Sheriff Accountability Coalition Mission Statement
Coalition members include ACLU of Southern California, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Starting Over, Starting Over Strong and LWV Riverside.
We are a diverse group of Riverside County residents and organizations calling on our Riverside County Board of Supervisors to provide much-needed accountability for the Riverside Sheriff’s Office.
The ongoing issues surrounding sheriff-involved shootings, in-custody deaths, and the significant financial liability resulting from the lack of oversight have eroded public trust and demand urgent reforms
We believe independent oversight of law enforcement is good for both deputies and the community they serve, as well as important for good government practices.
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We are working together to effect the following changes
- Separation of the roles of the County Coroner's Office and the Sheriff Departmment
- Establishment of a community oversight body for the operations, all internal and external formal complaints, and serve as the public facing entity that engages with the community.
- Establishment of an Office of Inspector General (OIG) to provide independent and comprehensive oversight, monitoring of, and reporting about the Sheriff's Department and serve as the investigative arm of the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission.
- The activities and recommendations of the community oversight body to present regularly, directly, publicly, and transparently to the full County Board of Supervisors.
- The community oversight body and OIG to have subpoena authority for the independent investigation of all aspects of Sheriff’s Office operations including access to personnel record
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Riverside’s Sheriff Accountability Coalition (SAC) has:
- Successfully increased public awareness.
- Engaged with legislators and community stakeholders to address the systemic flaws within sheriff departments.
- Brought together diverse coalitions of advocates, community leaders, and families impacted by law enforcement misconduct to demand change.
The coalition will be working with newly elected District 1 Supervisor Jose Medina to bring about the necessary reforms to ensure transparency, accountability, and justice within the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
Much work lies ahead. We face resistance from the sheriff’s department, the sheriff’s deputy union, entrenched politicians and the spread of public misinformation.
We encourage you to join us in our efforts by signing our petition to the Riverside County Board of Supervisors.
Contact LWVRiverside [at] att.net for more information.
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MEDIA
The Deadliest Year Inside One of America’s Deadliest Jail Systems November 4, 2024
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Coalitions
California Coalition for Sheriff Accountability * Balancing Power with Responsibility VIDEO
ACLU of Northern California * Why Every County Needs Civilian Oversight of its Local Sheriff's Department
Fixin’ San Mateo County * Ballot Measure A. San Mateo County legislation
Care First California * Inland Empire Lives Lost: A Report of In-Custody Deaths in Riverside and San Bernardino