Banning Jail (The Larry D. Smith) – Info for Visiting, Bail, Contact

Jail Information

Address:	1627 S. Hargrave Street, Banning, CA 92220 Map
Phone:	(951) 922-7300
Website:	Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility

When an individual is arrested in Riverside County, he/she will be taken to the Indio Jail, the Robert Presley Detention Center, the Blythe Jail, the Southwest Detention Center or the Larry D. Smith “Banning” Jail, depending on which facility is closest to the arrest location.

The Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility.named in 2002 in honor of the retired Riverside Sheriff.was built in the mid-1920’s.  It was originally used as a Japanese internment camp during World War II and known as the Old Industrial Road Camp.  In 1974, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department took over the Facility and renamed it the Banning Rehabilitation and Counseling Center.

Today, the Larry D. Smith Jail.which is often interchangeably referred to as the Banning Jail.is one of Riverside County’s largest correctional facilities.  This facility

1. temporarily houses arrestees until they
   • post bail,
   • are released on their own recognizance (known as an O.R. release), or
   • appear for their arraignment, and
     
2. houses convicted defendants who have been sentenced to incarceration.

In this article, our Riverside County criminal defense attorneys¹ will explain the following:

• 1. Procedures on How to Post Bail for an Inmate at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility
  • 1.1. Cash bail
  • 1.2. Cashier’s checks
  • 1.3. Bail bonds
• 2. How to Get Inmate Information
• 3. How to Contact an Inmate at the Larry D. Smith Jail
• 4. Visiting Hours and Policies
  • 4.1. Rules and restrictions
• 5. Rules and Regulations Regarding Mail Correspondence at the Banning Jail
  • 5.1. Prohibited items
• 6. How to Put “Money on the Books”
• 7. Inmate Services
• 8. The Procedures on “Return of Property” at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility
• 9. Work Release at the Banning Jail

If, after reading this article, you would like more information, we invite you to contact us at Shouse Law Group.

1. Procedures on How to Post Bail for an Inmate at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility

After an inmate has been booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility, his/her bail will be set by the Riverside County Bail Schedule and is determined based on the crime(s) for which he/she was arrested.

“Bail” refers to the amount of money that a defendant (or typically someone on his/her behalf) must pay in order to be released from jail.  It is intended to assure the arresting agency and court that the defendant will appear in court as expected.

If the defendant attends all court appearances, the bail will be returned at the end of the case.  If the defendant does not attend all of his court appearances, he/she forfeits that money to the court.

The Banning Jail accepts three types of bail:  cash bail, cashier’s checks and bail bonds (all of which are discussed in detail in our article on How to Post Bail in California).  And if you choose to post bail for an inmate, you may do so directly at the jail 24 hours a day / 7 days a week.

1.1. Cash bail

If you elect to pay cash bail, you must pay the full bail amount.  Once you post cash bail, the inmate is released pending his/her arraignment.  If the inmate attends his/her court appearances, the bail will be returned following the conclusion of the criminal case (minus a small administrative fee).  If the inmate does not attend those appearances, he/she forfeits your money to the court.

1.2. Cashier’s checks

Similar to cash bail, if you opt to use a cashier’s check, you must post the entire bail amount.  Checks must be California bank-drawn cashier’s checks and made payable to the Riverside Superior Court.  Cashier’s checks should list the booking number and full legal name of the inmate.

And because the funds must be verified before the jail will release an inmate, the inmate’s release may take a while.

1.3. Bail bonds

Bail bonds are the most common way to post bail, as they only require you to pay a nonrefundable maximum of 10% of the total bond.  You obtain a bail bond from a bail bondsman (aka a bail agent).  If the defendant makes all of his/her court appearances, you pay nothing on top of the 10%, but you do not get that 10% back.it is the bondsman’s nonrefundable fee.  If the inmate doesn’t make those appearances, you will be liable for repaying the entire bail amount to the agent.

Local bail bondsmen advertise via the Internet and in the phone book.  Make sure you verify the bondsman’s license and retain copies of any documents for your records.

∗NOTE:  After you post bail, you should immediately consult with one of our Banning criminal defense attorneys.  Our experienced local lawyers can even help you schedule a bail hearing to potentially reduce or even waive the inmate’s bail.

2. How to Get Inmate Information

If you wish to obtain information on an inmate incarcerated at the Larry D. Smith Banning Jail, you may call the Jail directly at (951) 922-7300 or you may visit the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s inmate information website.

You must provide the inmate’s full name and date of birth before a deputy will give you information about a specific inmate.

Typically, inmates who are being held in custody must be arraigned within two (2) days of being arrested.  At that point, the judge will either continue the arraignment or will set the case for a pre-trial hearing.  If you wish to look up the case information for an inmate or defendant being housed at the Larry Smith Jail, visit the Riverside County case information website.

3. How to Contact an Inmate at the
Larry D. Smith Jail

When an inmate is booked into the Banning Jail, he/she is permitted to make one free outgoing phone call.  Beyond that, all outgoing calls must be collect or placed with a calling card.  Inmates are not allowed to receive incoming calls.

If you would like to send an inmate a prepaid calling card, you may send the inmate money in accordance with the policies set forth under Section 6. How to Put Money “On the Books” at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility so that he/she can purchase a card at the jail’s commissary.

If you have a loved one in the Banning Jail, make sure you contact your local telephone carrier to ensure that collect and calling card calls are not blocked on your telephone plan.

Contact with inmates at the Larry D. Smith Jail is not limited to phone calls.  You can also visit an inmate in person or correspond via mail.  These options are discussed in the next two sections.

4. Visiting Hours and Policies

The Larry D. Smith Jail is located at

1627 South Hargrave Street
Banning, CA 92220
(951) 922-7300

Inmates at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility are permitted to have two (2) visits per week, each lasting up to 40 minutes in length.  Visitors are not required to schedule an appointment ahead of time but are encouraged to arrive at the Jail at least an hour before they wish to visit.  Due to Covid-19 protocols, only 1 visitor is allowed per inmate due to physical distancing requirements. Visitors must also receive a temperature screening prior to entering the facility.

Visiting hours at the Banning Jail are typically held between 9:00am and 8:40pm, but the days and exact times vary, depending on the unit in which the inmate is housed.  This means that prior to planning a visit, you should either call the Jail directly at (951) 922-7300 or review the visiting hours on the Jail’s website.

Attorneys and members of the clergy are not bound by these visiting hours and may visit inmates 24 hours a day / 7 days a week.

4.1. Rules and restrictions

All visitors must present a valid government issued photo I.D. card, such as

• a California driver’s license,
• a California identification card,
• a U.S. Passport,
• an alien registration card, or
• a U.S. military card.

Any visitor who has an outstanding warrant or who is on parole will not only be denied entry but may be arrested on the spot.

Visitors are not permitted to bring anything to the inmates.  Additionally, visitors are prohibited from bringing

• illegal firearms or any other type of object that could be used to injure another person,
• alcohol or illegal substances,
• cameras,
• food,
• drinks, or
• cigarettes

into the visiting area.  Inherently illegal items will be seized and the owner will be subject to arrest.  Prohibited items will be confiscated.

In addition, anyone who doesn’t conform to the Larry D. Smith Jail’s dress code will be denied entrance.  This means that anyone whose clothing exhibits any

• gang-related images,
• sexually suggestive images, or
• pictures or writing that may be offensive to another person,

or anyone who is dressed too provocatively will not be able to visit an inmate.  The bottom line is that the staff at the Banning Jail reserves the right to deny entry to anyone they believe may pose a security threat to the staff or the inmates.

Social distancing must be maintained at all times.

5. Rules and Regulations Regarding Mail Correspondence at the Banning Jail

If you wish to send mail to an inmate at the Larry D. Smith Jail, send it to

[Inmate’s name and booking number]
Smith Correctional Facility
1627 South Hargrave Street
Banning, CA 92220

Be sure to include a return address because, if you do not, your mail will not be delivered but rather stored with the inmate’s property.  Similarly, any mail that is stained or dirty will be disposed of or returned to sender as contaminated.

5.1. Prohibited items

The following items will not be delivered to an inmate:

• more than 5 photographs at a time (inmates are allowed to have a maximum of 5 photographs at any given time),
• photos that contain nudity, sexual undertones, violence or gang-related images,
• mail written in gel-type ink, crayon, lipstick, or containing glue or “white-out” correction fluid,
• odor-causing substances like cologne or perfume,
• instant photos, stickers, labels or stamps of any kind,
• pens, plastic, glitter, tape, stationary, envelopes, “post-its”, craft materials, ribbon, parchment paper, black paper, staples or paperclips,
• “care” packages, flowers, candy,
• phone cards, greeting cards or postcards, or
• cash or personal checks (although U.S. Postal Service money orders are okay),
• hardback or leather-bound books, or
• any paperback books that are not mailed directly from the publisher or from a verifiable and reputable Internet/mail order company or bookstore.

6. How to Put “Money on the Books”

Inmates at the Banning Jail are allowed to have access to money to make purchases at the Jail’s commissary.  Such purchases may include snacks, drinks, cosmetics or hygiene items and writing materials.

Whatever money is in the inmate’s possession at the time of booking will be placed into his/her account (as long as it was not stored as evidence relating to the arrest).  And in addition to this money, anyone else may deposit money into an inmate’s account.

If you wish to deposit cash “on the books” for an inmate, you may do so 24 hours a day / 7 days a week at the Larry D. Smith correctional facility.  Deposits are accepted in the visiting center from 8:00am to 8:45pm and in the Jail’s lobby from 8:45pm to 8:00am.

If you want to mail money, you must send a United States Postal Service money order with the inmate’s name and booking number on the front of the order.  Be sure to comply with the mail rules and regulations discussed in Section 5, above.  You may also personally deliver a money order or cash to the lobby.

7. Inmate Services

The Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility hosts a number of inmate services, typically utilized by convicted defendants who have been sentenced to serve their jail time at this facility (as opposed to the new arrestees awaiting bail or arraignment).

Some of these services include:

• residential substance abuse treatment for men and women,
• a commercial printing shop, centralized warehouse and laundry services (all of which employ inmates who have demonstrated good behavior),
• counseling services,
• religious services every Sunday run by a variety of religious chaplains,
• vocational training, and
• educational services.

8. The Procedures on “Return of Property” at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility

When an inmate is booked into the Banning Jail, his/her belongings are collected and stored.  This property is returned to the inmate once he/she is released.  Alternatively, an inmate can designate another person to claim that property (with the exception of clothing and money).  Clothing and money will remain in storage until the inmate is released from the Jail.

That said, there is an exception where money is concerned.  An inmate may designate someone to withdraw money from his/her account within 24 hours of booking.  But after the 24-hour period expires, that money will only be released

1. when the inmate is released, or
2. pursuant to a court order.

Anyone picking up property must bring valid identification (listed above under Section 4. Visiting Hours and Policies).  This does not need to be arranged ahead of time and can be done at the time of the visit.

If you wish to drop off court clothing or prescription medication or wish to have an inmate sign checks or other legal documents, contact the Larry D. Smith Jail directly at (951) 922-7300 to make arrangements. These visits may be conducted at the Jail’s visiting center Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 8:45pm or at the Jail lobby from 8:45pm to 10:00pm.

9. Work Release at the Banning Jail

If you are sentenced to the Larry D. Smith Jail, your skilled Riverside criminal defense attorney may be able to convince the judge to allow you to participate in a work release program instead.

Non-violent, low-risk offenders who are eligible to participate in this program work between two (2) and five (5) days a week at an assigned job site where they perform eight (8) to ten (10) hours of labor a day in lieu of one (1) day of jail time.

For more information about Riverside County work release, you can contact the department directly at (951) 922-7330.

Call us for help.

If you or loved one is charged with a crime and you are looking to hire an attorney for representation, we invite you to contact us at Shouse Law Group. We can provide a free consultation in office or by phone. We have local offices in Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley, Pasadena, Long Beach, Orange County, Ventura, San Bernardino, Rancho Cucamonga, Riverside, San Diego, Sacramento, Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose and throughout California.

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