Transparency
State-Required Public Disclosures
Transparency & Mandated Disclosures
The Imperial County Sheriff’s Office is required by state law to disclose certain records. This page consolidates all mandated public disclosures, including military equipment use under AB 481, use-of-force reporting under Penal Code section 13652.1, in-custody death notifications, and Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) annual and audit reports.
For victim privacy, parts of certain records may be redacted.
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Assembly Bill (AB) 481 — Military Equipment
Military Equipment Funding, Acquisition & Use Policy
Effective January 1, 2022, Assembly Bill (AB) 481 requires law enforcement agencies to obtain approval of the applicable governing body, by adoption of a military equipment use policy, prior to taking certain actions relating to the funding, acquisition, or use of military equipment.
Requirements Under AB 481
Each law enforcement agency’s governing body is required to adopt a written military equipment use policy by ordinance, in addition to:
- Publishing the draft military equipment use policy to the agency’s website 30 days ahead of a public hearing to approve the policy
- Obtaining approval by the governing body before any funding, acquisition, or use action
- Publishing an annual report to include each type of approved military equipment
- Annual review of the use ordinance by the governing body, with the option to disapprove a renewal or amend the policy if equipment doesn’t comply with approval standards
- Holding at least one well-publicized and conveniently located community engagement meeting within 30 days of submitting and publicly releasing the annual military equipment report
Definition of Military Equipment
AB 481 designates the following categories as military equipment:
- Unmanned, remotely piloted, powered aerial or ground vehicles
- Mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles or armored personnel carriers
- High mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles (HMMWV), two-and-one-half-ton trucks, five-ton trucks, or wheeled vehicles with breaching/entry apparatus
- Tracked armored vehicles providing ballistic protection
- Command and control vehicles built or modified to facilitate operational control of public safety units
- Weaponized aircraft, vessels, or vehicles of any kind
- Battering rams, slugs, and breaching apparatuses that are explosive in nature
- Firearms and ammunition of .50 caliber or greater (excluding standard-issue shotguns and ammunition)
- Specialized firearms and ammunition under .50 caliber, including assault weapons defined in PC §30510 and §30515 (excluding standard-issue handguns)
- Any firearm or firearm accessory designed to launch explosive projectiles
- “Flashbang” grenades, explosive breaching tools, “tear gas,” and “pepper balls” (excluding standard service-issued handheld pepper spray)
- Taser Shockwave, microwave weapons, water cannons, and long-range acoustic devices
- Projectile launch platforms and associated munitions (40mm projectile launchers, “bean bag,” rubber bullet, and specialty impact munitions)
- Any other equipment as determined by a governing body or state agency to require additional oversight
AB 481 Documents
- ICSO Policy 707.1 — Use of Military Equipment & Inventory List (PDF)
- AB 481 Military Inventory List — Fiscal Year 2022–2023 (PDF)
Annual Equipment Reports
A law enforcement agency that receives approval for a military equipment use policy is required to submit an annual military equipment report for each type of approved equipment within one year of approval, and annually thereafter. The annual report must also be made publicly available on the department’s website.
Each annual report includes, at minimum, the following information for the immediately preceding calendar year:
- A summary of how the military equipment was used and the purpose of its use
- A summary of any complaints or concerns received concerning the military equipment
- Results of any internal audits, any information about violations of the use policy, and any actions taken in response
- Total annual cost for each type of military equipment (acquisition, personnel, training, transportation, maintenance, storage, upgrade, and other ongoing costs), and from what source funds will be provided in the following calendar year
- Quantity possessed of each type of military equipment
- If the agency intends to acquire additional military equipment in the next year, the quantity sought for each type
- Confirmation of a well-publicized and conveniently located community engagement meeting held within 30 days of submitting and publicly releasing the annual report
Available Annual Reports
- 2023 Annual Report (PDF)
- Additional annual reports will be posted as they are issued.
Use of Force Reporting — Penal Code §13652.1
Penal Code section 13652.1(a) states: Each law enforcement agency shall, within 60 days of each incident, publish a summary on its internet website of all instances in which a peace officer employed by that agency uses a kinetic energy projectile or chemical agent (as defined in Section 13652) for crowd control.
2024 Reports
2025 Reports
2026 Reports (Monthly)
In-Custody Deaths
The Imperial County Sheriff’s Office publicly reports in-custody death notifications as required. Each report below contains the available case information.
May 8, 2024
- Coroner’s Case Number: 24-079
- County of Death: Imperial
- Agency with Custodial Responsibility: Imperial County Sheriff’s Office
- Location of Death: Regional Adult Detention Facility (328 Applestill Rd., El Centro, CA 92243)
- Exact location within facility: Housing Module F, Cell L5
- Date of Death: 05/08/2024
- Gender: Male
- Race: Hispanic
- Age: 32 years old
- Custodial Status: Awaiting Transportation on Out-of-County Warrant
- Manner of Death: Accidental — Injury to Self
- How Death Occurred (Mode): Alcohol/Drug Overdose
July 13, 2024
- Coroner’s Case Number: 24-120
- County of Death: Imperial
- Agency with Custodial Responsibility: Imperial County Sheriff’s Office
- Location of Death: Regional Adult Detention Facility (328 Applestill Rd., El Centro, CA 92243)
- Exact location within facility: Housing Module B, Cell U1
- Date of Death: 07/13/2024
- Gender: Female
- Race: Hispanic
- Age: 44 years old
- Custodial Status: Awaiting Trial
- Manner of Death: Suicide
- How Death Occurred (Mode): Hanging, Strangulation
May 2, 2025
- Coroner’s Case Number: 25-075
- County of Death: Imperial
- Agency with Custodial Responsibility: Imperial County Sheriff’s Office
- Location of Death: Regional Adult Detention Facility (328 Applestill Rd., El Centro, CA 92243)
- Exact location within facility: Housing Module F, Cell U8
- Date of Death: 05/02/2025
- Gender: Male
- Race: White
- Age: 58 years old
- Custodial Status: Awaiting Trial
- Manner of Death: Pending Investigation
- How Death Occurred (Mode): Pending Investigation
January 5, 2026
- Coroner’s Case Number: 202600057
- County of Death: Riverside
- Agency with Custodial Responsibility: Imperial County Sheriff’s Office
- Location of Death: Regional Adult Detention Facility (1150 N Indian Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, CA 92262)
- Exact location within facility: Not Applicable
- Date of Death: 01/05/2026
- Gender: Male
- Race: Hispanic
- Age: 57 years old
- Custodial Status: Awaiting Trial
- Manner of Death: Natural
- How Death Occurred (Mode): Not Applicable (Natural)
Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA)
The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) was signed into Federal law in 2003 by President George W. Bush to address the problem of sexual misconduct in all confinement facilities. In 2012, the U.S. Department of Justice released national PREA standards to prevent, detect, and respond to sexual abuse and harassment in confinement facilities. The Act requires all federal, state, and local corrections agencies to have a zero-tolerance policy regarding sexual misconduct in prisons, jails, police lock-ups, and community confinement facilities.
The Imperial County Sheriff’s Office maintains a zero-tolerance policy relative to sexual misconduct. All facilities and programs comply with federal and state laws as they pertain to PREA, sexual violence, and sexual misconduct.
Annual reports of allegations and findings, along with audit reports, are available below.
PREA Annual Reports
- 2025 PREA Annual Report (PDF)
- 2024 PREA Annual Report (PDF)
- 2023 PREA Annual Report (PDF)
- 2022 PREA Annual Report (PDF)
PREA Audit Reports
How to Report a PREA Incident
To report an instance of sexual abuse in the Jail facilities, please call:
- Primary line: (442) 265-2323
- After hours: (442) 265-2307
- Third-party reporting via Imperial County Juvenile Hall (forwarded to the facility’s PREA Coordinator without delay): (442) 265-2425
Questions About Public Records
For questions about public records requests, mandated disclosures, or any of the documents above, please contact the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office Administration line at (442) 265-2008.