring during arrest, while a detainee was enroute to jail and in jail. Data was gleaned from the state Department of Justice and Board of State and Community Corrections.

Sheriff Chad Bianco could not immediately be reached for comment.

From 2012 through 2024, 251 people — an average of 19 a year — died in the custody of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. Ninety-three percent of those who died had unresolved cases, including 87 inmates who were awaiting trial at the time they died, according to the report.

The report was produced in partnership with two community groups, Riverside Sheriff Accountability Coalition and No More Deaths in Custody.

Despite an average jail population of 3,752, the number of in-custody deaths increased by 182% from 2012  to 2021, the year with the highest number of reported deaths (33). And from 2014 through 2022, the pretrial population in the Riverside County jail system increased 89%, according to the report.

However, the number of in-custody deaths dropped by 58% from 2021 to 2024, according to the report.

The county has long-wrestled with civil rights lawsuits involving the Sheriff’s Department and paying out millions to settle cases. From 2014 to 2024, Riverside County paid nearly $100 million in settlements related to the Sheriff’s Department, according to the report. Bianco took office in 2019 after beating former Sheriff Stan Sniff,

Sheriff Chad Bianco in the past has said the spike in fentanyl-related deaths in the jails prompted department-wide staff training in the use of Narcan, which can quickly resuscitate those who overdose on fentanyl and other drugs, in all the jails. He said it has resulted in a significant decline in fentanyl overdoses in the jails.