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History of Riverside County Jails 
Blythe Jail
Blythe is on the County's most eastern edge, both geographically and with respect to population centers. Blythe Jail was built in 1964.
The Blythe Jail is administered under the direction of a shared Captain and the Corrections Division Chief. With the move of the Consolidated Courts and Blythe Sheriff's Station to a new building, the Blythe Jail was expanded in March of 2000.
Indio Jail
The Indio Jail Facility is located in the City of Indio. Built in 1959, this jail was remodeled in 1963, 1969, 1971 and 1992. The facility serves the Coachella Valley, which has experienced rapid growth over the past two decades. The valley has large service, recreational, retail, agricultural, and seasonal resort populations.
The facility is under the command of a shared Sheriff's Captain and is administered under the direction of the Corrections Division Chief.
Robert Presley Detention Center
Robert Presley Detention Center (R.P.D.C.) is located in the downtown area of Riverside, California. The Riverside County Jail was renamed R.P.D.C. in 1989. The "Old Jail" was originally constructed in 1933 and was built as part of the old historical courthouse annex. In 1963, an addition was made to the jail, which included dormitory style housing units, a dispensary, detox cell, segregation cells, visiting area and business office. In 1979, the county expanded the female section of the jail.
R.P.D.C. was opened in September 1989.
R.P.D.C. and the Hospital Security Unit at Riverside County Regional Medical Center ( R.C.R.M.C) are under the command of a Sheriff's Captain and are administered under the direction of the Corrections Division Chief.
In 1979, a wing of the County's Riverside General Hospital (RGH) was remodeled to house inmates in secure, double occupancy rooms. It was also under the command of the R.P.D.C. Operations Commander. The security unit housed inmates in need of hospitalization for medical / mental reasons. In January of 1998, Riverside County Regional Medical Center (R.C.R.M.C.) was opened in Moreno Valley. R.C.R.M.C. is a 520,000 square foot Level 2 trauma center. It is licensed for 364 beds of which includes a jail security unit. This facility replaced the obsolete RGH.
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Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility
The Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility was built in the mid-1920's and was originally known as the Industrial Road Camp. At that time it was being used by prison road gangs and was under the control of the county road department. State Hwy 243 that runs up behind the facility was one of the many projects completed by these road gangs.
During World War II, the road camp was used as a Japanese Internment Camp. The commanding officer at the time was Brigadier General Henry Jost. After the war, the facility returned to being used by road crews and became known as an Honor Camp. It was one of five such camps in the county and is the only one remaining. The facility remained a road camp from the end of WWII until 1974. At that time, the County Board of Supervisors handed over control to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.
In 1975, the Sheriff changed the name of the facility to the Banning Rehabilitation and Counseling Center adding inmate education and regional occupational programs. Ten years later, dormitory-style barracks were added.
In 1980, the Sheriff's Department assumed command of the Banning Jail, which was previously a joint lease with the City of Banning. The commander of the Banning Rehabilitation and Counseling Center had control over the Banning jail and provided staff and support services.
The Smith Correctional Facility is home to several programs run exclusively and jointly by the department. Such programs include work release, supervised electronic confinement program, auto body and auto paint shops and a printing shop. The facility also provides support for other jails with services such as centralized laundry and warehouse services. In August 1990, the first chemical dependency treatment unit was opened and in April 1991, the second unit was opened for female inmates. Other programs administered here include alcohol/drug abuse counseling, social skills, family services, and academic assistance. Some of these programs are provided jointly with outside agencies such as, the Probation Department, Mental Health Services, and the County Superintendant of Schools. The facility is under the command of a Sheriff's Captain and administered under the direction of the Corrections Division Chief.
On October 29, 2002, the County Board of Supervisor's passed a resolution officially changing the name of the facility to the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility, in honor of the Sheriff who retired in 2002.
Southwest Detention Center
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.
Construction of the facility was completed in 1992 and became operational in September 1993. The facility is under the command of a Sheriff's Captain and administered under the direction of the Corrections Division Chief.
In October 1998, an expansion project was started for the Southwest Detention Center. The project, completed October 2001, doubled the size of the jail. The expansion was built in conjunction with a new court facility and juvenile hall. The Southwest Sheriff Station/Temecula Police Department is adjacent to the jail. The entire complex is known as the Southwest County Justice Center.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Corrections Division is to serve and protect the citizens of Riverside County and the State of California, by detaining the people under its supervision in a safe and secure environment, while providing for their humane care, custody and control. The Division will maximize opportunities for offenders to participate in programs that reduce criminal behavior and enhance the offender's reintegration into the community. This objective will be accomplished in a cost-effective manner in the least restrictive setting, without compromising public safety.
General Information
Click here to read more about jail visiting hours, inmate property and money and inmated mail policies.
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