LOS ANGELES—Social justice advocates in Riverside, California, are calling for an Independent Sheriff’s Oversight Committee, alleging its jails lead the state’s in-custody deaths.
The results have been a public health crisis, according to several groups, including Riverside All Of Us Or None, Starting Over Strong, Riverside Sheriff’s Accountability Committee, families impacted by in-custody deaths, LULAC (League of Latin American Citizens), League of Women Voters, and community partners.
The groups announced the campaign during a news conference on Nov. 11 at the Riverside County Administration Building, emphasizing that in 2022, Riverside County had the third highest in-custody death rate among large California counties.
Civil rights violations, mounting lawsuits and settlements totaling nearly $100 million, and state and federal investigations into department misconduct and corruption have underscored the urgent need for true, independent oversight, the advocates argued. Their historic move includes filing a Notice of Intent to place an Independent Sheriff’s Oversight Committee initiative on the 2026 ballot. The advocates argue that the problem has gone on for years.
“Enough is enough,” said Fidel Chagolla, local leader of All of Us or None. “We have waited, we have pleaded, and we have watched mothers and families grieve with no justice. If our elected officials won’t act, the people will. Power comes from the people, and we demand real, independent accountability in Riverside County,” he said.
The problem and concern about deaths in county jails is not just in Riverside County, which is the fourth-largest county in California in size and has five jails.
At least 2,312 people have died while in custody in California between 2011-2022, according to authors of Care First California’s “A Decade of Lives Lost: A Report of In-Custody Deaths in California Between 2011-2022.” Concerned residents “across the state are demanding accountability for in-custody deaths as there is a tendency by law enforcement to downplay or outright deny their role in these deaths,” the coalition of groups stated, highlighting findings from their request for data to State Attorney General’s Office. Care First California is an alliance of community groups that advocate for various social justice issues.
“Of the 2,312 deaths that occurred in Sheriff’s custody across the state, the majority of people died after they were taken to jail but before the resolution of their case (dismissal or conviction). Nearly a quarter of deaths occurred before individuals even entered the jail,” noted the data presented in “A Decade of Lives Lost.”
It further found that:
- 40% of deaths in jails occur within the first week (for example 68 or 3% awaiting booking, 1,213 or 52% booked-awaiting trial, or 122, 5% booked-no charges filed); 8 in transit, 5 out to court, 529 or 23% in process of arrest, 330, 14% sentenced, and 37 or 2%, other); and
- 84% of deaths occur before their case is resolved.
Blacks accounted for over 15% of in-custody deaths. “A Decade of Lives Lost” excluded data about cause of death, explaining that what the state identifies as a “natural” or “accidental” death is not clear, and in some counties, evidence may suggest that deaths are purposefully miscategorized by the county coroner in collusion with the sheriff‘s department.
The Final Call contacted the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department for a statement and received the following response from Lieutenant Deirdre Vickers, public information officer: “We have received your request and forwarded it to the appropriate division. We will provide an update once we receive a response.”
Meanwhile, the Riverside group’s proposed referendum aims to create a civilian oversight committee with full investigatory and subpoena authority; investigate complaints against the sheriff’s department; review department policies and procedures; hold public hearings and issue reports; employ independent legal counsel; and appoint an Inspector General for thorough review of all complaints and in-custody deaths.
Volunteers and supporters from all 28 cities in Riverside County have been mobilizing to collect at least 35,000 valid signatures from registered Riverside County voters by April 3, 2026.
“Since 2011, approximately 250 or more in-custody deaths, a lot of racial profiling, a lot of discrimination, a lot of loved ones have lost family members, senselessly, with no accountability or responsibility,” stated Richard Giles, a community organizer for Riverside All of Us or None.
Troubling patterns across the Riverside County jail system put detainees at risk, according to a 2024 report by Christopher Damien, a reporter focusing on law enforcement and incarceration in California. He found, in part, that the department has omitted pertinent facts about the deaths to families and to the public and that the county has paid out more than $12 million to settle lawsuits related to jail deaths dating back to 2020.
“I think it’s way overdue, because for years, families and community members have raised a lot of concerns, and the sheriff department in Riverside County operates with almost zero independent oversight to do what they want to do and the consequences are devastating,” said Sister Beatrice X, co-founder of the California-based Love Not Blood Campaign, a grassroots social justice organization.
Getting answers after loved ones have died in custody is extremely difficult, she continued.
“I know! I’ve worked with a lot of families. After your loved one is dead, then you get trampled and killed again, because going through that system, they try to break you. They try to make you stop asking questions, stop fighting. That’s what they do, so it’s a double death for families and everybody doesn’t have the strength to endure all that comes in trying to fight for your loved one inside that system! It is horrible,” she added.