Riverside County Corrections
There are five jails, or correctional facilities, in Riverside County, all managed by the Sheriff's Department Corrections Division, one of the largest jail operations in the state and throughout the country. Rules at the jail facilities are strictly enforced to protect visitors, corrections staff and inmates.
Each jail has unique rules and you should carefully review the requirements and restrictions listed at the right before visiting the jail or sending mail or money to an inmate.
About the Jails
Robert Presley Detention Center (RPDC)
Located in the downtown area of Riverside, California, the Robert Presley Detention Center was opened in 1989 replacing the old Riverside County Jail. RPDC and the Hospital Security Unit at Riverside County Regional Medical Center are under the command of a Sheriff's Captain and are administered under the direction of the Corrections Division Chief.
Southwest Detention Center
Opened in 1993, the Southwest Detention Center is located in the southwest portion of Riverside County, adjacent to the cities of Temecula and Murrieta, in an area known as French Valley. The facility is under the command of a Sheriff's Captain and administered under the direction of the Corrections Division Chief.
Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility
Located in the city of Banning, the Smith Correctional Facility is the Department’s largest correctional facility. The facility holds inmates as they await arraignment, hearings, trials, and sentencing, as well as inmates who have been sentenced to serve a county jail sentence. The facility is also home to several Corrections Division programs such as the Supervised Electronic Confinement Program, Work Release Program, Residential Substance Abuse Treatment program, Sheriff’s Inmate Training and Education Bureau, a commercial printing shop, centralized warehouse and laundry services, as well as other counseling, vocational, and educational programs. The facility is under the command of a Sheriff’s Captain and is administrated under the direction of the Corrections Division Chief Deputy.
Indio Jail
Located in the City of Indio, the Indio Jail serves the Coachella Valley which has experienced rapid growth over the past two decades. The facility is under the command of a shared Sheriff's Captain and is administered under the direction of the Corrections Division Chief.
Blythe Jail
Built in 1964, the Blythe Jail is administered under the direction of a shared Captain and the Corrections Division Chief.
The Position of Correctional Deputy I
The Correctional Deputy I is the entry-level position in the corrections law enforcement career ladder. A Correctional Deputy I's career begins with training in a progressive 9-week (355 hours) academy. Upon successful completion of the academy, program incumbents will be assigned to one of the RiversideCounty correctional facilities. Correctional Deputy I's are typically assigned to work 12 hour shifts, which include weekends and holidays, and must be available for any shift (i.e. swing, night, day, etc.). After one year, Correctional Deputy I's may be evaluated for possible promotion to the classification of Correctional Deputy II. The probationary period for Correctional Deputy I/II is a total of 18 months from the date of hire.
In addition to the exciting and challenging career opportunity as a Correctional Deputy I, the County of Riverside participates in the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) and offers an excellent retirement program.
Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance: A flex benefit is provided in the amount of $490.10 monthly.
Education/Degree: A 2.5% premium pay benefit for completion of a Bachelor's degree and an additional 2.5% premium pay benefit for completion of a Master's degree from an accredited institution.
Examples of Essential Duties:
• Maintains security through key, door, tool, and equipment control; photographs prisoners and takes
fingerprints; issues, or supervises inmates in the issue and exchange of clothing and linen.
• Receives visitors; processes prisoner correspondence, phone calls, and request slips; prepares and routes
booking sheets and related paperwork.
• Controls contraband through routine facility and inmate searches; supervises inmates during meals and
recreational activities.
• Prepares for the transportation of prisoners by applying restraint equipment and inspecting vehicles for
safety.
• Performs business and record keeping functions, including monetary transactions, data terminal operations,
and records duration of confinement and release dates.
• Administers oral medication to prisoners as prescribed by a physician.
Recruiting Guidelines:
Must be at least 18 years of age.
Must be eligible to work in the U.S.
Possession of a valid California Driver's License.
Knowledge of: California driving laws, and the safe operation of passenger vehicles.
Ability to: Understand and follow rules and oral and written instructions; establish rapport and supervise inmates; think and act decisively in stressful situations; render emergency first aid; operate passenger vehicles; detect conditions that may affect safe vehicle operation; observe and recall factual information; communicate in verbal and written form; perform basic arithmetic computations; maintain and update files and records; establish and maintain effective working relationships with other staff and the public.
Education: Graduation from high school, or possession of a Certificate of Proficiency issued by the California State Board of Education, or attainment of a satisfactory score on a G.E.D. test.
Essential Special Requirements: Vision: Applicants who wear glasses or hard contact lenses must have uncorrected vision of no worse than 20/40 correctable to 20/20. For soft contact lenses being worn for up to one year or more correctable to 20/20, there are no uncorrected requirements. Please note: Applicant must have normal peripheral fields and normal color vision. Hearing: Applicants must not have hearing loss greater than 25dB in frequencies of 500 to 6,000 in either ear. Hearing aids are not permitted to meet these requirements.
Training
Correctional deputies must have the ability to: understand and follow rules and oral and written instructions; establish rapport and supervise inmates; think and act decisively in stressful situations; render emergency first aid; operate passenger vehicles; detect conditions that may affect safe vehicle operation; observe and recall factual information; communicate in verbal and written form; perform basic arithmetic computations; maintain and update files and records; establish and maintain effective working relationships with other staff and the public.
The Corrections Basic Academy is a 373-hour course that exceeds the minimum training requirements of section 179 of the California Code of regulations and meets the 832 P.C. training requirements of 831.5 P.C. In addition to the STC requirements, this course includes Hostage Management, Interview and Interrogation, Baton Techniques, Carotid Restraint, Chemical Agents (OC), Less-Lethal Munitions, First Aid & CPR Certification, Officer Liability, Drill and Ceremony, Staff Sexual Misconduct with Inmates, Basic English and Grammar Skills, Gangs, Defensive Tactics, and Emergency Response Training (ERT).
Salary and Benefits
In addition to an exciting and challenging career opportunity as a Correctional Deputy I, the County of Riverside participates in the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) and offers an excellent retirement program.
Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance: A flex benefit is provided in the amount of $712.00 monthly.
Education/Degree: A 2.5% premium pay benefit for completion of a Bachelor's degree and an additional 2.5% premium pay benefit for completion of a Master's degree from an accredited institution.
Click HERE for more salary and benefit information.