More than 13 Million paid in settlements, but California jail deaths keep climbing

Riverside County, California – Riverside County’s jail system, once considered a standard part of the state’s law enforcement apparatus, has become one of the most dangerous places to be incarcerated in the United States, according to a report from the New York Times. From 2020 to 2023, Riverside County recorded the highest homicide rate among California’s large jails, and the second-highest number of jail deaths nationwide. Behind these grim numbers are alleged patterns of negligence, undertraining, and fatal mismanagement.

In one particularly harrowing incident, a new guard at the Riverside County jail remotely opened a cell door during a fight — a violation of safety protocols. One inmate dragged the other out and threw him over a second-story catwalk. It was the victim’s first day in jail — and his last.

At another facility, authorities placed a mentally ill man charged with child sexual abuse in a shared bunk room instead of a protective unit. Other detainees strangled him. In yet another case, a delayed security check led to the discovery of a detainee, beaten and stabbed, lying in a pool of blood while his cellmate scrubbed the walls.

These deaths highlight chronic failures in Riverside’s jail system. A joint investigation by The New York Times and The Desert Sun revealed that in six homicides from 2020 to 2023, jail officials routinely ignored red flags. In some cases, inmates were paired with cellmates known for prior violence, gang ties, or behavioral issues. Authorities overlooked security camera footage showing warning signs, and required safety checks were skipped or delayed.

In 2022 alone, 19 detainees died in Riverside’s five jails — from homicide, suicide, overdoses, and neglect. More than a dozen lawsuits have been filed against the county, which has already paid over $13 million in settlements. Meanwhile, the California Department of Justice is conducting a civil rights investigation.

Critics point to policy decisions made by Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who has slashed training requirements and promoted inexperienced correctional deputies to staff the jails. Under his leadership, the number of sworn deputies working in the prisons dropped by nearly two-thirds in just eight months. The correctional facility brought in younger and less-trained officers — a move jail veterans say has worsened conditions.

Despite this, Bianco, a staunch conservative and vocal Trump supporter, has deflected responsibility, blaming state lawmakers and Governor Gavin Newsom. He is currently campaigning to become the Republican nominee for California governor.

Internal reports obtained by investigators show a pattern of misreporting, inaccurate timelines, and omitted facts — often downplaying or concealing departmental failures. In some cases, footage contradicting official accounts was uncovered months later, revealing lapses in supervision and intervention.

While deaths in custody can sometimes be unpredictable, experts argue that better staffing, proper classification, and timely security checks could prevent most of them. “If you follow your training and use common sense, many of these tragedies are avoidable,” said Michael Lujan, a former sheriff’s captain.