Exterior view of the John J. Benoit Detention Center in Indio, California.
After facing significant delays, the John J. Benoit Detention Center, located in Indio, is now operational. The facility is currently being utilized to house several hundred inmates who are under state custody.
This new detention center is designed to replace the older Indio Jail, which was situated near the Larson Justice Center. Construction on the John J. Benoit Detention Center commenced in July 2015, with an initial completion target of December 2017. However, the project encountered a series of setbacks that pushed back the opening date.
John J. Benoit Detention Center Indio exterior during daytime.
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco previously described the construction process as a “nightmare” in a statement to News Channel 3, highlighting the extent of the delays experienced. Initially, the plan was to gradually transfer the inmate population into the new facility. For a period, it primarily served as a booking and processing center, with local inmates being subsequently moved to other detention facilities within the county.
However, recent changes have seen the John J. Benoit Detention Center take on a new role. It is currently accommodating over 500 inmates who have been sentenced to state prison and are awaiting transfer to state correctional institutions. This shift is largely attributed to the state’s decision to limit intake into its prison system due to ongoing concerns related to COVID-19 outbreaks within state facilities.
The California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation has reported a substantial number of active COVID-19 cases among both inmates and employees across the state as of November 19th. This situation has led to a backlog in inmate transfers and the utilization of facilities like the John J. Benoit Detention Center to manage the overflow.
The John J. Benoit Detention Center offers a capacity of over 1,500 beds, providing ample space to house inmates. According to a statement from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, the facility is currently being used for both booking and releasing inmates, as well as housing those sentenced to state prison pending their transfer. Inmates who are booked into the jail for local offenses are transferred to other facilities while awaiting court proceedings.
Correctional Sergeant Deanna Pecoraro from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Media Information Bureau provided the official statement regarding the current operations of the John Benoit Detention Center.
