2025-2026 Riverside County Civil Grand Jury Report: After a Decade of Record Deaths in County Jails, the Community

R1

(Finding 1) The Riverside County Board of Supervisors shall, within eighteen months from July 1, 2026, establish an independent civilian oversight body pursuant to AB 1185 with:  Subpoena authority or equivalent investigatory access  Independent budget and staffing  Authority to review critical incidents and in-custody deaths  Public reporting requirements  Defined appointment and vetting procedures  Protection from removal without cause Fiscal Impact: Based on comparable AB 1185 oversight bodies, annual operating costs are estimated between $2.5 million and $6.5 million, with initial startup costs of $500K to $1.2 million.23 Larger jurisdictions such as Los Angeles County maintain dedicated oversight commissions and inspector general functions with dozens of staff positions supporting investigative and auditing capacity.24

R2

(Finding 2) Within eighteen months of July 1, 2026, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office shall retain an independent correctional health and custodial operations expert to conduct a comprehensive audit of intake screening, medical and mental health services, supervision protocols, and emergency response procedures related to in-custody deaths. The audit findings and corrective action plan shall be publicly reported within ninety days of completion. Fiscal Impact: Independent correctional audits are estimated to cost $250K to $750K, with optional follow-up monitoring costs of $100K to $300K annually depending on scope and duration.

R3

(Finding 3) Within eighteen months of the creation of independent oversight per AB 1185, all in-custody deaths and critical incidents shall be reviewed by an independent entity separate from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, with written findings issued and publicly released in compliance with applicable privacy laws. Fiscal Impact: If incorporated into the oversight body, estimated annual costs range from $500K to $1.5 million. Jurisdictions utilizing independent investigative models incur higher costs due to staffing of attorneys, investigators, and forensic experts. County of Los Angeles, Recommended Budget 2025–2026, including staffing allocations for the Civilian Oversight Commission and Office of Inspector General. Assembly Bill 1185 Implementation Report (Alameda County), citing NACOLE survey data indicating most oversight bodies operate at or below 0.5% of agency budgets. 18

R4

(Finding 4) Within eighteen months as of July 1, 2026, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office shall implement a publicly accessible quarterly reporting dashboard that includes:  In-custody deaths (with classification)  Use-of-force incidents  Suicide attempts and medical emergencies  Grievance volume and disposition  Staffing levels  Compliance status with Title 15 and Title 24 standards Fiscal Impact: Estimated one-time development costs of $150K to $400K, with ongoing maintenance costs of $75K to $200K annually, consistent with transparency systems implemented in comparable counties.

R5

(Finding 5) Within eighteen months as of July 1, 2026, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office shall publish a five-year strategic plan for jail operations that includes measurable performance benchmarks, data transparency goals, compliance auditing procedures, and interagency coordination protocols. Fiscal Impact: Estimated one-time cost of $100K to $300K, primarily for consulting and staff time.

R6

(Finding 6) Within eighteen months as of July 1, 2026 the Riverside County Board of Supervisors shall develop and adopt a countywide RCSO oversight and accountability framework defining:  Oversight authority boundaries  Reporting obligations  Data transparency requirements  Budgetary review standards  Interdepartmental coordination roles Fiscal Impact: Estimated one-time cost of $75K to $250K, with minimal ongoing costs absorbed within existing administrative functions.

R7

(Finding 7) The RCSO shall dissolve the Sheriff’s Advisory Committee and replace it with a formally authorized civilian oversight body meeting the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement’s best-practice standards within twelve months as of July 1, 2026. Fiscal Impact: No significant independent cost. Fiscal impact is incorporated within Recommendation 1.

R8

(Finding 8) The County of Riverside shall formally review and adopt the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement’s best-practice standards as the operational framework for civilian oversight, incorporating independence, authority, transparency, community engagement, and investigatory capacity principles within eighteen months as of July 1, 2026. Fiscal Impact: Estimated cost of $25K to $75K for training, policy alignment, and implementation support.

R9

(Finding 9) The Board of Supervisors shall exercise its statutory authority under AB 1185 to implement independent oversight of all RCSO operations, irrespective of policy disagreements, and shall publicly affirm its governance responsibility for accountability of said operations within eighteen months as of July 1, 2026. Fiscal Impact: No direct fiscal impact beyond those identified above. TABLE 4 FISCAL IMPACT ANALYSIS OF RECOMMENDATIONS Recommendation One-Time Cost Annual Cost Notes Rec. 1 $500K–$1.2M $2.5–$6.5M Full oversight body Rec. 2 $250K–$750K $100K–$300K Audit Rec. 3 $500K–$1.5M Independent review Rec. 4 $150K–$400K $75K–$200K Dashboard Rec. 5 $100K–$300K Minimal Strategic plan Rec. 6 $75K–$250K Minimal Framework Rec. Negligible Included Replacement Rec. 8 $25K–$75K Minimal NACOLE Rec. None None Policy only 20